- Joined
- Mar 4, 2011
- Messages
- 515
*As always, I do not mean to offend. If, by chance, I do offend, let me know, and I will try my very best to mend the situation. I am not perfect. Let me know if I make a mess, and I'll clean it up. Peace.*
Hello, it's nice to 'see' you all again, I hope everyone is doing well, having a great afternoon, night, morning, mid morning, whatever the time zone be in your area. May change light your life and balance shadow your perception... (That was my signature catch phrase for a while, verbatim, except for changing 'soul' to 'perception'. Pretty weird, huh? I thought it sounded zen-ish at the time, but I've made mistakes before.... Oh well. Thought a certain moderator would enjoy that little 'David quote'...you know who you are. *COUGH* *COUGH* howard wallace *COUGH* *COUGH*
)
Anyway, I'd like to share a discovery I made recently...but first, we can all agree that art, in all its many forms and types, is generally accepted to be a form of self expression, communication, and therapy for the brain and body, right? Since no one is present to argue with me, I'll move on...I have been stricken and ensnared by the beauty of what I call Zen Art, maybe called Sumi-e, or something like that. I bought brush after brush and ink bottle after ink bottle, and actually used them, surprisingly enough, not tirelessly, but enough to justify the purchases, at the very least.
I have managed not to sink in this incredibly difficult-to-master art form, but I am, by no means, an expert. I might have just barely achieved the beginner ranking, but I have a long, possibly life long journey ahead before I can say I am good at brush and ink 'paintings'.
The amazing thing is, though, is that I am NOT doing all this work, and buying all these materials, for the end result...solely. I believe I am not a zen master, but I am actually beginning on the path of the ever flowing circle, that I am beginning to care less about what is accomplished by my journey, and more about the journey itself. I like this path, and I embrace it. When people make me angry in my social group, I don't yell, scream, rage, break things...I turn to my brush and paper, and MAKE things, instead. When people, places or things throw me off balance, I don't lose my head, I don't destroy...I create.
And that, I believe, is a transition into my main point. Perfection is impossible to achieve, but balance is more than possible, even if it is only a momentary balance. I have yoga, and this wonderful form of art, in my life now, and despite my twisted perception, despite how much and often I am off balanced, I do find balance when I immerse myself in either of those two tasks. So, I leave you all today with some advice, (yes, advice from a twenty year old, how strange, but stranger things have happened, right?), and I hope you all find it at least somewhat useful. In order to achieve balance in your life, live a balanced life. Flow past obstacles, find the path of least resistance and most meaning to you, and follow it. There will be problems, and so, to, will solutions be there. Often to help others, you must help yourself, sometimes, to win, you must lose.
Well...that's that. Now, the real last thing I am going to ask, is...did I sound like a self help guru or what? Not too bad of a philosophy for someone who could have ended up a wild, risk taking, time slaying, party-er and partaker in illegal drugs and activities and what not, am I right? Alright, yes, it does smell like I just copied snippets from philosophical self help magazines and books and Frankenstein-ed them into one, and maybe I did, but it was not intentional at all, as I used no clear cut reference points, save for my trusty brain. Well, I hope you all have a good rest of the day, and I'll await your comments. Peace, everyone.
David
Hello, it's nice to 'see' you all again, I hope everyone is doing well, having a great afternoon, night, morning, mid morning, whatever the time zone be in your area. May change light your life and balance shadow your perception... (That was my signature catch phrase for a while, verbatim, except for changing 'soul' to 'perception'. Pretty weird, huh? I thought it sounded zen-ish at the time, but I've made mistakes before.... Oh well. Thought a certain moderator would enjoy that little 'David quote'...you know who you are. *COUGH* *COUGH* howard wallace *COUGH* *COUGH*
) Anyway, I'd like to share a discovery I made recently...but first, we can all agree that art, in all its many forms and types, is generally accepted to be a form of self expression, communication, and therapy for the brain and body, right? Since no one is present to argue with me, I'll move on...I have been stricken and ensnared by the beauty of what I call Zen Art, maybe called Sumi-e, or something like that. I bought brush after brush and ink bottle after ink bottle, and actually used them, surprisingly enough, not tirelessly, but enough to justify the purchases, at the very least.
I have managed not to sink in this incredibly difficult-to-master art form, but I am, by no means, an expert. I might have just barely achieved the beginner ranking, but I have a long, possibly life long journey ahead before I can say I am good at brush and ink 'paintings'.
The amazing thing is, though, is that I am NOT doing all this work, and buying all these materials, for the end result...solely. I believe I am not a zen master, but I am actually beginning on the path of the ever flowing circle, that I am beginning to care less about what is accomplished by my journey, and more about the journey itself. I like this path, and I embrace it. When people make me angry in my social group, I don't yell, scream, rage, break things...I turn to my brush and paper, and MAKE things, instead. When people, places or things throw me off balance, I don't lose my head, I don't destroy...I create.
And that, I believe, is a transition into my main point. Perfection is impossible to achieve, but balance is more than possible, even if it is only a momentary balance. I have yoga, and this wonderful form of art, in my life now, and despite my twisted perception, despite how much and often I am off balanced, I do find balance when I immerse myself in either of those two tasks. So, I leave you all today with some advice, (yes, advice from a twenty year old, how strange, but stranger things have happened, right?), and I hope you all find it at least somewhat useful. In order to achieve balance in your life, live a balanced life. Flow past obstacles, find the path of least resistance and most meaning to you, and follow it. There will be problems, and so, to, will solutions be there. Often to help others, you must help yourself, sometimes, to win, you must lose.
Well...that's that. Now, the real last thing I am going to ask, is...did I sound like a self help guru or what? Not too bad of a philosophy for someone who could have ended up a wild, risk taking, time slaying, party-er and partaker in illegal drugs and activities and what not, am I right? Alright, yes, it does smell like I just copied snippets from philosophical self help magazines and books and Frankenstein-ed them into one, and maybe I did, but it was not intentional at all, as I used no clear cut reference points, save for my trusty brain. Well, I hope you all have a good rest of the day, and I'll await your comments. Peace, everyone.
David
