I begin again, when the first excitement has settled and what remains is the quieter responsibility of making the thing I imagined,
I begin again, knowing that an idea can feel almost weightless when it lives in my head but becomes entirely different once my hands have to give it form,
I begin again, filling in the parts that do not arrive with the same thing in mind as the first spark of learning is a sign that I need to chose what feels right,
I begin again, can I stay with this when the work becomes repetitive and there is no immediate discovery to carry me forward,
I begin again, as I keep creating I realize the making asks more of me than the imagining ever did…
I build patiently, laying one small piece beside another even when I cannot yet see how the finished thing will hold together,
I build patiently, accepting that some days will look like progress and other days will feel like a pause still it’s moved a brick from one place to another,
I build patiently, the long climb is still part of the work even when nobody sees the hours that make the final piece appear effortless,
I build patiently, am I still willing to keep going when the work is no longer glamorous enough to make me feel inspired,
I build patiently, day by day it feels like an ordinary labor begins carrying its own kind of meaning…
I fill in the colors, staying close enough to the work to notice what is missing without forcing fear in every empty space afraid of leaving it unfinished,
I fill in the colors, choosing what deserves more attention and still learning that not every detail needs to survive simply because it is once decided to be there,
I fill in the colors, removing what weakens the whole even when I have become emotionally attached to the little parts spent in creating,
I fill in the colors, can I let something go after I have worked hard on it without feeling like I have wasted that attachment to effort,
I fill in the colors, creating the pieces slowly becomes more honest because I stop trying to keep everything…
I choose the work, when I feel that pull toward something that makes me curious enough to stay with it longer than I planned,
I choose the work, allowing myself to move between projects so I can return with fresh eyes instead of forcing one piece to carry every attention,
I choose the work, using my own filter to decide what stays, what changes, what needs another hand, and what I no longer need,
I choose the work, do I still recognize what excites me beneath all the decisions about what the work to become,
I choose the work, my craft becomes less about proving I can do everything and more about caring enough to make the thing truly happen…
Watchwords:
The first excitement has settled
The quieter responsibility of making
Laying one small piece beside another
Not every detail needs to survive
Craft becomes an act of caring
Here is Tikatarot, who dares you to answer the question, “Who am I?”..
As and will always be reminding you to dream: