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Monday, November 27, 2017

Are We Art?



Are We ART?

1. My Life is an unfinished painting which evolves as I age. Some people would say, “I’m devilish soul exploring life without a plan.  I know my life’s painting changes from day to day and month to month. I periodically write poetry about my life and the occurrences with interlopers.  Sometimes I like to be alone.  I tell people that my life is my life to live as I see fit. People try to destroy my painting with actions and words. I won’t allow another artist to edit my painting. I’m the artist and editor. 

HOW TO BEGIN YOUR NEW LIFE....WHERE TO START? CAN I EVEN DO IT?EVER BEEN TOLD YOU’RE A FAILURE?WE JUDGE. WE ALL JUDGE OR INTERPRET WHAT WE SEE. WE ARE ALL FACED WITH CHALLENGES OR CHOICES ON A DAILY BASIS. HOW WE SURVIVE IS BASED ON HOW WE RESPOND....WHAT IS NEXT ON THE AGENDA....WE NEED TO DO A DAILY ASSESSMENT. WE REALLY NEED TO BE HONEST WITH OURSELVES...NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT TO START.WE NEED TO STAND NAKED IN THE MIRROR AND TAKE A LONG HARD LOOK. DON'T YOU OWE IT TO YOURSELF TO BE HONEST?


               Every beginning has an end, vice versa. When one door closes, another door opens. What happens when one day you are told , “You are a failure and disappointment.” or “What do you want to be when you grow up?” or “You need to decide what you want to be.” When or what you decide is completely your decision. As Robert Frost coined,    I shall be telling this with a sigh.

Somewhere ages and ages hence: “I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.”  Recently, I had my image shattered, because I had chosen my path not theirs.. I began to ponder and these words came to mind...I began to put it in writing to release from my shoulders. My mirror was shattered...

The Shattered Mirror

Recently, I had my mirror cracked actually it was shattered...
What I thought I saw in the mirror wasn't as it appeared to be.
The mirror sometimes lies to us or distorts the truth.
We are actually afraid to appear naked in the mirror.
The mirror like TV adds 10 pounds and so on...
So, the mirror delivers bad news when we least expect it.
How to put the mirror back together once it is shattered?
The mirror is like our life.
Once shattered it is hard to put back together.
So, you slowly pick up each piece and glue them back in the "same" place.
Eventually, the mirror will be back together.
Will it be as it was in the beginning or before?
Doubtful...
There will be a new mirror and new image.
Will the image be better than before....only time will tell.
My image in the mirror is still me, 10 pounds and all...
So what appears with our image may be slightly different.

Our choices when putting the mirror back together will decide the view....Through The Shattered Mirror. Only you can put the image in the mirror back together. Only you can decided where each piece goes. Only you can paint the image of what others see.

How do you respond? Do you respond? How do you repair the mirror? You think, If I had only decided differently, or had a crystal ball, things would be different? You begin to ponder. Sometimes you have to go back before you can go forward. Because the mirror sees...

The Mirror    

The Mirror sees The Truth,
But ponders the words.
The Mirror sees the object,
But clouds The Vision.
The Mirror tells a story,
But lends itself to variation.
The Mirror tells your age,
But can lie.
The Mirror speaks of your life,
But utters nothing.
The Mirror hangs on the wall,
But adds dimension.
The Mirror shatters an image,
But shows many facets.
And as I stepped into The Mirror,

I lose all perception but gained a new facet of myself...

Dunno if my story is important but...How you see you through my paintings is important as is yours.. We are Art and the artist. Lets begin by painting the first few strokes.

Let’s begin at birth.  I had a traumatic birth with many complications, which extended throughout my childhood until the age of eleven. I was in and out of the hospital with many childhood health issues along with my weakened immune system. They found out I had peripheral nervous system issue in my legs. It was discovered after ironing my legs. In elementary school, my parents were asked to hold their son, me, back one grade because of missing too many days of school. My parents felt it wasn’t necessary. So I started being healthier and focused on school, as well as less social. I sat upfront in class, completed my homework ahead of schedule and studied making high marks.

