C R E A T E: (verb) 1) to cause to come into being, as something unique that would not naturally evolve or that is not made by ordinary processes. 2) to evolve from one's own thought or imagination, as a work of art or an invention.
“Art can do this - excavate a buried thing inside of us and hold it up until our eyes adjust to the bright truth of it. ”
M A K E G O O D A R T
Creating and making art has always helped me feel grounded. Lately I am trying to focus more on the process rather than the outcome. Making art is a way of navigating emotions, connecting the dots between point A and point B, and if you try to force the destination you may wind up missing important side roads worthy of exploration.
On this journey, I have come to rely on the written word for encouragement and moral support. Quotes, song lyrics, poems, and story connect us over time and space. These four phrases follow me where ever I go, some are even tattooed on my skin for when I’m in need of a quick reminder. To share them with you, I have made each one available in sticker form. Spread the love.
BE FUCKING BRAVE. This is my daily call to action. Whether it means conquering a daunting project, sharing my emotions, or getting out of bed in the morning, being brave means showing up. Come as you are. All are welcome. I am reminded of Brené Brown’s invitation to “Stay Awkward, Brave, and Kind,” but packs a little more punch. Over the years I have had many requests from parents to create a “kid friendly” version of this mantra so they too can slap stickers on their water bottles or hang them by their bathroom mirrors. After much consideration and redesigning, I have come to the conclusion that to remove or abbreviate “fucking” is a compromise that defeats the whole meaning of the mantra. The “f” word has purpose and a place. Use it when you mean it. And when I am depressed, and simply getting out from underneath the covers feels like a near impossibility, I fucking mean it.
PRESENT AND IN AWE. My left forearm permanently bares these words against a backdrop of my favorite mountains. The tattoo reminds me to take it all in, that I am merely a small part of something much bigger, in all the best ways possible. The phrase comes from a quote by one of my favorite authors, Anne Lamott, in her book on writing, titled Bird By Bird. Lamott has a way with words and brings me back to grace over and over.
“Let’s think of reverence as awe, as presence in and openness to the world…Try walking around with a child who’s going, ‘Wow, wow! Look at that dirty dog! Look at that burned-down house! Look at that red sky!’ And the child points, and you look, and you see, and you start going, ‘Wow! Look at that huge crazy hedge! Look at that teeny little baby! Look at the scary dark cloud!’ I think this is how we are supposed to be in the world – present and in awe.”
THIS. OR SOMETHING BETTER. I came upon this statement during a period when I was having an immensely difficult time letting go of something|someone I really wanted. When we have a death grip on our heart’s desires we are often thinking too small. Fear begets scarcity. This is a statement of surrender; a commitment to being present in the moment or moving forward toward something better. There are no regrets when you acknowledge and learn from your mistakes. As long as you are moving forward you are moving in the right direction. One foot in front of the other.
YOU ARE LOVED. This was the very first tattoo I received over fifteen years ago, only the lettering on my wrist is written in French (“Vous êtes aimée”) because (1) I am in love with their language and (2) at the time I was embarrassed for strangers to know I’m in need of a daily reminder. To this day I still smooth my fingers over the faded text and smile to myself, but I am no longer afraid for people to know the doubt still bubbles up inside me sometimes. The battle between being too much and not enough plays out in my body still, but I have learned to call a truce by summoning those three little words.
Be fucking brave. Present and in awe. This. Or something better. You are loved. Pass it on…