Do you feel guilty sitting around the house doing nothing? I do, even during the global pandemic. Doing nothing shows a new level of respect as a response to staying in isolation in times of coronavirus. And I still find myself battling with dos and don'ts.
I begin my day sitting at my kitchen table facing the west window of my apartment. Looking over the palm trees with my tea... it's impossible not to notice the contrast with morning colored sky. While birds sing along in perfect alignment with crashing waves.
I have watched the night pass by and wake up with books over me on a page I need to read again. I can never remember exactly the chapter I fell asleep.
Recently, on one of my evening walks in the neighborhood, I gazed out a frame with such a powerful saying *. See number 06 on my list*. It triggered some of my deepest feelings related to my artistic practice. I thought that if somehow generated more feelings, it was important to ponder.
Do you ponder over things you see, feel, or some deep stuff like, 'What’s my purpose in life?' Or not so deep like ‘Why do blueberries taste so good?’ Okay, maybe you don’t ponder about fruits much. But I do think it’s a good thing to ponder.
Spending time thinking brings lots of benefits in self-discovery and creativity. So here are my top 10 thoughts I've gathered recently from books, quotes, life, and so on…
1. “When you start working, everybody is in your studio - the past, your friends, enemies, the art world, and above all, your own ideas - all are there. But as you continue painting, they start leaving, one by one, and you are left completely alone. Then, if you’re lucky, even you leave.” (John Cage)
2. “Practice any art, music, singing, dancing, acting, drawing, painting, sculpting, poetry, fiction, essays, reportage, no matter how well or badly, not to get money and fame, but to experience becoming, to find out what’s inside you, to make your soul grow.” (Kurt Vonnegut)
3. “And the truth of your experience can only come through your own voice.” (Anne Lamott. Bird by Bird)
4. “How alive I’m willing to be”? (Anne Lamott. Bird by Bird)
5. “Creative life requires a diligent, systematic effort to find techniques that work for you, especially cognitive ones that retrain your neurons to think differently.” (Eric Maisel.DailyOM)
6. “Never be with anyone who tries to silence the art inside you.” (Boots. Sadly, I couldn’t find much information about the author)
7. “And each thought we have become a peaceful protest.” (Gabrielle Bernstein. Super Attractor)
8. “Be willing to be different.” (Warren Buffett)
9. “I’m part of the whole, all of which is governed by nature.” (Marcus Aurelius, Meditations)
10. “Tantalus’s curse from ancient Greece - forever reaching for something.” (Nir Eyal. Indistractable)
I hope you enjoyed it. Feel free to share your pondering thoughts. I will be so happy to hear from you.
Love,
Drica