The invisible safety net. It's something my dad used to say. I believe it was a concept of parenting he tried with me and my brother, and who's to say what works and what doesn't... but here's the basic idea, as I understand it: Let your child think they are taking risks, but make sure there is a safety net in case they fall. But make it invisible to them. Because when those risks feel real, the rewards are much greater.
Might as well
I did a drawing. Well actually I did a lot of drawings, but for the sake of simplicity...I did a drawing. Then I refined it to the point where it felt complete. But it wasn't. And I didn't want to go any further....cause then it would be...*insert really dramatic musical swell*... ruined. So I scanned it. Then I made some prints, mounted them to wooden boards, gathered sand paper, pastels, paint....anything I could get my hands on that made me excited or curious.
And I went to town. I messed them up...and I kept going. I wasn't afraid of ruining a drawing I had spent hours on...because I had built myself a safety net. And while it's not quite the pure Buddhist approach, it's progress. I was able to be wreckless and free, and each piece now has that expressive hand quality and energy I was missing from the original drawing...the one I was so afraid to destroy.
Like there's no tomorrow
Little Dreamers
Headed for the skies
I'm taking these over to Black Wagon today. They'll be up until the beginning of March, or until they find a new home.