Word Art
Today’s Idea: Surround yourself with visual reminders of the people, places, and things you love.
Going about our everyday lives, it’s all too easy to forget what matters to us most — who we are at the core…what brings us joy…what we love. There are tons of ways to prompt ourselves to remember — first, doing these things (duh), but when that’s not possible, surrounding ourselves with photos and artifacts and music and books that transport us to times when we really felt like ourselves.
One of the cues that works for me is a painting I made a few years ago. I love art (and believe that making stuff makes us feel whole), but am not that good at it, so it’s very basic and quite rough. So it wouldn’t ever hang in a museum, but it does hang on our kitchen wall every day to remind Sean and me of some of the little and big things in life we love. Here it is:
Have you ever made something that really captures who you are and what you love? What was it, and where is it today?
wellfesto 
Have I ever made something that captures who I am and what I love?
I’ve made some children, does that count? They’re 19 and 21 now so I think I can say they’re ‘done’, or at least I take no further responsibility or credit for how they turn out. I am reminded of a conversation at a folk music festival when I was asked, “so what do you do?”, by implication, what instrument do I play and what are my credentials to be at a folk festival. I answered, “I don’t play anything but I breed musicians, does that count?”
I also grow things in my garden and there is a satisfaction that comes from seeing a tree grow over a period of years, but that isn’t quite the same as making something with your hands. Some time back I got into painting, which was therapeutic but the paintings weren’t very good so they got thrown out after a while. I also made some nice Calder-style mobiles out of driftwood, sea-shells and fishing line and gave them to friends. They were delicate and complex and would get tied up in knots when the wind blew… Just like me, then.
mappingtheterritory – thanks so much for your comments! yes, plants and paintings and mobiles are spectacular…but thriving children may be the best answer to the question i’ve heard yet. i really appreciate you sharing!