Yes, I know. I’ve been absent for a few days. I’m trying to catch up because being behind makes me feel like a behind. 😉
Day 16: Inspiration
A lot of my inspirations of late have come in the form of encouraging words from friends via snail mail. I’m a big fan of opening my mailbox and finding a letter bearing the handwriting of a friend. It speaks of an added effort and personal touch that emails just can’t capture. Back in high school I had a friend who would send me random things in his letters: a coupon for eye glasses, comic strips from the newspaper, empty candy wrappers. Stuff like that made my whole week. 🙂
Day 17: Favorite Plant
I like plants about as much as I like animals. BUT, I do have a favorite. Daisies are kind of my thing. Floating from my index finger up to my triceps, my right arm is covered in them. They make me happy. Daisies are usually present in my doodles and my signature on personal notes and letters.
Day 18: Just-a-Doodle
I didn’t want to make myself doodle, so I pulled out my old sketchbook. Here’s my long explanation for a very simple doodle:
A few years ago, I was part of a team with a couple of difficult people. My friend who was the head of the team sent me an email that I thought was meant to encourage me – that we’d get through a particular situation we were in. While the email accomplished that, I didn’t know that it was also a goodbye. In his parting words to me, he used two phrases that stunned me. I don’t think he could have imagined what they would continue to mean to me – how many times it would come to mind in the difficult months that followed. He told me that I need to understand the places where flowers grow after I’ve been there. He told me I am so much more than…and listed a few of my titles that I was mistakenly thinking were my identity. It was a truth that took me awhile to embrace, and when I finally did, he was no longer a part of my life.
A few months after that email, I was enjoying a Niki Day and doodled this page.
My other doodling friends are keeping up with the challenge:
Ya know, I’m sitting here with 4 huge pink daisies staring me in the face, and I’m feeling like I should have known what your favorite plant would be. And daisies in the stamp on the letter too! 🙂
Good drawings! (although I’d be lying if I said I really understood the last quote)
Now no more falling behind! ::stern face::
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You mean my tattoo wasn’t the first thing that gave it away? 😉
The doodle:
The first part was him telling me I make a difference. I matter. I leave things changed for the better.
The last part? You are so much more than…a mom, a worship leader, a writer, a victim, and many other things I was getting caught up in. I think he didn’t want me to get stuck in just one facet of my identity, but to embrace the whole of who I am. I’m not JUST one of those things, and I’m so much more than the labels others try to slap on me.
And the other possibly confusing part? It’s not that he ended the friendship with me in particular, he moved on and decided not to stay in contact with our team. I moved on too, just much later.
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I guess I meant the SECOND to last quote then. I still don’t get it, but I’ll take your interpretation. 😀
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You are forgiven for falling behind. You draw a fabulous daisy!
I love handwritten notes and keep cards around for just such occasions. Trouble is, I have a paralyzing fear of mailboxes. (This has got to be the reason I cannot seem to get a card from my desk to the front porch.)
I love your inspirational doodle.If you ever start to get a big head about it I will remind you that this quote could also be said about manure. ;-P
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