I’ve been reading this book called Daily Painting by Carol Marine. The main message is to encourage artists to paint daily for their art to improve. I’ve only read a few pages but I am all in with the idea.
For my first painting, I painted a stream that flows into a river. As most of my paintings/ artworks/ writings reflect my inner thoughts, I wanted to share why I chose to paint this piece.
The past weeks have not been the best of times for me and Howell. I’ve been thinking a lot about life in general. One thing that keeps coming to mind is how I want to live my life. What do I want it to look like?
One gets a good perspective of how insignificant our issues can be if we look at the long-term consequences of the things we do on an everyday basis. It gives perspective on the things we consider “huge” and on the things we consider “petty/ trivial”. As Howell and I are at an age where we have all the resources we need at our disposal, it would be such a waste to live life as if it were just ours alone to live.
What are the good things we have for, if we choose to keep it to ourselves?
I thought of an imagery of a stream. The stream trickles down water from various sources and flows it to rivers. I want my life to be life-giving, not because I produce life on my own but that because I am connected to a source that never dries up. I want my words, my actions, my decisions, to reflect the purest of waters my source gives.
If there was just one thing that I want people to remember me by, it would be how gracious I have been, in whatever situation I were in. I want to be proud not of my achievements or my stature, or of my possessions I have acquired in my lifetime.
Instead, I want to be proud of the times I chose to forgive in spite of the pain. I want to be proud of giving even when I feel like there is no more left to give. I want to be proud of the fact that I have tried to reach out to those who are in pain, alone, and helpless. I want to be proud of living a life where I was able to give my all, especially to those who need it. I want to live a life that seeks to give, expecting nothing in return.
I hope my daily words, thoughts, and actions will help me achieve that – to be a life-giving stream, no matter the situation.
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