I found this post-it sized piece of paper on the floor in my room roughly a week ago. It looks like a simple piece of paper that reads “make different things.” The note is in my hand writing, but I have absolutely no memory writing this. If the note would have said anything else I normally would have tossed it in the trash. “Make different things” is significant to me because after a month of mulling over what I’ve learned this year about design, life and myself; this summed everything up in a way I could have never conceived — even though I did write this for some unrelated reason. Weird.
When people come to the end of something it is very easy to become sentimental and nostalgic. I know in the past I have been so, and at the time thought it was appropriate to divulge my personal findings to the world. Let’s replace divulge with preach. As I look back at previous writing I have done, I’ve come to realize that I was doing more preaching than reflecting. For some reason I garnered myself as some sort of false authority, allowing myself to “tell it like it is”, or so I thought at the time. In a way I am about to continue this streak; however, I proceed being mindful of my actions and conscious to reflect new found ideas and try not to preach them as law. A few posts ago I gave a warning that I was filtering ideas, trying to find some sort of final year-end resolve. So here we go.
In the last little while I have been talking to people about lifestyle and basic choices that everybody makes thinking that “this is the path that will make me happy”. Being a young adult and student, I don’t have too many things to my name. If I wanted to, I would be able to pack my entire life into a couple of suitcases. A part of me can’t help but feel discouraged because I have no matter of property that defines me, such as a house, car, television, gaming system, etc. There is a part of me though that appreciates how independent I am of material values. The same part of me enjoys not having the responsibility of owning and maintaining something like a house or car. I know some day I will probably have either or both, but right now I’m contempt. I’ve come to appreciate the little things and looking at the little things in a different way. That’s why when I found the note that said “make different things“, a trigger clicked in my brain and I felt fulfilled. And it’s not just about creating new artwork. I became more inquisitive and critical about the most random of subjects. My imagination has been given a jump-start. The greatest worth that I have at this moment is being mindful of my situation. Enjoying “the now” and what all the little things have to offer. And if there is any lack of inspiration, I find taking things out of context and revealing unknown potential can be more fun than most would imagine.
So there will be no great newly-discovered wisdom revealed or “life is . . . ” revelations. I am just moving forward with no expectations. So as you can see, school was school. Nothing incredibly ground breaking. Outside of school was a little bit more intriguing. “Make different things” brought me into an entirely new state of mind. It challenged me, and not just in art. My perspective of everything has been shifted. And I literally mean everything. It’s strange how something so small and out of context can make such a difference.
House, car, tv, gaming system is not what defines you. As Albert Einstein put it “Try not to become a man of success but rather try to become a man of value.” Success will follow you if you have a passion for what you are doing. All of those things are only material possessions but do they really exemplify who you really are especially to those around you.