What's your message?
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I have been thinking a lot lately about message. What's my message? Around here we talk about it in reference to Chris' campaign and to my work and to how we want to raise Simon. You can have different messages for all kinds of different things in your life. Do you have a message?
When I first started thinking about the whole life artist idea I wanted it to include a message that transcended scrapbooking, that could be a life message as well as an artistic one.
On Two Peas today I read a post where someone made reference to not being a "life artist" (as in, "I am not a life artist.") - rather, they just wanted to record memories for their kids. Being a life artist does not mean that you create some dramatic, fantasticly creative, 12-hour work that takes over your entire being. A life artist is simply someone who captures life - through photos, words, etc - and then creates something with those pieces of life that they captured. A person who scrapbooks Creative Memories style is a life artist in my book. A person who creates altered books with photos and ephemera is a life artist. A writer/blogger/journaler/list maker can be a life artist. A mother who takes photos, writes a bit of info on the back and sticks them in a photo album is a life artist.
The life artist message has become one of attitude - ideas that I think tend to make my own personal life a little easier & richer & simply better. The attitudes of going with the flow, celebrating something everyday, cherishing little stuff, telling your story, finding your voice, not making things more complicated than they need to be...and the knowledge that it is going to be ok - these attitudes are what are really important to me. I repeat these messages to myself so often during the day - when I am scrapping, when I am picking up Simon off the floor, when I am feeling run down & frustrated & just yuck. These are the tapes I want to be repeating over and over in my head. These are messages for life and art.
I consider scrapbooking to be an art. Doesn't this sound like scrapbooking to you:
So, what's your message?
And, hey, thanks so much for all the awesome support on Simon and the potty! The report: yesterday at school he had two accidents (two schools - one accident at each). Today I am HAPPY to report that he came home in the clothes I sent him in = no accidents! It's all about going with the flow!
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75 comments
You don't know me and I don't know you, but this art called scrapbooking has brought me to your blog day after day. I am touched and inspired by your amazing posts of simple truths so eloquently displayed. When I think of "life artist" I not only think of my scrapbooking and stamping, but also my dance students. I am the owner of a dance studio in Ohio. Choreographing dance steps put to music and danced by my beautiful kids is life art that truly comes alive! Thanks again for your inspiration! Hope to meet you in Elyria, Ohio this summer!
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What a wonderful message Ali.
Thanks you made my day!
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Ali,
Thank you very much for again giving me something to think about. I love the idea of adopting a message, and not just saying it -- but LIVING by it.
This is important to me since I have a son who pays attention to my every word and action. Thanks too for being so honest and putting your thoughts out there. You have a gift for allowing people to see you as you really are. Thanks again!
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I have been struggling for some time trying to figure out what I am, besides wife, mother, daughter, sister, etc.... While I am proud to be all of these things, they are always someone's something - and I have had a voice inside of me screaming not to forget to be my me. When I first saw your life artist post, something clicked. Not loudly, but it clicked. It defined what I have been doing much better than the word 'scrapbooker' ever has or ever could. But it's this post that has made me stop and ask what do I want my message to be? Why? Because only I can decide. I want to be the one to teach my children what my message is. I want to be the one to teach them who their mother really is. It's not what others call me that is important, it's what I call myself. Thank you for helping me realize that with every page I make I am a life artist. I create art.
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Ali,
Thank you seems like it wouldn't suffice for the appreciaion and esteem that we have for you. I hope you have some sense of it.
You are more than just a really great scrapbooker(understatement of the year.)
Simply put...YOU GET IT!! It's more than really pretty embellishments, paper and tools, it's documenting your legacy. Document the everyday, because it's just as important as the major milestones. That's why my message is BE THERE! Be a witness and a participant to and in your family's life. Record the things that you cherish about the everyday them, not just what kind of cake was served at little Joe's 5th Birthday. It's in the everyday that we learn to love and cherish each other. Leave your mark. Leave a legacy. Don't forget to scrap yourself so that your descendants will know the REAl you! BE THERE!
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amen sister. you say it so well.
hugs,
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I am a life artist. I love that I am a creative being. Well said, Ali. Congrats on a no accident day with Simon. You are a great person.
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read this book,
MAKE A NAME FOR YOURSELF
by author
Robin Fisher Roffer
I blogged about it just tonite. .it's one great book!
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ali-
this was an awesome post
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hmm I am going to have to make a page on that! Then I will be able to tell you!
BTW - why are women so darn b***y about SBing? Really - what is so incomplete that women feel the need to destroy a perfectly great hobby?
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Life is art and art can't be about anything but life (really). Our modes of expression (be they scrapping, writing, baking, humming, etc.) are really just vehicals for our art. However, I think it's sometimes hard to acknowledge that artist inside. I'm just so glad that you have, Ali! Also, way to go to the little dude!
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You are so inspiring...I not only enjoy the art I see from you, but also your whole attitude!
Here is my own message (taken from a Keds ad years ago...): Your childhood isn't lost...you just misplaced it!
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"Going with the flow" is right. And yet we continue to define ourselves, distilling who and what we are with a word or two. Flex is important in living.
Thanks Ali, for giving us two words that define the acrapbook artist.
Mary Ann
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