note – update added June 4, 2015 – see #4.
I always liked art in school. Something about creating things, art – always made me happy. In high school my art teachers spoke of the “Artistic License” that everyone in class is given to make art for themselves – whatever it may be.
As I sit here, feeling somewhat philosophical, I am reading into this further. Artistic License isn’t just about the license I have to free myself and follow my whims with color and brush strokes on a canvas in order to see what develops, what is born out of my play, but in fact, Artistic License could and likely should, apply much more broadly to my entire life. My life is what I make out of it, every day. The choices I make when I get up. The lists that I create to organized and bucket-ize my life into what becomes mini tasks just to be checked off.
One thing that has become blaringly obvious during this whole Life Detour, is that life isn’t about succeeding and checking off the lists, it’s about having conversations with friends and family along the way. It’s about living in the moment not from moment to moment. It’s about opening my eyes to see the pure beauty and happiness in front of me and letting myself take the time to see it and feel it, and thus, slow time down while I take a mental image and file it away. It’s precious. It goes too quickly.
My next birthday is come up rather quickly, and besides New Year’s Eve, this time is now making me think more about the things that I want to do in my life. What makes me happy? What activities do I miss from my childhood that simply vanished with age and maturity (for no good reason)? What new interests have I discovered but never pursued as much as I have wanted to? What things are on my list? What could I do now? Today? to work towards something that would leave something more permanent on this earth than I am?
1. PHOTOGRAPHY. I had a passing interest on weekend last year to enter a photography contest at a local arts and crafts type of store. For some reason I was drawn to the contest – they needed entries and for some reason, I thought I could win. I went home and look for artsy photography photos I had taken where I felt I really captured an emotion, where the light was just great or the content just inviting. I identified something around 10 or more photos. Being digital I was going to need to print them out at a local store then pick them up and take them back to the craft store to actually submit. Sad thing is, with all of my excitement – getting the digital photos made became too much effort and all was lost.
Now, I dream of making my own photography book. One amazing photo per page where ideal, other pages where photos are collaged together according to my own whims and Artistic License. Can programs like Shutterfly help me do this? To create my own book, in my own style? I fear not but even if I could make a single copy of my favorite photographs then I’d have something to hold onto, to pass on, to share.
2. PAINTING. I miss it. I painted in middle school, in high school. Then college came followed by graduate school and being a post doc and going all scientific and PhD minded. Then I selected the world of biotechnology to embrace and grow. Companies, publically traded companies, are all about the mighty dollar. How much it makes. What the ROI (return on investment) is. How fast are we growing versus the market? Versus competition? Good enough soon enough. Do more with less. It’s not about Artistic License and following your whims and fancy. It’s about line of sight to the next dollar, the next big product, the next big win and designing your strategy is to get there. It’s 180 degrees from Artistic License. Like ying and yang in my life. I miss painting. I miss just making something “because” and being free to make what I want for the pure pleasure of making it – not for any money, just for the pleasure of looking at it more later.
3. TRAVEL. I’m not a huge traveler but there are a few things I’d like to see before I kick off. 1) Southern Cross in the sky over the southern hemisphere – Australia? New Zealand?, 2) Northern lights in Alaska on a cold winter’s night. 3) kayaking at Bioluminescent Bay in Puerto Rico (http://www.rinconvacations.com/bioluminescent-bay-puertorico.html – Tour #3) 4) Visit Petra (http://international.visitjordan.com/Wheretogo/Petra.aspx) 4) take vacations that include rides on amazing trains around the world, 5) go back to New Orleans and wander through the artsy stores in the key districts for hours on end – looking at everything. Buying arty things for days and days. Eating amazing food and just letting it all go to relax, and be free. I’ll think of more but for now, this is what is on the travel list. *late addition: 5) See more waterfalls. Need more waterfalls in my life. Used to go see more of them but not in a long, long time.
and more ideas to come here, too….takes a while to come up with things that are really of interest. Visiting Crater Lake was on my list as well – and that one I did complete! Also, I have ridden on the Yukon Pass Rail Road and it was amazing! We’ve stayed on the coast by Sunset Bay and I never get tired of that view. Much to think about. Much still to enjoy.
update June 4, 2015:
4. “I LOVE YOU WALL” IN MY HAPPY ROOM. In my house I have what I call the “happy room”. When my husband moved all of his computer stuff out of our 3rd bedroom, I gained a room. I took the time to repaint it some great colors. I went to IKEA to get some beautiful shelving and I filled it with things that make me happy. It was going to be my place to go but it quickly became a place for both me and my daughter to go and hangout and do crafts together (even better!!). Lately this room has fallen to becoming the “shove it quickly in this extra room” dump spot. I need to reclaim it. I need my Happy Room to be a welcoming, happy place that it once was.
Now – what better way to reclaim my room but then to improve upon it? My daughter gives me notes weekly that say “I love you, Mom”. I have so many that I realized I need to start collecting all of these beautiful things. She’ll only be 5 once and they are too precious. So, I started putting them on the side of the refrigerator – well that is already filled up and overflowing. I need more space, to expand – a WALL! So what better way then to use a wall in the Happy Room and create an “I Love You” wall from my daughter to me and my husband? Love the idea. Might just take off my birthday to work on this….since it is just around the corner….