Words to Live By

Do you have a favorite saying? An inspiring quote, a philosophical statement that guides your life, a motto by which you live?

My “life philosophy” can be easily summed up with these words:

“If you can laugh at it, you can live with it.”

Take a moment to think about it. Yes, sometimes a little humor helps us through the difficult days. Sometimes just finding something to smile about can get us through a challenge we’re facing. I won’t say my simple philosophy is a cure-all for everything, but it has been a good reminder over the years to look for what’s good, to see those silver linings in the dark clouds, and to accept the occasional curve balls life throws at us.

I’ve always felt the importance of words. Think back to your childhood. Most likely you can recall — word for word — certain things that were said to you, or about you. Hopefully they were good things filled with positive energy; all too often though, our young minds are scarred by words that hurt so deeply we never quite get over them.

As a child, I was a prodigious reader. I devoured everything I could find, including magazines around the house, many of which offered “condensed” versions of novels. One of the most memorable was called “Motto Day”. This “short novel” appeared in the November 1960 issue of McCall’s magazine.

.

I’m sure I read about the handsomest table settings ever set since “table-setting” was one of my most beloved childhood activities, and looking back now, I’m curious as to who the most attractive men in the whole world might have been. I no doubt read the entire issue, but only one thing stands out. Motto Day, written by Charlotte Armstrong. Reading this story was one of the seminal moments of my life.

I’m all but certain I’ve mentioned “Motto Day” before in the course of writing this blog, simply because it did have such a profound effect on me. To summarize it as best I can in a few short sentences, the novel tells the story of four troubled friends, and the well-meaning mother of one. To help themselves over the hurdles they’re facing in life, they make a pact. Each will share a meaningful “motto”. They will each draw one at random, and for twenty-four hours they will embrace these words to live by, doing their best to follow whatever adage they’ve received. Things go awry, of course. Instead of helpful sayings, each individual receives something odd — a few words that don’t seem to have any real meaning. And yet, they search for meaning and purpose, and they find it. It’s a beautiful story. It’s an inspiring story. The moral is that if we look for meaning, if we look for purpose, if we look for goodness, we can find it.

Now, none of this really is too applicable to my life in the art studio. Oh, yes, I have learned to look for any little bit of “good” I can find in my drawings and paintings, especially now with my vision problems. And, yes, I do laugh at my art from time to time.

There are other things I often say to myself as I’m drawing and painting, and as I listened to my usual “self-talk”, I became curious. Do you have a familiar saying you bring out from time to time as you’re doing artwork? Are there little words and phrases you use to encourage yourself? Little reminder statements you sometimes say?

The “laugh at it, live with it” statement isn’t one I use a lot in the studio, but I do hear myself often saying other things:

“It could be worse!”

“Just do the best you can.”

“It doesn’t have to be perfect.”

“Art is illusion.”

.

Along with these, I often remind myself to “step back,” or that “when it’s finished, it’s finished.” And on my bulletin board, I have a reminder: USE MORE PAINT. I’m often skimpy about putting enough paint on my palette, getting enough paint on my brush, dabbing enough paint on my canvas. A written reminder does help.

And then, there is my favorite quote about the creative process, and you’ve heard me say this many, many times:

Creativity is making a mess… and then cleaning it up.

.

Life is filled with inspiring quotes, words we can choose and use, words to live by. As I’m getting my art studio in order, finding an inspirational saying is on my to-do list. I want to pick something that truly inspires me, something I can print out and post where I will see it every day. I’ve been reading lots of good quotes, but I haven’t yet chosen “the one”.

If you’d like to browse, and possibly choose an “art quote” for yourself, here is a great list, with quotes from artists, writers, poets, and others who’ve made significant contributions to society.

100 Quotes on Art and Creativity

One that stands out to me is from English writer Neil Gaiman:

“The one thing that you have that nobody else has is you. Your voice, your mind, your story, your vision. So write and draw and build and play and dance and live only as you can.”

.

I guess it’s especially meaningful for me at the moment as it speaks of having my own “vision”. It’s problematic at the moment, but it is part of my art experience. So, indeed, I will take my voice, my mind, my story, and my impaired vision, and I will do the best I can here in my little art studio today and every day.

WHAT ARE YOUR WORDS TO LIVE BY IN LIFE?

IN ART?