"I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.” Michelangelo I wonder, does everyone have a boulder they’re given to carry through their lives? A constant reminder of a very particular lesson they’re meant to learn? Maybe it’s just me, I don’t know. But the boulder of my life, while heavy and awkward to carry, is also the lens through which I see myself. It says to me over and over, you exist, you are here, you are held to the earth through the weight of this heavy load. Though setting it down and walking away is always an option, it is only through the bearing of its weight, that the uniqueness of your life's meaning comes through. The pull of gravity is made stronger, the footprints you leave, deeper. Then one day, in a quiet voice from the stars, comes the message that this boulder is yours to shape. Like the sculpture that lives within a slab of marble, the boulder has its own creative potential. What can your boulder become? Some people create through words. Others through images or music or the spray of flowers in a garden or the lingering taste of a meal prepared with love. Some people dedicate their lives to helping carry the boulders of others. Some people simply let the light of the world shine through their daily actions, lightening the load for all of us. The voice of the stars is calling your name. Are you listening? Your life means something The number one regret people express at the end of their lives is wishing they'd had the courage to live a life true to themselves; not the life others expected of them. There’s a reason people avoid living their true lives. It can be scary. That’s why finding a creative outlet is so important. It gives you a way to explore your truths, without putting anything at risk. It may lead you to make significant changes or to find a new perspective on your life. Or it may simply bring you comfort to be in tune with who you are and what really matters to you. This is especially important when you’re going through hard things. Life can seem impossible to bear sometimes, but our human spirits are incredibly resilient. Creative outlets show you that. They bring more out of you than you even know is in there. They guide your thoughts and courage in new directions. They shore up your spine and make your heart purr. The worst we ever feel is when we’re disconnected from ourselves. Even in the midst of pain or loss, we’re stronger when we’re not cut off from our truths. "To practice any art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow. So do it." -- Kurt Vonnegut Would you like to grow your soul? If so, I invite you to join me on a writing journey, where the shape of your boulder will get chiseled into the most pleasing sight you ever did see.
Say what you need to say in haiku Whatever you do, don’t let yourself have that number one regret. Start there, and the rest will take care of themselves.