The saga continues.
Yesterday started out with manual labor. I set to reconstructing framed gallery pieces for a project that my grandfather is currently working on. I wore my most comfortable black v-neck, jeans, and army boots. Call me old fashioned, but army boots awaken a sort of primal determination in me. Sure, that might be because I’m the daughter of an army reserve member. But it’s also more likely caused by my intense desire to star in a one-woman zombie apocalypse film.
When I got home, I wanted to embrace my femininity. I don’t get to do it often and I always feel a little kindled when I do. I’m a low maintenance dresser most of the time. Mornings aren’t my specialty so I usually just put on what’s closest and go. But yesterday was going to be different. I was going to make something.
That something turned out to be a youtube video about making media. It’s a spoken word piece I wrote over a year ago that I vowed I’d one day film as the kickstart to my imminent youtube fame. If you think this is beginning to sound narcissistic, you’re not wrong.
So I got dressed up in my hot pink blazer (I’ve mentioned my affinity for blazers). I put my hair in a braid, the easiest unique hairstyle I know, put on some makeup, and turned on the camera. It occurred to me this morning when I was driving to a non-work day that I needed to start thinking of myself as a work of art. Wow, that sounds REALLY narcissistic.
What I mean is, I’ve grown up as an artist. I went to an arts elementary, middle, and high school where I spent 9 years of my life crafting skills with my hands–drawing, sculpting, painting, and a smattering of other skills no one outside of art really cares about. In elementary and middle school I tried my hand at a number of instruments including singing, piano, flute, and guitar. Throughout middle school and high school I was active in my speech and drama departments, participating and aiding performance. And since I was 9 I’ve been writing stories like my life depended on it. I got to college and adapted those stories to performance. So when I say I’ve grown up as an artist, I want you to understand my full meaning.
Art, in it’s various forms, is everything to me. It’s my constant companion. Art, good, bad, or great, is something worthy of the highest respect, care, and love.
I’d like to think of myself that way too. I don’t want to let life’s pitfalls put me behind. So when I put on my blazers, my comfortable basics, and a cute hairstyle to perform, I’m creating the Me that believes those things. That I deserve respect. That I deserve care. And that I deserve to love myself.
So here’s to treating ourselves like a work of art. Cus damn it, we are.
To see yesterday’s outfit on Modcloth.
And below is the video launching my inevitable rise to youtube stardom. If I succeed I’ll get an audible.com sponsorship and an empty can of pepsi.
