I’m a tortoise. I’ve always been a tortoise. I expect I will always be a tortoise. Yet, I struggle with this basic fact even as I accept its accuracy. Normally, I don’t obsess about being a tortoise. However, a recent interaction over Christmas, has me revisiting the topic.
Paradigm Shift or Not?
Christmas dinner was served, midday, at my son’s home. The plan was to go for a walk around the neighborhood after dinner. So, when my daughter-in-law announced it was time to head out, I went to the front door and began the process of layering up for the walk. No surprise, the rest of the adults lingered chatting about this or that. When my co-grandmother began to don her outdoor gear, I casually mentioned I needed to start early, because otherwise I would be the last one getting dressed. Then, I explained, I am always the last one out of the yoga studio, because I am so slow. Her retort, “it must be nice to have so much time.” Head snap! Say what?
This comment has haunted me for two days. Perhaps I can exorcise it from my brain, by sharing it with you. The reality is we all have the same amount of time – 24 hours in day. I have learned to listen to my inner tortoise and embrace it rather than to try and remold it to fit someone else’s concept of normal.
WIPs vs. UFOs
(Works in Progress vs. Unfinished Objects)
What does this have to do with my artwork? Everything, and maybe nothing. When I look over my last decade’s worth of work, there is only one piece I started, but didn’t finish. In fact, the majority of time, my work is focused from beginning to end. I don’t have multiple pieces in process. Also, how I work is very, one foot in front of the other, or one piece combining with the next piece to form a unit. Units combining to form a block. Finally, blocks combining to form the quilt top.
Lesson Learned
What have I learned? Whether one is a tortoise or not isn’t the issue. What is essential is to know yourself and let that knowledge guide you in life. For me, that is accepting being a tortoise. What have you learned about yourself that infuses your art and way of being?
I am linking up with Nina Marie’s Off the Wall Fridays.
