During the current semester break, several events came together that caused me to stop and remember who I was am. Perhaps everyone would find it valuable to take time to remember who they were in a “past life,” i.e., in their younger years. Many surprises will arise out of that exercise.
One of those revealing events for me came in the form of an email from my brother. He had sent me a link to a beautiful site called “Trawlers and Tugs Blog.” http://trawlersntugs.com/blog/ All she does is cover art about working boats. I suggest you check it out because of the beautiful art work in her posts.
In response to his email, I said that as much as I enjoyed painting with watercolors, I have taken no time to indulge in anything artistic – and that I missed it. It was his answer that made me think. He said, “It bothers me that you don’t take time for yourself to make music, paint, sew, act, direct, etc. All my life I associated those kind of things with you.” I promised him I would start again.
Another revealing event is one that actually comes every other spring semester. I teach a course called “Psychology and the Expressive Arts.” It’s my favorite class to teach, and yet I put my own artistic past aside and simply teach others how to draw on their creativity.
Sometimes I get a glimpse of that “old Lucy” when I’m teaching other courses, too, but I shove it aside in the interest of the students. This year in my preparation for the “expressive arts” class to begin on January 10, it came to me that I need to take an active part in the very class I teach on creativity.
When I find myself re-reading books like Who You Were Meant to Be: A Guide to Finding or Recovering Your Life’s Purpose, Who You Were Meant to Be: A Guide to Finding or Recovering Your Life’s Purpose
So I went out to my storage shed and started rummaging around for my art materials, deeply buried. When I opened up the first box of pastels, I said “Ohhh!” right out loud. The brilliant colors took my breath away, and tears came into my eyes. I cleaned up an old oak index card file box I have, put all my boxes of pastels in it, and placed it with a big art pad. These are going into my car to have handy.
Perhaps you are someone who has already re-discovered the “old you” – the authentic you – and are living the life you were meant to live. If so, I congratulate you! My suspicion is that most who will read this post need a reminder to take time this New Year and think about who they are.
As an instructor, I must be authentic if I want to continue to inspire my students to be authentic – and creative.
Hau`oli Makahiki Hou!
(Happy New Year!)
Ahhhh, Lucy….you have picked at one of my old sore spots and made it bleed…..Although I never considered myself an artist, I did enjoy working with watercolors, pastels, pencils and charcoals…(I never tried oils or acrylics)…and haven’t done anything much – or hardly anything – in quite a few years….except for an art play date with my friend Sue about a year and half ago, when I tried a small colored pencil still life.
Every once in a while I see a striking photo that make my fingers itch to try to paint or draw it…Just recently the photo of the daughter of one of my Facebook friends had me itching to pick up pastel chalks again…!
Maybe that should be one of my resolutions this year….to take time to let whatever spark of artistic talent I might have to flare up again.
Hau’oli Makahiki Hou, Lucy!
It sounds like this post did for you what my brother’s email did for me! I wonder how long it takes to re-ignite those sparks after we have neglected them so long?? I join you in making that one of my intentions for the year!
Aloha,
Lucy
I have so much in my life at this time that I’ve misplaced myself…..Charcoal, pastels and ink – yes, they too have been put aside in my life – and I miss them terribly. They lay gathering dust at the bottom of my desk…….one day, hopefully soon!
Aloha,
Evie
Ah, Evie! A strong emotion grabs us when we recognize how much we’ve “misplaced” in the interest of earning a living. I read a book once that said we don’t need to “earn” a living – that we “deserve” a living. And for me, and you and many others, we deserve to do what we love and miss! Hau`oli Makahiki Hou!
‘we don’t need to “earn” a living – that we “deserve” a living.’
I like that!
I found myself stopping and staring at a box of prismacolor colored pencils; the huge box with ALL the colors just the other day. Tried to think of someone who might have appreciated that box as a gift, but came up empty. Now I know why – the box was meant for me. Will I run back to the store and purchase it? Not now. But I know they are there waiting for me when the time is right. Now to find my high tec metal pencil sharpener! Thank you, Lucy!
Oh, Pamela! How quickly most of us forget to look for the art that lies within! I do hope you gift yourself with the pencils and share the results! Aloha, Lucy
Thank you Lucy for this post!! I love it and interestingly enough a few of my New Year’s resolutions have included “getting me, back to me”. I’ve played with different art mediums and am not good with most, but don’t care, as it’s for me anyway. One thing I’m trying to do is get back to being really active outside, hiking and biking and taking lots of photos… now that’s me 🙂
That seems to be a recurring theme for many of us, doesn’t it? We can get so caught up in our current lives that we aren’t sure just who we need to get back to being! I remember hiking or riding my horse out into the countryside with an art pad tucked in along with my water and snacks. It’s not about being a great artist, but doing what wells up inside. I appreciate your comments this morning, Ann.
I am hoping that you are obsessed with your pastels and colored pencils leaving no time for blogging.
Oh, Pamela! If only that were the case, I’d be happy! Actually, I just finished the second week of the Spring semester, so I’ve been totally swamped with that. When asking my students to make a date with their “inner artist,” I realized I had been neglecting my own. Thank you so much for the reminder!