“Do small things with great love.” ~ Mother Teresa
I used to think that my words could only make sense if it they had a purpose beyond being put to a page. That the only way I could ever really throw myself into them is if the world condoned them worthy. But I could never really figure out who to ask for approval nor did I really believe, even if I could find them, that they’d grant it. Sometimes I’d set about to the task of pressing them into existence regardless, just because the act of the thing made my heart beat strong and the echo of the message they built upon each other to create made my soul feel alive. But, even this seemed small and insignificant on its own. So, I tucked them away and busied myself with the grand task of living.
The thing about ‘just’ living, is it’s easy to do. Not because it’s simple. But, rather because life in and of itself and the survival of it all – is quite tricky. You can lose yourself in it without even realizing you are lost. Tossing to and fro with every twist and turn and spending an erroneous amount time just trying to stay upright. Existing more than living. Subsisting. Doing your best to just get by.
On the flip side, ‘just’ living, even when its all rather remarkable – takes a lot of time as well. There is never too little to do. We could spend a lifetime doing it – this living. And it would be ok. Lovely even. But, I think there is something within each of us – a treasure buried deep within our being that can get lost even in the beauty of this extraordinary life.
I have a sweet free-spirited friend who etches epic images into black canvases one tiny little scratch at a time. Her craft demands itty bitty baby steps, each one seemingly insignificant on its own, but building upon one another to create these bigger than life masterpieces. She lives by the mantra of take it slow. Her crafts depends upon it. Demands it, in soft silent whispers only her heart can hear. And she listens. So when the world tells her to hurry up or go big or go home – she makes tiny little scratches into a blank canvas and draws out light. One little etch at a time. Slowly. Surely. Brilliantly. And to what purpose? To appease the masses. To make it big. Because someone gave her permission? Because she has nothing else to do? Not at all. She scratches life onto a blank page because she can. Because she was created to do this magical magnificent thing. And when she does it – it makes her feel a little bit more alive. Because she has something burning in her heart that yearns to be expressed. To come to life. And she is brave enough to give it to the world whether she has been given permission or not. Not because it is big enough or bold enough. But, because the act of it alone is enough.
Her life is busy. It’s jammed full of little people who need her and a man who splits his time between saving lives and walking by her side. There are small tasks that pile upon each other day after day. And there are grand tasks that pull her this way and that. There are heartaches and heartstrings and fears and stumbling blocks strewn here and there. And extraordinary adventures calling her name. She has dreams and joys and infinite moments of simple everyday bliss drawing her in. And endless tasks and to-dos tugging at her mind. Always something pulling at her. Good things and bad. Light and darkness. Just like the rest of us. And sometimes that big blank canvas can seem so vast. And the marks she makes can seem so small and insignificant. The process so slow. That it would be far easier to set down her tools and just busy herself with the grand task of living.
But, she doesn’t. She continues to carve beauty into the void because it feels good to give something of herself to a world beyond her own busy and bustling and brilliant sphere. To share a little piece of her lovely, wild heart with its inhabitants.
These consistent and persistent tiny strokes of genius remind me to find the time to make my mark as well. To continue to press words onto the page, even if that’s as far as they go. To imagine all those little letters jumbling together, strung up into sentences, weaving themselves into the bigger canvas of the world even if their sole purpose is to feed my soul. To make me better. So, I can shine a little more light into the grand spectacle of this life. Making my own little itty bitty marks too. One word at a time.
Each of us has something the world needs. Maybe on it’s own it’s just a tiny mark. But each of our gifts, no matter how small, can build upon each other to create something beautiful if we are brave enough to share them. Not for fame or fortune or because someone told us we could. Not because we are bored or have nothing better to do. But because the world needs whatever light we have to offer.
Uncover it.
Believe in it.
Give a piece of yourself to the world and don’t worry about the rest. The big picture is too vast for us to wrap our heads around. But, it will unfurl itself as we go. And I am certain the end result will be lovely. Epic even. Lets do more than just live this life. Let’s etch ourselves into the grand canvas of it all. One splendid and brave heartbeat at a time.
Scratch art is a magical thing.
To see more of Dani’s brave and brilliant masterpieces click here.
“We are each an intricate mark in the canvas of this world. Small and momentous all in one brilliant, magical stroke.”
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