What is life?
I suppose we can think about this question from many angles. Life is love. Life is living. Life is family. Life is hard. Life is a grind. Life is wonderful. Life is…
…an endless list of possibilities.
Our life is really a collective of all our moments. Moments that we each create — in this life we are living (however we are doing that).
“In art, the moment is my true teacher. It is life expressing itself through me. Art, then, becomes effortless, which is the now-moment itself.” ~ Philippe Benichou
If we think of our life as a canvas — what is it we are painting onto the canvas of us? These moments that we have, whatever they are — they ARE our life canvas.
Life is art.
We are art! We have created this person who we are — by our experiences, our choices, our living…
Messy one minute, beautiful the next.
Your life is what YOU put on that canvas. Or that song you sing. Or that dance you dance. It’s the life you live. Today.
Not tomorrow.
Or next week.
Or when you have x dollars in the bank.
What you have is now. Tomorrow is an unknown…but today, today is a part of that canvas of your life!
You are creating your life, right now. Maybe it’s a bit messy, or maybe it looks amazing. Perhaps it’s not exactly what you envisioned your “life canvas” to look like (or maybe it’s right on the money). It doesn’t matter. What matters is that you see the beautiful soul that you are (and you are most definitely an amazing and beautiful soul) — and create from that space! And this life of yours…it then begins to reflect more truly who you are.
Your life is meant to be beautiful art. Paint the canvas that is truly you…
by Lance Ekum
{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }
For me life is gift that you know how to take care. Just like an empty canvas, it is up to you what do you want to be look like.
dlysen´s Last Fabulous Post ..Keep in touch with my friends
Exactly!! Life IS a gift – love that!
I teach painting at an art center and what I REALLY teach is never to quit even if you have the biggest mess and total chaos on your canvas, and also in your life! In fact, I tell my students to bring their canvases back to class as many times as it takes to bring order out of chaos and to get a painting they love. Really, the more under-layers you have, the more beautiful your work (your life) becomes.
Jean,
This is so wonderfully said – and…you living this “life is art” thought! That is so awesome – and what a way to really enforce this with the students you have in your class.
Thanks so much for sharing this!!
Beautiful! I am trying to paint Lance!!! Paint a different canvas that is all about always learning & always a work in progress!
Jody – Fit at 54´s Last Fabulous Post ..Gratitude Monday & Air Conditioning; Remembering
Hi Jody!!
And you are on the right path – “painting” on the canvas by opening up to new possibilities!! Keep at it, dear friend…
Isn’t life always just a little bit messy? If it’s not we simply aren’t living it yet LOL Lance… I love this piece. You’re back. I love it. Jean.
Hi Jean!!!
It’s great to ‘see’ you here (you always bring a smile to my face!)!!
Yep…life definitely has a bit of a “messy” component to it. And that’s what adds a deeper level to our canvas….
oh and… I especially appreciated the art/life reference. I think you’re definitely onto something there LOL
Jean Burman´s Last Fabulous Post ..A Brush With Destiny
…and you….amazing painter friend…ha!!! (there you go again…making me smile!!)
Nice work Lance,
Life certainly is what we make of it. We need to be involved & be curious…certainly not a time to sit on the sidelines until ‘game over’. Thankyou.
be good to yourself
David
David Stevens´s Last Fabulous Post ..Living Life Today – how “old” are your thoughts?…are they as old as you?
David,
That’s a great way to look at it – when we’re in there and involved in life – we are creating a life canvas that is more fitting to who we really are. And that’s a great place to be in life…
Great to see you here today!
Yes, life is art and by truly engaging ourselves in each and every amazing moment we become aware of our role as the painter of our own experiences. Waiting for some imaginary moment where all of the fates are aligned to begin to live is a grave mistake. Thank you for saying this so eloquently!
Thanks Raina!
When we are engaged in those moments of our life – they really do help to create a more meaningful life canvas….
Life is really a miracle, every single life is wonderful. But we have to live together in respect and love, so we have to learn a couple of things during our lives…
Respect and love…such important things. Thanks for bringing that up!
I really resonate with your post…maybe because i just lost a dear friend recently. But when you write…”It’s the life you live. Today. Not tomorrow. Or next week”. I just wanna say YES…remember that Kathryn!!! Don’t forget! Quit worrying and stressing out about expenses next summer!
Kathryn,
Know that I am sending all sort of love and comfort your way. Losing a dear friend is both difficult and really puts things in perspective.
And it’s so easy to go to that place of worry and stress – and the moment we’re in…it just becomes lost because of it.
Thanks so, so much for being here – and for sharing so openly…
LOVE this post, Lance! This line ===> “Your life is what YOU put on the canvas” and this one===>”What you have is now. Tomorrow is an unknown…but today, today is a part of that canvas of your life!” are really powerful!
Great reminders to live life as art. Off to share this gem!
Steve Rice´s Last Fabulous Post ..How to Overcome Any Obstacle
Thanks Steve!!
Here’s to painting our canvases in very meaningful ways…
very very nice, I”m Indian artist . painting is beautiful ….. thank you….. sir .