According to the Oxford dictionary that is the definition of Identity.
What is your Identity what passions identify you?
What do you want to be when you grow up? Do you remember what you said when you were asked this question as a child? Did you have visions of tutus and ballet slippers? Floating in space taking data from Mars? Being an Architect? Giving the Presidential Inaugural Address? Becoming an imaginary friend interpreter? An Artist? A Unicorn trainer? An Electrician, Teacher, Plumber, Lawyer, Mommy, Daddy, Doctor, Nurse, Chef, Football player, Basketball player, Soccer player, Writer, Pastor, Judge, Actor or Musician?
Did you accomplish your dream? More importantly, were you true to yourself? I understand with the abundance of unicorn trainers, and imaginary friend interpreters, the competition is crazy. I guess it’s not what you know it’s whom you know.
When I was 16 years old my friend Jodee and I spent the summer in New Hampshire with her Aunt, Uncle and Cousin. It was one of the best summers of my youth. One particular moment that I cherish was when I asked her cousin what she wanted to be when she grew up. At the time, Lyssa was just a little girl. It was a humid day and we were swinging on the swing set at the playground at her school. Our voices bounced off the wall and for some reason that just made us laugh hysterically. Lyssa looked up at me with half of her face covered by her hair, her hands holding on the chain linked metal swing and her feet doing circular rotations as she rocked gently back and forth. She looked at me and in her sweet voice said, “I am going to be an artist when I grow up. That’s what I love and that is what I am going to do.”
17 years later Lyssa has grown up and is living her dream as an artist. I can count on one hand (and still have four fingers left) the number of people I know who are actually doing what they dreamed of as a child. It is such a beautiful thing to see someone do what inspires them and live out their dream.
One piece of art that Lyssa painted is titled “Identity.” It’s powerful and it speaks to me (and no, not in the imaginary friend interrupter way), despite the fact that I am not what I’d consider to be “an art person”. I feel that it represents my life and all of its complications, beauty, tears, failed attempts, glorious victories, etc. It’s hard to explain.
This is a brief snippet of an exchange that we shared about a year ago while discussing the painting:
“It symbolizes where I am at and who I am. It’s hard to explain I guess. I also want that piece because it represents so much of me branched off in many ways. I look at it as my crossroads as well as the time you told me you wanted to be artist. Your identity never changed. In that aspect of life and what you wanted to be. Does that make sense? When I saw your painting it reminded me of my senior year quote in High school: “But above all else to thy own self be true!” Hamlet.
I encourage you to look at this video of some or her artwork. I do have to warn you that you might get emotional and the pieces might grow on you. Be prepared to be blown away and in awe of her talent.