             I had lost my job due to personal differences with my new manager. I lost my job after nine plus years. The road not chosen had been chosen for me. The journey down this road was a tough winding and full of potholes. It began with losing my house then my car. I was ejected from my house Thanksgiving week. I had no place to go but a friend helped me with a reference to a landlord. The apartment wasn't in the best of areas but close to work. It had the space at a reasonable price. I stayed in the apartment through thick and thin. I had gotten robed 4 times which prompted a security system. My car had gotten vandalized. I am not sure why I was being tested in this manor. I had a friend to tell me, “I can see that you miss taking care of patients.” He referred me to his hospital. I applied to 4 positions at the hospital. I had interviews setup. I took the first opportunity before me a PCA position at the hospital, I had gotten a regular 9 to 5 job at bank after being unemployed. I had to rethink my choices. Actually the bank decided I was not a fit for their institution. During the bank position, I was driving almost an hour each way five days a week. I should thank the bank for telling me, “I wasn't a “fit” for their establishment.” The position was monotonousness, boring, and not me. I thought, “How dare they let me go on the 90th day of training?” How dare they? I guess my road was going in another direction. I guess I had unfinished work. My day of waking up at 4:30am ended. My day changed again...


The Day

Hustle, Hurry!
The Day has begun.
Stop!Look, you forgot to shave!
Rush, even faster, you are getting behind.
Water, soap, towel...
Wet, wash, dry...
Wake Up!
Tic, Toc, tic, toc.
The clock chimes half past the hour.
Out the door to a cold car, but no time to waste.
One block, two blocks, and then stop, the light is RED.
Hurry, turn Green.
Park? Where?
Finally a parking spot...
Clock in with a few minutes to spare.
Work, work, and more work...
Lunch...Yeah.
Work, work, and more work.
Tic, Toc, tic, toc.
The clock chimes half past the hour.
Out the door to a cold car, but no time to waste.
One block, two blocks, and then stop, the light is RED.
Hurry, turn Green.
Park...Finally Home.
Today is a good day to have a good day!

             You start by imaging or creating. You image you having a good day. You will have a good day. So you have to be creative or inventive. I am an artist, which creates art or skillfully and creatively performs something.  Art implies the mastery of any sort of craft.  An artist begins to conceptualize or ponder ideas. The problem with words-once spoken, you can't take em back. Words are usually literally read but a painting or sculpture lends itself to interpretation by the artist and the viewer.

             Let me paint you a picture. I am from an Appalachian family. I am the first person to attend and graduate from college. These experiences and family shaped my character and professional goals. At birth, I was born with eight ounces of blood, lack of iron and an impaired immune system. Throughout my childhood, I was sick for three to six months out of each year. These among other life experiences developed my admiration and respect for the medical profession. I asked my family physician many questions furthering my interest in healthcare.
My heritage starts in the Appalachian hills of Kentucky. Years later, my family moved to another rural
part of Kentucky. My grandmother had a fourth grade education, while my mother and father had ninth and eighth grade education, respectively. At age 43, my mother attended night school to earn her GED and my father considered pursuing his as well.
I am the first to attend college and get a degree. My mother knew it was the only way out of rural Kentucky. My father  wanted me to follow in his footsteps working the family business.  During college, my grandmother  had open-heart surgery and her children wanted to place her in a nursing home. I left school to support her. She will say she took care of me , but I say  we took care of each other.
Eventually, I moved to Columbus. I needed employment. So I went to work for Brooks Homes Inc. caring for MRDD clients. I taught sign language, gave medication, performed general household chores, and assisted with their daily living .
I decided to return to college and attended The Ohio State University. There, I was a founding member of a few organizations, Campus Partners and Project Community, and on committees and other groups. Campus Partners is a group for Redevelopment and Revitalization of the University District, specifically, south campus gateway project. We formed Project Community to inform the student organizations of University District community volunteering activities.
While there were many unexpected turns in my life and breaks in my education, I do not regret any of my decisions. Everything happens for a reason. You just have to continue reaching for your goals.
You have traveled my road and seen my painting. You know the painting is ever changing and evolving through choices. What will be your painting? What others see will be different interpretation of your idea. The painting will be yours to interpret but others will attempt to interpret you. Time to get painting and no time for regret.