SHADES
How do you see yourself in the future? What are you doing? Who are you with? Are there seasons where you are? How much money do you need in that life? Do you even need money? Are your walls bare and minimalistic or are they ornate and gilded with art? Do you have any pets? Is it a dog or is it a hamster? What do you want your life to look like? Are you happy? What do you value?
To live intentionally, I believe we have to ask ourselves these questions. Once we have a general idea of who we want to be, what we want our lives to look like, we have to work towards it while simultaneously not attaching ourselves to the end result. A seemingly contradictory statement, I understand. To be further illustrated with the following running analogy.
GET LOST
Whenever I visit a different city or a new running trail, I do my research before the run especially if it’s a nature trail - factoring in elevation, distance, weather, proximity to civilization, wildlife, et cetera. Despite all my research, my planned 8 mile run in Grand Rapids quickly turns into a 14 mile run partly because my surroundings jazzed me up to run a little farther, partly because Lana del Rey released a new album, and partly because I would get lost. Cities like Grand Rapids, Chicago, Chattanooga, San Diego, are all simple to manage because the worst thing that could happen is you sheepishly pay your way back to your hotel (CARRY A $20 IN YOUR SOCK, PUT YOUR DEBIT CARD IN YOUR PHONE CASE). What gets scary is when your conservative 5 mile run turns into an 18 mile run/jog/walk on a nature trail in Arizona or the forests in North Carolina. Your phone’s GPS gets spotty OR DIES, the trails get narrow or disappear completely, and you no longer see mile markers or another human soul for miles.
YOUR PATH
Who is to say what is the right path? Who makes these rules? Are they your rules? Are you following the path that brings you the most joy? I’m not ecouraging reckless running what I’m saying is that for most of my runs, I choose my path based on what I feel, what I want to see, and if I’m enjoying the scenery, or the energy, or my hamstrings feel particularly loose, I keep going. At times I get lost, I get scared, I put myself in some risk, but at the end, the journey, the experience is with me forever. Everything I saw, felt, and accomplished. It becomes a part of my life. It is mine.
NATURE ANATOMY ART
I’m doing my best to apply this principle to my life. Which brings me to the logo I created. I am not naturally talented, I never took art classes, but I am also not here to talk shit about myself (I hope you treat yourself with the same kind of respect). The logo is art I created, something I am proud of, something I want to see - I think its badass. I intend for it to be in different shades, color saturations, backgrounds. The image represents what I want to curate for myself, what my goals are, and simply what I want to see. I’m not just talking physically, I intend that image to be a reminder of my commitment to this feeling, this sentiment to share what has inspired me. The different colors, saturations, filters whatever signify that I may feel differently from day to day. Some days I may feel like a superhero capable of accomplishing anything other days I may be in the throes of a deep depression but they are all me. Every shade, every color, every mood, every experience - good or bad - they are all me. This is why there is a fixed image within every different shade.The male presenting image was inspired by a picture I took of myself. The plants underneath are a reminder to myself to stop, it’s okay to look, and enjoy the scenery.
You are the only one who knows your life. You are the only one who cares about you as much as you do. There is no one else. You may have less animo un dia y mas animo el siguiente, but I ask that you OWN YOUR LIFE. See that logo as a reminder to live your life fiercely and freely, as yourself. You don’t have to apologize for following your path. You don’t owe anyone an explanation. I made this blog to share this sentiment with the world. I made that logo to brand it further. I hope you keep reading, I hope you value your life as it is now and get on a path that best suits you. Your instincts may lead you towards a dead end or maybe that mental picture of your future self may not come to fruition, but at least you enjoyed the scenery along the way, you followed your intuition, and choose your own path.
