Crafts

365 Stars

What would you do if you had 365 days left to live?

This post starts with a question I asked Ron, my beloved husband, after watching a segment about Steve Jobs and speculation about his health and the future of Apple on the news this evening. Nobody really knows what is going on with his health or how it might affect the state of things at Apple. But, one thing is certain: everyone, be it an individual, family or even a large company, must eventually face the music. No matter if one is destined to live a long life…or if one is destined to live well only to have his or her days cut short by unexpected circumstances such as a car accident, or what was supposed to be an important day gone horribly wrong, we all must face the facts that our time here is limited.

For those of you who know me personally, you may have already gathered that I am reflecting on two major events that occured in the last few years that have changed my outlook more significantly than what used to be rather average but optimistic.

“Life is short.” Who ever coined that phrase, I couldn’t agree more. For people who are waiting around to see what will happen next, what opportunities will knock, I always say create opportunities yourself. That goes for companies as big as Apple, as small as Fairman Studios, or for individuals like you and me. Of course, I am stating the obvious…I know.

The question still stands:

“If you only had 365 sdays left, what would you do?” I asked Ron.
“I’d throw a big party,” he responded.
“Yes and we’d invite everyone we know. So you could celebrate your life and everyone in it.” I agreed.
Ron continued, “and I would travel non-stop…do a world tour…I suppose I would do riskier things like skydive.”
“Yes but wouldn’t you want to do something significant? Leave some sort of legacy?” I asked.
“To answer your question, what would YOU do?” He answered.

Ok, besides having children, doing even MORE volunteer work and resolving to call and visit people more often?

I had to pause for a moment. How many times had I heard this sort of question…and how many times had I tried to answer it for myself? Too many. Each time brought a different answer. This time I am writing about it.

Every year, during the Jewish New Year, the Secular New Year, and yes, even my birthday, I question what I am doing with my day-to-day life. I know I am not the only one, but I am always pondering whether or not I am just living the routine I am used to, or if I am gathering meaning and making any good effect on the world around me. Don’t get me wrong, anyone who knows me knows what a busy-body I am. Sometimes life gets so hectic, I feel like the White Rabbit, always scurrying around trying to get somewhere, or do something. But there are plenty of days where I feel that I am just “riding the wave” of life too.

In questioning where I am and what I am doing at one particular moment or another, I constantly realize that while I love my job as a medical illustrator, I so wish there were 36 hours in day where I could spend 4 of them concentrating on things I love to do besides “work.” I would spend that time illustrating cicadas using the airbrush I barely use anymore, I’d metalsmith, sew, quilt, knit, collage, journal, doodle, join my synogogue’s choir, …and BLOG! So as you can see, I started this blog in January 2009. I had been building and designing it for Word Press, and then found this wonderful template that I made my own (shout out to Arun Kale: you are a genius!).

Getting back to the big philosophical question – 365 days would not be long enough for me to drop everything and play all day with my blow torch. However, I certainly would spend more time doing things for the fun of it. So here is my New Year’s Challenge to myself: I am going to try to either design, draw or create 365 stars and give them to people I know and cherish. From now until however long it takes. As you can see, I have already designed 3! so…that’s 362 to go! Yes, go ahead and chuckle…

I am going to make “cicada-time”. This is a term somewhat invented by Ranice Crosby, one of my beloved professors at Hopkins, who coined this phrase after a face-to-face conversation we had about making time for fun. She simply asked, “what are you doing these days?” to which I replied, “oh you know, working on my studio, lots of projects, different clients…” She repeated with clarity, “no, I mean what are you doing for YOU…for fun?” Of course I began with the usual talk about how my husband and I both enjoy swing-dancing, and travel and…”What about art-wise? Your art, for yourself.” she interupted. “Ahh…well, I wish I had more time, but I would finish this cicada drawing I started…it’s still just a sketch,” I answered. “Make cicada-time,” she said softly. She’s right you know…we all need to make “cicada-time”.

This leads me to another thought which my husband taught me – You have to “make” time. I know…it sounds impossible, as there are only 24 hours in day. But yes, you can make time. If you just commit to scheduling something into your life, like you commit to sleeping at night, you WILL do it! maybe, one of these days I WILL put my stars on Etsy. This is something my husband keeps encouraging me to do – if only I had a clone. At any rate, I will be back in the studio with blow torch in hand, mandrel in the other, and I will be making new gems to show you all. I am making time this Saturday!

Each day is a lifetime in miniature. So I am resolving to do many things, but one of them is to continue to ponder the question of 365 on a day to day basis. Hopefully as the days, weeks, and months go by in 2009 and beyond, you will see what I am “making” of my time as I record them in this blog of mine. Stay tuned! And, yes — I was serious when I said I wanted to join my synogogue’s choir.

© 2009 Willow Street Creative.