Idea gardens
What seeds are you planting?
Here’s a picture of me during a cross-city hike where I posted positive and poetic propaganda alongside some of my best friends. I’m pretty dang happy, in my element, doing exactly what I want to be doing!
This particular little hand drawn poster says “YOUR IDEAS MATTER.”
It’s an important message: your ideas matter. I was reminded of it yesterday when I read this article in NYT, about How To Be Old. Roger Rosenblatt reminds us, “Don’t forget to bestow confidence. It’s the best thing you can give someone you love. Saying “You can do it” to a loved one in a situation in which that person has self-doubt — taking an exam, making a speech, writing a poem — means more than any sweet profession of affection. It means that you love that person so wholeheartedly that you wish him or her the inner satisfaction of self-realization. The pride of achieving themselves. What more can you say that so expresses your love?”
A few years ago when I was visiting Parker in LA we drove by a sandwich board on the lawn in front of someone’s house. On one side it said: your ideas matter. We sped past it and I whipped my head around 180 degrees to read the other side: your dreams matter. What a lovely message and what a lovely thing to put on your lawn, where you could put pretty much anything you’d like. You could plant a garden of flowers for others to enjoy. Or you could plant an idea.
I agree with Rosenblatt; the best gifts I’ve ever received have come in the form of genuine encouragement. Next week, I’ll turn in my complete book to my publisher. This book (which you still know very little about, sorry, I’ll share more soon I promise!) is my garden, inside of which I’ve planted all of the best idea seeds I have. 4.5 years of my heart and soul have gone into this book. But also, a lifetime of people telling me I could do it, believing in my ideas, and encouraging my dreams. I really can’t stress that enough.
My family never once told me I shouldn’t follow my creative dreams. In fact, they encouraged me to go for it. My partner and friends are next level hyper-upper cheerleaders, supporting me every step of the way. And then there’s my peers and the artists and professionals I look up to — I remember, or even print out, every word of encouragement I get from them. I believe in myself, sure, but I really needed others to believe in me, too.
I’m curious, what seeds have you been planting out in the world lately? And what seeds have others planted for you? I’d love to hear in the comments!
I’m a 3 season teacher… but in the summer time I’m a RAK (random acts of kindness) facilitator … it’s always something different: bag of art supplies well hidden at a children’s park or apartment building laundry; hand written letters with a little art to people who make the world a better place (look out Allie😉) this year I think I’ll post magical signs of encouragement around town on telephone poles like the picture you have in this post… I just bought rainbow colored masking tape so there you go😉
I love the non-commercial sandwich board idea. I think little lovenotes of encouragement n lunch boxes are my favorite thing about being a mother. Often I include a little sketch.