What shows
how little
we know?
What can be is
oft far less than
what we expect.
What is now
has never been
what it was.
07/25/2024 j.g.l.
value beyond
Simplicity.
Is there emotion in austerity?
Humanity?
What do you see when attempting
to define your limited visibility?
Minimalism, abstract impressionism
or incorporeal thought.
Less is more, but is it enough?
Texture, tone, and value beyond
your current scene. If you take it to an
extreme, you will question
what it means.
What is really there?
What line do you cross?
Can simplicity be complicated, or
should it even be attempted?
07/23/2024 j.g.l.
Mondays are just young Fridays
Things will not go as planned. Intentions will be disrupted, even overlooked, in the aftermath of an unexpected reality.
Where you are headed will not be the place you end up, undoubtedly or undeniably. No matter how hard you attempt to make each gesture, brushstroke, promise, prayer, or pastime as perfect as you believe it can be, many times you will not arrive at a perceived destination. All too often your endeavors never hit the mark; at times your work may be better than expected (celebrate those moments), but everything (even your judgement) is subjective.
You are not limited to, or by, the colours in your paintbox or progression of your process.
Imagination is as limited or expansive as you want it to be. Give it time to blossom; in certain instances, you may even have to reel it in. This is all about possibilities, no matter which media, method, or style you are beholden to.
You owe your art (or life) nothing but your presence; the value comes from the practice, as rudimentary or spontaneous as it is or will become.
07/22/2024 j.g.l.
I'm like a pencil;
sometimes sharp,
most days
well-rounded,
other times
dull or
occasionally
broken.
Still I write.
j.g. lewis
is a writer/photographer in Toronto.
something worth aspiring to
Posted on January 10, 2024 by j.g.lewis
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Each year I try to select a word or phrase to guide me through the coming weeks and months. Some years it is a quote from somebody or another that, for whatever reason, inspires me or causes me to think a little deeper.
Other years it has been a single word.
Whatever I decide upon, I will take those words and affix them to the first page in my dayplanner as a reminder, or prompt. I will look at those words often throughout the year.
I had been wrestling with a few motivating words over the past week, trying to see what fits into my current state of mind. I’ve been restless lately, but in a content sort of way. At times, indecisive is not such a bad way to be, except when you are looking for a concrete direction.
A few days ago, after flipping through notes, newspapers and assorted scraps, the headline of a magazine article captured my imagination; it spoke to me and all that I believe.
Being Human.
As a mantra or a mission statement, I can’t think of anything more important right now.
Human: it is what I am. We all are.
It is something worth aspiring to.
Being human: it is something that should come naturally.
Then again, a deeper question: How can I be a better human?
Or, conversely, what defines a human?
To be a human is to be an individual, but you learn or grow up knowing that all humans function better when not isolated. We need each other.
Expand upon friendships you have earned over time, cherish them for what they are. Find ways to improve relationships that make you feel worthy, find worth in those friendships you have allowed to fall by the wayside. Reconnect, if possible. Couldn’t we all use more friends?
Expect less of others, but demand more of yourself without getting caught up in the anxiety of it all.
Follow through on promises you make, make less if you are not able to fulfill them, and appreciate any pledge offered or intended.
Offer help when you feel it is needed, accept what is offered, and try not to overlook the efforts of others. Charity flows both ways.
Be humble.
Be mindful of the state of this planet. Recognize the aggressions many people face, but also realize that many of those battles are internal. You yourself seek balance in your own mental health.
Show compassion, be less judgemental.
Be more forceful with your intentions and recognize limits need not be boundaries but goals worth striving for.
Don’t let life pass you by; participate in that which brings you joy and invite others along.
Realize we all need company or consideration.
Humanity cannot be forced, but it can be improved upon. Isn’t that something to work towards?
Strive not to be something you are not but be all that you can.
Being human is a good place to start.
“To be human means to care for one another.”
-Pope Francis
© 2024 j.g. lewis
