Ascending, paper collage, 2022
It is not your job to acquire belongings; it is your job to figure out what belongs to you and create extensions of its light.
It is not often that my first thought of the day is as meaningful as this one. But on those rare occasions when, suspended somewhere between wakefulness and sleep, my subconscious happens to offer up bits of wisdom, guidance, or creative insight, I am deeply grateful.
Indeed, this was the first thought I had this morning. And it startled me such that I hopped out of bed just before 7 a.m., grabbed my notebook, and wrote it down verbatim. I then thought, “I need to write something about this!” But, upon reflection, I don’t think that’s necessary. The statement speaks for itself.
I will, however, say one thing before I leave you to enjoy the rest of the weekend: this thought is an answer. It is answer to a question, or series of questions, I have been asking (asking myself, asking God, attempting to summon forth an answer from my subconscious) about my why. Why make all this art and poetry? Part of that answer is, “because it’s like breathing”…but, why? Why am I constantly driven to create? Why do I sense that my creative self is my highest self, and yet often struggle to reconcile that with the demands of the outer world?
Perhaps it doesn’t need to be such a struggle. Perhaps it never needed to be.
Light and life. What is ours and not ours. To love, to reflect, and pay forward. What belongs to me. What belongs to you.
Prints for the artwork above are available in my Etsy shop.
The Used Life 
19 responses to “What Belongs to You”
What a fantastic bit of wisdom to come to you! It really has me thinking. Thanks for sharing!
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Thank you, Bob! I’ve got to spend more time thinking about it, too, but the idea that we go through life pursuing a false sense of what “belongs” to us, or what it means to have something “belong” to us is most interesting to me.
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I agree. I can’t say I can put my finger on it, but there is a difference. And it really has me thinking.
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Same. Maybe “belong” in a kind of Taoistic sense, the way nature belongs to us, yet doesn’t…I hope to have some thoughts together soon.
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I can see the Taoist sense. Looking forward to further posts on this.
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Thank you! Lots to think about.
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Thank you for hopping out of bed and writing down your thoughts! A beautiful thought and collage. As you do. 😍
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Thank you, Michele! I’m always afraid that if I don’t write down those half-awake thoughts as soon as they come to me, I’ll lose them! 😃
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I understand. I have done the same, many times. 😁
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Thank you for sharing your expanding wisdom. I love the collage.
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Thank you so much! I’m happy you enjoyed the post.
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“It is not your job to acquire belongings; it is your job to figure out what belongs to you and create extensions of its light.” This is so perfect.. it needed nothing more. I love when things come to us right on the cusp of wake. And you’re right..” Perhaps it doesn’t need to be such a struggle.” To create, to simply live is the answer to our never ending questions and as you have so perfectly stated “To love, to reflect, and pay forward.” Exceptional..
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Thank you very much! This realization was something like balm for my soul. 😊
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So much inner life working into thought…I’m hypnotized!
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I thought you would be.😉
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That’s right, L. I’m a guy who lives almost permanently involved in a neurophysiological and psychophysiological state that basically depends on my daily hypnotic state. I consider self-hypnosis as a very pleasant situation that, in addition, increases my capacity for relaxation, imagination and memorization, attentional processes, expectations, attributions, attitudes and personal influence. That’s why, before reading you, I always do a session in front of my favorite mirror. 🙂
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Yeah, J, I know you like to operate on a different plain of consciousness. 🙂 Hope you have an enjoyable Wednesday.
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Thanks, L. I hope you have a pleasant and creative day too. 🙂
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Thanks!
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