See it for what it's worth. There's beauty in everything...
Wata jerk.
It's been ten days since my last post. Of course, I'm sorry, as always. Busy is the word, definitely. Here's what I've been up to:
I've been doing lots of research on things that totally make me nerdy. We all know about my obsession with Mole People, which has grown to an all around infatuation of homeless people of the streets/tunnels of New York. I find their lifestyles completely captivating. Some of them put themselves where they are, some of them hate where they are and have no other choice. But the thing I find most admirable about Mole People/the homeless, is that they treat each person in their "community" as their family, taking care of each other as they would their own loved one, parent or child, they risk their lives for each other, they have such high hopes and are so positive about their future, and most of all, they live in complete simplicity. If only the whole world lived their lives with those goals in mind.
I've been reading The Mole People by Jennifer Toth, a book written by a reporter who set out, risking her life, to get to the dirt of who the Mole People really are, putting all rumors and "stories" aside and finding out the cold, hard truth herself with her own two eyes. If you're a resident/frequent visitor of New York, I suggest picking up the book and taking it seriously. I can promise a complete mindset change of what you previously thought of the homeless, even growing a love and understanding for them.
As I've been reading this book, which is taking me forever, because I've begun to literally study it, rereading chapters over and over for the pure fact that it amazes me, I realized that it wouldn't kill us to take a hint from the Mole People and follow their lead. No, I'm not saying go live in a subway tunnel (vegan's can't eat rats, silly. I'd STARVE!). Their mindset is so incredible: You live by what you need, excess is what made this world what it is, and this world is full of nothing but greed. Consider what you have now, and learn to be happy with it. Your simple surroundings can teach you more than you think, and it can open your mind to new things. There's a huge art community in the tunnels, and that just blows my mind. The pictures of the graffiti down there is incredible. We use the words "underground talent" way too loosely.
I've been researching art a lot. I've also been painting a lot more. In fact, I handmade all of my christmas gifts this year! It was so much fun, and I felt like the biggest kid. I created things like a cabinet knob jewelry wall hanging frame for my sister Nicole, fabric and fancy trim covered kitchen containers for my sister Stacey, a beautiful flower wreath for my mother, a self painted/distressed shadowbox filled with pictures of "daddy's girls" (my sisters and I) for my dad, a set of three flower vases, all hand painted for my bosses assistant, and a very modern wine serving vase with four glasses that matched which were also all hand painted. I'm thinking I should take some time and make more things to sell. I have way too much create energy inside of my little five foot two inch frame to let go to waste!
I've also been writing a short story, two in fact. One I'm much more focused on that the other. It's an incredible true story about a friend of mine. His unfortunate circumstances, down and out ways of thinking, and constant downward spirals of life are what inspired me to write this book. It sounds terribly unfortunate and sad, but it's all very interesting. Something a lot of people can relate to. Even he was in shock when he read it. (I wasn't going to tell him I was writing it until I had a few copies published for fear that I might totally freak him out, but I'm terrible at keeping things like that to myself. He was such a huge inspiration, and I was in a desperate situation to cheer him up one day. SUCCESS!) Here's a sneak peak of what the story entails:
In a community of dialog, he was the silence. It was like tilling an entire corn field with a fork, just to get enough out of him to make sense of what it was that was killing him inside. He would never say it out loud, but he needed someone to take care of him. In a world where you can make anything out of anything, create your being and identity, have free reign with your life, that very same world was too hard for him to survive on his own. A dirty look made him shutter inside. Rejection was like a knife stuck, twisting in his side. Conflict was World War II. Love was like trying to figure out the exact date, time and hour that the world was going to end, impossible. He was well aware that he had a heart, but he was never able to put it to use. He always said that if you could hold his heart in your hand, it would look like broken pavement, tattered and torn, broken and crumbled, a dark hue of grey. “There’s nothing in there I can give, because I don’t know how.”, he said, peering straight into my eyes. “I’m too scared to even try. All I know is how it ends.”
For Torey, every beginning was an end. If I could only make him face all his fears. To enable him to reign free and find the secret of a beautiful life. If I could only make him see the punches he’s thrown, not the towels he’s thrown in. He told me, “I want to be something that’s different.” I said that he can be anything that he wants to be, he just had to start letting things in. That’s the moment when he first believed. I quickly realized that I was the only one breaking it down like this for him. I was the only one that could figure him out, like a mad scientist who suddenly found the missing link between monkeys and mankind. Suddenly I felt as if he was mine. As if I had to take care of him. I was the only one who had solutions for his series of unfortunate events.
I love, LOVE writing. (I don't keep up with two blogs for nothin'!) I don't do enough of it, until recently. Actually, I owe a big thanks to my Hipster Sister and Tough Luxe readers who have pushed me and given me the praise that I've never heard about this new found skill of mine. It's nice to know that something you've always loved doing, is enjoyed by others. That is what keeps dreams alive.
Even with my recently busy schedule, I'll do my best to occupy your eyes on a more timely basis. I appreciate you reading my blogs, even though I get a little side tracked with my creative ADD.
Until next time ...
Current Listen: 55th and Halsey - His Name Shall Breathe
