Enjoying the Gods’ Gifts to Me:
Not Postponing Joy
Whether building a life or a piece of art, sometimes it’s only in the process of creation that we discover exactly what we want to make, what we find beautiful and meaningful, and how to achieve it.
Bought a huge copal bead. It’s like holding sunshine and the rest of the cosmos in my hand. Was going to string it, but thought I might just use it as the best worry stone ever.
Couldn’t decide.
Then I quickly threw a temporary pendant together, using the copal, so that I’d have that beautiful sunshine on my person all day. This meant I could easily touch the copal throughout the day, enjoying its smooth, buttery, warmth against my fingers. I wasn’t crazy about the necklace, but adoring the necklace wasn’t the point. The point was to take my time deciding whether to use the copal as a worry bead, necklace, or whatever else, while enjoying the bead in the meantime.
It’s been a few weeks now. Guess what? I love the necklace, exactly as it is. Its simple design makes me happy. I’m keeping it as is.
The whole process got me thinking, and there are two lessons here for me. The first one focuses on the creative process. If an artist waits for the perfect idea before starting to create something, they might never manifest anything. Sometimes, it’s only in the process of creation that we discover exactly what we want to make, what we find beautiful and meaningful, and how to achieve it.
So if you’re stuck creatively because you lack the “right” ideas, just start making something, even if it’s not your ideal goal. The process of creating something will likely give you the exact ideas you long for.
The first lesson is fairly easy for me to apply, but the second one is something I have to really work at in some parts of my life. The second lesson is to apply the process outlined in the first lesson to all parts of my life: to create as full a life as possible, I want to work with what gifts my Gods have so generously given me, instead of putting off living until I have the perfect idea. It will come to me if I do what I can now. So mote it be.
Sometimes (alot) I neglect to follow through and read. I save your emails to go back and read at a later date.
I get artistically stuck sometimes. I think it’s because of too many ideas in my head. Chaotic mind syndrome. I have to practice to “Focus” on one project at a time.
I love the Copal necklace! And I love You Francesca!
Sandy, Thank you for your lovingly supportive comments and for sharing your insightful personal process. And you know I love you too!
Thank you Francesca for your comments and for checking out my Instagram! Btw, I love the simplicity of your necklace – sooo cute esp. the eye! I find that simplicity is paradoxically the hardest thing to do 🙂 ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ K
Simplicity the hardest thing to do, ain’t that the truth! Thanks for your compliment!
You are soooo welcome! I esp. love simplicity in jewelry and value it highly and I love asian brushwork and printmaking for that reason as well. Hugs, K.
Beautifully said and illustrated with your Copal necklace! Thank you Francesca! I’m doing a #30daysofart campaign on Instagram right now and find that what you said resonates…i paint and I paint daily and that practice in itself brings forth beauty in me, and hopefully in all it touches. Shine on!
Luv, Kathy
Spirit Animals: enchanted art + poetry
kathycrabbe.com
Thanks so much, Kathy. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ I’ve been watching your process on Instagram and love what you’re doing with your challenge. And I love what you express about it in your above comment.