Delving Deeper into Life

Hey there again! So, this is the first time after saying that I will do a good job posting that I am actually posting in two consecutive weeks. I cannot tell you how proud of myself I am. Okay, so that sounded a little self centered, but I really don't mean it that way. It is just good to feel success. I think everyone likes that feeling.

Anyway, I have done a lot of thinking this week. Granted, I had less time for thinking this week than I had last week because I started working 40 hours again and going to class for 6 hours a week, but it's okay. I think the mental stimulus from working and going to class actually helped me to think better. Having less time to just think made me think more objectively about things. That is one of the keys to doing things in the art world: necessity creates the environment to come up with ideas better than an overly relaxed situation.

It has been good for me to start working. Too much free time kind of kills you after a while. Relaxation is only good for so long. Being mentally dead because you don't have productive stimulus gets pretty tiresome after a while. As I went back to class and work, I had a neat opportunity come up to think, and to think deeply. For the class I'm taking (advanced printmaking) I had to come up with project proposals for three projects, and then we created a theme for the fourth project together as a class. Since we just did that on Wednesday, I am now trying to come up with my idea for that project. We are going to be basing our project on our own personal vulnerabilities. We are going to delve deep into ourselves, to find our biggest insecurity, our deepest fear about ourselves, and then we have to confront it. I am so excited to do this. I think this project will end up being the most honest "self portrait" of sorts that any artist can do. Not that it is a real self portrait, but I think it will show a lot more than an actual self portrait will about ourselves. Nothing comes closer than the truth than what we are afraid to let out. The cool thing about this project is that upon choosing our subject matter, we can decide if we want to embrace or try to overcome this imperfection. I personally would agree with Andy Warhol's outlook on imperfections. He believed that they are what make us beautiful. Our idiosyncrasies make us who we are for better or for worse. Sometimes, the best thing we can do is embrace it. Just because we don't like it doesn't necessarily mean that it's all bad. I mean, this is one of my favorite scriptures from the Book of Mormon, and it illustrates that perfectly:

And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them. (Ether 12:27) 

Honestly, so many of us refuse to acknowledge our "ugly side" because it seems like everyone else is so perfect. They aren't, so why should we have to be. That doesn't mean that we can't or shouldn't try to come closer to perfection, but we shouldn't kill ourselves over it. Here's a super good article about this mentality if you are looking for extra reading. But honestly, can you imagine if we were all "perfect" we would then all be the same, and life isn't fun without variation. 

 Anyway, life is good, and I get the chance to look at it up close and personal this semester. I feel that there is no greater privilege than to look life straight in the eye and learn from it. Embrace it, the good and the bad. Love the silly string fights and Polaroids. Love the silly memories with friends as well as the ones that might make you cry. Love it all no matter how hard. Loving involves accepting the good and the bad. That's what life is about. It's about changing our perspective and widening our horizons.

New Year, New Eyes

So you know how everyone says "New Year, New me" and stuff like that? Well, I like it for sure. I am a fan of New Year's resolutions, but I have decided on several interesting ones for this year (and yes, I know I am posting this about a week late).

Of course, I will say like always that one goal is to be a better blogger. I think deciding why will finally help me to actually stick to it. I blog to show the world how I see it. To offer my perspective on the beautiful blessing that we call life. I guess that is part of the reason I study art. I am in the middle of my schooling for graphic design, and I am learning more and more every day the importance of communicating my idea to positively influence the world around me. Don't get me wrong, life isn't all butterflies and daisies, but I am looking at the world through new eyes this year. That is the basis of my resolutions. I will look at myself through new eyes, even if it means changing things that I don't like while appreciating the things that I do. It's finding beauty in others, whether the beauty is something that I share or better yet, that person's idiosyncrasy. It is finding joy and meaning in the small things, and trying to see the big picture when necessary.

Better yet, it isn't just about observing. It is about doing something because of the observations. So many people in my generation want to just sit back and like the world that passes in front of them. Sadly, in doing so, they miss the chance to be a part of it: to really change the world. That doesn't mean that each of us needs to be famous, but we can all make a difference, even if we don't see the results and each part of the chain reaction we are a part of. Toward the end of last year, I watched the movie "Pay it Forward." For those of you who haven't seen it, do. It will help you to see how one ordinary person can do extraordinary things.

That's what I want to do, but for me, I kind of do it differently. I can positively influence an art world that is floundering in negative stimulus. I can smile at someone walking down the street. I won't formally request anything in exchange, but I will always hope that my actions influence others to want to do good. I have spent a lot of time thinking about ways I can get this positivity around. I want it to spread like a virus, infecting everything in its path. Let's be honest, a lot of people weren't happy with the way 2016 ended (I'm actually impartial there), so why not turn the tables. Let's stop blaming everyone else for our unhappiness, and do something to fix it. Let's do something to make others believe in this world again. It's not all bad out there, and it's up to us to find the good and put it on display like the Mona Lisa at the Louvre.

So do what you do, and love it. Love yourself while you are at it, even the parts that you think aren't worthy of loving. Be happy while you change your life, even if the progress seems slow. Keep up your positive attitude even if it seems like your actions don't change the world around you. Patience and joy are the keys to it all. Happy New Year! Let's make it the best one yet.

PS. Super thanks to Mikayla, my roommate last semester for this fun pic. She is kind of the best.

PPS. Probably going to redesign my blog again soon--I can't seem to find something that I'm in love with yet. Hopefully soon, but be on the lookout.