There is something truly wonderful and powerful about the written word. If you close your eyes and reflect on the words you just read, your mind expands and stretches to accommodate all those new ideas and thoughts. I know that I am constantly amazed by the things I read. I devour books, reading many in any given week. And, despite our small home with limited shelf space, I am a collector of really old books. Can't say I am sorry for that. What I find particularly interesting is how authors choose to write and what emphasis they put on certain things and why that is exactly. Punctuation often serves as a sly subtle hint, like a wink and a nod to pay attention because there is something there hidden. Now, I love exclamation points (especially in comic books) and, those lovely quote marks always house some sage tidbits but, it's the comma that I totally Jones... it means, wait a minute I am not done yet, there's more to the story silly, keep following me to find that carrot that makes you see better after it's eaten.
So, where am I going with this? Life is full of punctuation and if you live your life to the fullest and seek out those opportunities, it doesn't end with a period. The day they put you into the ground, you need to wrap your head around the fact that it is merely a comma. I personally believe that there is a Heaven so, in the spiritual sense yes, a comma is appropriate. However, in a physical sense, it also applies. If you set out to live life boldly and passionately, thinking of others above yourself and serving others by using your talents to the fullest extent, your life does not end with a period. The body ceases yes but, the folks you touched, you inspired, you loved and showed compassion to, those you hurt and angered (well, they might let your life end in a period I suppose) but, staying on topic, you live on even after you cease, through them. Every interaction you have has the potential to leave a mark on someone. I know that the funny stories and amazing memories I have of loved ones long since passed, still are fresh in my mind and talked about and in that, they live on. I guess you may be asking how this applies to art or creating for a living. I enjoy having my art in galleries but, my favorite pieces will always be the ones that had the story attached to them, the reason they were made and, the story told about them when I am not around. Those are comma moments. If your business is all about that period and final sale, there is nothing more to say or revisit, no repeat business, no lasting impression and, in the long run, no attachment or connection... those will be the pieces sold in a garage sale years later not hung over the mantle for generations.
There was a question I received from C. today about a metal piece I made a bit ago of Spiderman and whether I would consider making one for her. My answer, Yes!!! in a heartbeat and this is why. Here's the comma... something I don't do very often on the blog but, it's a good story. My Uncle is an amazing guy and in my world as a child, he really could do anything. He told my children that he was Spiderman and even taught them how to climb the door frame so they could touch the ceiling (A real life Superhero feat for a 4 and 6 year old). My children BELIEVED he was exactly who he said he was and vowed to protect his secret identity. Before Christmas, my Uncle was hospitalized and that phone call was gut wrenching. My eldest son huddled the kids together and prayed the most heartfelt prayer and then they wrote him a note telling him that he needed to use his super Spiderman powers to break out of the hospital. A Superhero can do anything and he made sure to be there for Christmas. That was a memory that needed to be embossed in metal according to my son and, there it is. C., he'll break out of the hospital too. Life is about commas.
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