Saturday, May 31, 2014

to be or not to be





"To be, or not to be, that is the question-
whether 'tis nobler in the minder to suffer..."

When Shakespeare wrote these words uttered by Prince Hamlet, Hamlet was contemplating death and suicide, the sorrows and unfairness of life. 

However, those words resonate with me daily. It is the daily question of my quest to live life completely aware of my choices, my actions, my being. 

It is the mantra of achieving a self that is true to no one else but you and me. It is my desire to accept myself as this soup of contradictions, of changed minds, of half finished projects, of accomplishments.

To be means to accept it is ok to change my mind about an idea, to quit something or someone who is not adding anything of value, it is today be informed and politically engaged and tomorrow...well, tomorrow not to give a shit about politics. 

To be is to exist in true alignment with right now.

Project: I am working on a "living" world map. It is the itinerary of my hubby's and my life, from when we were born to when we met to the places we experienced together. The map is by no means accurate. It was drawn free hand, but I did want to use the Gall-Peters projection map as reference, which is a more accurate scale of the geographic size of continents in the world.

21 comments:

Terra said...

I like how you are being awake, and the map you are painting.
Decades ago I read Joan Baez's autobiographical work where she wrote of being on a bus, and realizing that most people most of the time are "asleep", not fully aware, and that inspired me to be more "awake".

Jeanie said...

I love your colorful world and what it represents. We only have so many days in this world -- being awake for them is important. I'm glad you are.

Tammie Lee said...

such a beautiful map! I love your colors and the free flowing ways with them. I love the meaning also for this piece, quite beautiful!

Sue Marrazzo Fine Art said...

Nice post!!!

Almost Precious said...

My applause ! :) I think your project is a truly wonderful one and will represent many highlights in both of your lives.

Amazing how relevant Shakespeare's "To be or not to be", has remained through so many years and generations.

jinxxxygirl said...

Just LOVE the colors!!

The Cranky said...

To be fully awake and aware in this world is a frightening and joyful adventure.
What a beautiful idea you're bringing alive!

Jess said...

It's such a lovely idea to make a map showing your lives and will make a treasured keepsake for future travels together! I love to see the pools of ink merging togther, I'm working in ink at the moment and enjoying the bright colours that don't fade like watercolour does. )I still love watercolour though!) As for your pen, it's so beautiful I want it! ;)
Jess x

ANN ALICIA LAUGH said...

Your map make me dream! :-)

To answer to hamlet quote look here
Please http://ecrireautrement.blogspot.com/2014/06/when-friend-spoke-and-save-my-life.html

ANN ALICIA LAUGH said...

Love the map

To answer hamlet quote here is what happened to me http://ecrireautrement.blogspot.com/2014/06/when-friend-spoke-and-save-my-life.html

:-)

Optimistic Existentialist said...

LOVE this. And yes it is most certainly ok to quit something or someone who is not adding anything of value. Life is too short to do otherwise. And I truly love that map you're painting :)

Unknown said...

Wow!
Wonderful idea...tracing one's footsteps!
And yes, changing one's mind is a good thing, its about growth and sometimes that has to be about change!
Happy Sunday Wishes!

AntiquityTravelers said...

Beautiful post, and lovely idea to create a map and journey like this - love it

Riot Kitty said...

The colors just leap out of that, gorgeous!

Plowing Through Life (Martha) said...

Wonderful post, Ana! And I love the colours in this artwork. They are so vivid and dynamic.

Magic Love Crow said...

This is an amazing post and it really touches my heart ;o) I can't wait to see your living world map completed! Truly breath taking and so meaningful!

Kristin Fleming said...

What lovely watercolor fun! I need to pull mine out soon. I love your idea of a living world map.

Unknown said...

Love it!! Just magical seeing your process.

Jenny said...

I adore this post Ana.... and your living world map... delicious colors... and free flowing... true beauty in your art and your words...

Jenny X

Willow said...

Understanding this well. I have always been a contradiction of sorts ~ but it usually works and make life interesting :) Sort of like the words to that Billy Joel song ~ She's always a woman to me.
Loving the living map.

floating thru fields said...

that's awesome I love the beauty of a watercolor map all the colors blending together but that it has personal meaning to you is even move special :)