I am a "personal person".
That may sounds funny but I think it is one of the best descriptors of me- I like things to be personalized, unique- this is probably why i am an artist, teacher, child life specialist, etc.- I like unique, one of a kind things, it's why I like to have people over, to make things, it's why I like to swap goods and services with friends. I like collecting little bits and rememberances of people. It makes my life more emotionally cozy. It's why i make my friends wedding cakes, its why i have dinner parties, and showers, and bring people treats, its why I still hand write notes on personalized stationary. It just means more that way. I love songs, pictures, stories, clothes, objects because they remind me of moments of my life. I like the interesting unique things that make us individuals- our interests, our experiences, our likes, our dislikes.
I like making connections with people. In fact I think far too often in our world today we maintain very surface relationships with others. I have found that sometimes very random people, and not necesarily my closest friends have changed me the most profoundly or may live in my memory the longest.
It is time, service, sharing that binds/bonds us to others. My series of branch paintings was inspired by that concept. (The colored geometric shapes and representations of those moments, events, "things", exchanges , the people- as represented in the gold) We encounter a lot of people in our lives- we have experiences/exchanges/ideas with them - Thats what our lives our ultimately made up of. Whether or not we stop to recognize it, the people we meet and our relationships ultimately shape our lives.
We can't predict what "life experiences" are ahead of us but, even beyond that i often think more that we can't predict the people and relationships ahead of us- how will those people those moments together change us, change how we think, and take us in new directions.
I have always been fascinated by interactions between people- some people we just spark with--these connections are often so palpable. I am not just talking about chemistry, or attraction, something deeper, these connections may come in many forms- like women who feel like your mother or sister or people you feel a untimely familiarity with. (Even with taking a doctoral level class in relationship development and mate selection I find topic one i can puzzle on for hours)
I guess my call today is to be more personal- put yourself out there- let people get to know you in a way that changes them. Be remembered deeply not just pleasantly.
I love sitting and thinking about those strong connections with people we make almost instantly. I can't wait (well, I can, but you know what I mean) to know of the friendships I had before this life, and how those friendships had an effect on this life. Cool stuff.
ReplyDeleteI bet you make a great friend. :)
i have always (does a year or so count as always?) liked your "branch" pieces, these thoughts make me like them all the more. i've been trying hard lately to be a better, more sincere person and friend. your post is a good reminder. you really are smart :)
ReplyDeletep.s. i don't think i ever told you but this is my absolute fav piece of yours. if i had the money, i'd buy it in an instant.
ReplyDeletealissa- you need to be here- i could swap some of your photographic skills for a painting (ps always a steep friend discount if you ever get serious!)
ReplyDeleteI realized after reading your post about being a personal person and looking at your painting I got lost in those branches and my thought about friendships. Wonderful painting from a wonderful person.
ReplyDelete"People will forget what you said, they will forget what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel."
ReplyDeleteYou cross my mind so often still and are remembered deeply and with love, always. S