Life should have tassels. Tassels are just an ornament that have no purpose but to be fancy and luxurious and are just something to look at. I love the entire frivolity of them and glamour and delicious joy that they bring to a useful item. We have to have chairs to sit on but a chair with tassels is even better. That is what I am doing in my paintings. I am painting these pretty girls with their longing eyes to feed that part of you that feels uplifted and inspired by tassels. Joy and beauty and elegance for a world will too many sterile places to look at.
What is Good?
How do you grade your life? Is it a good life? What constitutes a good life? It is my contention that every life is a good one. At least you had one. Even the most difficult torn up mangled wrecked ravaged horrible life is, well, good.
At least you got a chance to fight and live and breathe.
I also contend that just because you have a life that looks good on the outside might be miserable on the inside but again so what at least you were born and have a life. It’s what you do with what you get that counts. Only a fraction of people even focus on that. Who cares what you start with. Make it work. You have to make it work like its all you have to use. Because it is all you have to use. Use it up.
What would you do if you only had one day left?
Another good question: What would you do if you know that in 24 hours you would be gone? Paring down to a short time is important for writing a mission statement. After telling everyone you loved how much you loved them and spending time with them which I think is what everyone would do. What else…sew up loose ends, write a quick will, write down what you want your kids to know after you were gone. What would you tell them?? What would you do? Important living would manifest itself pretty quickly.
Pare it down to only the essentials. I bet you would read the Bible with renewed interest. I bet you would not watch tv. You might write down memories that would die with you if You did not write them down. I was thinking about this. I would write down as much of what I learned and I would tape thoughts to give loved ones. I have never been to a funeral where there was a tape of the last thoughts- although I would adore to hear something like that. Do this today. make books and recordings and love letters to leave behind.
If you could do anything…
After thinking about this one awhile, what do you think you would do? I know What I would do. I would do the same thing only bigger. I would meet the same people but have more time with them. I would get more work done. I would spend quality time way more with people I could help. I would pay back twice what I owe people in kindness.
What would you do? Don’t say “make more money” (to buy more things) because if you really think this one though the things we buy are mostly a substitute for love anyway. Stuff does not make you any better than before. In fact it can get in the way of real life.
Here is the reality. It’s not over. You can do anything more if you want to. Nobody to stop you but you. I think we realize this the older we get. I hope so anyway.
Encouragement
Surround yourself with people that do not criticize and complain and drag your spirit down. They are poison and should be avoided at all costs. A real friend is someone who offers to help and encourages you to press on, not quit. There are enough obstacles to overcome without people you know dragging you down.
We think we have to keep the same friends because we have known them so long, but you don’t. You can be proactive in this area. Cut them loose and move on. Every person who is attempting a big thing will always have tons of people who are naysayers and they can break your spirit. They might say you are nuts to attempt some hard thing.
Christopher Columbus was nuts. thank goodness he was nuts. and courageous. Better to try and fail miserably then never venture out and be in a comfort zone forever. When is it wise and when is it foolish? Big question. Nobody knows what will happen. It is best to be wise as you can possibly be and go go go into the unknown with vigor. If you stand still an airplane may drop from the sky and kill you, too. It’s not like that didn’t happen before.