An 'Artist of Life'

Reprinted from Jewels of Elul VIII, Art of Aging Questions.
http://www.letmypeoplesing.com/jewels/?page_id=61

 How do you live your life as an art? 

 How does this make a difference as you age?  

 Name 3 ways in which you see your life as art, not science. 

I am an 'Artist of Life' 

~  Joy Krauthammer

1.  

My life as art comes from my heART. 

It beats as a drum 
and it is open 
and flows in abunDance.  

It is open to you.  

It is open to Oneness.   

2. 

The Kavannah/intention of my ART I live is uplifting and inspiring, authentic, truthful and joyous.  

ART does not hide; my art shares emotion, feelings, thoughts, beliefs, newness, oldness, nowness and Tiferet/beauty.  

I am pro-active in the creative role of writing, story-telling, sculpting, weaving, carving, potting, painting, planting, singing, dancing, drumming and photographing life.  

My art of life is a train track that travels as a Gemini in many directions, not direct on my journey,  

(and I hope, higher and higher)  

 and picking up passengers along the Tree of Life, my path.  

My Chesed/loving-kindness, sharing, giving, receiving, and Netzach/forward direction is felt and can not be measured (as is "science").  

I instinctively and intuitively know I ARTfully make a difference through my heART.  

ARTfully and heARTfully I am dedicated to being Joy.  

I will arrive at the Gate of Heaven and it shall be known that I was Joy, and not Zusha, nor you.  

Artfully I passionately and purpley infuse my life with love, vitality and joy and fairness.  

If on a measured balance scale, my artist of life being would tip toward Spirit, not science.  

(nor accomplished chores)  

ARTfully I am grateful to be alive in 4 Worlds of spirit, mind, heart and body.   

3. 

 Artfully and heARTfully I am grateful for many of the challenges and opportunities  in my life.  

In others, I try to discover and reveal the hidden blesSings.  

If science directed, I would lead in anxiety, not hope and faith.  

I would count my tears of grief, not warmth of joy.  

As I age, when I look back being an 'artist of life', 

I am happily surprised at where I've been, what I've done, how I've done, and with whom, and at what times. 

I have some regrets. 

I offer Brachot/blesSings. I teach how to give blesSings.

As I age, I recognize my mentors, and the transformation 

as I honor the years from mid-life to elder and sage as I become wisdom keeper and mentor. 

In ceremony and empowerment, I celebrated my baby-boomer Simchat Chochmah ~ Joy of Wisdom.

When I was a teen, aside from competitive scored sports where I was 'captain', I had no measurable skills, talents, degrees, but I had a natural innate joyous way of being, a smile and kindness-- I am told 50 years later by people who knew me then, closely or from the distance. 

 I still smile joyously because I am connected to G*D and community, and embrace the sacred in my life.  

As I age, I am more aware of this relationship to the Holy One

and Serving G*d in Joy. 

G*d loves me. I love G*d.

May G*d bless you.

~

 Heart Art 

Joy Krauthammer ©

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