I can see clearly now...

Life Collage - Wendy Smith 2009

The mystical collage of life...

If we all created a collage - made up of the things we love, what inspires us, what brings us joy, what moves us, what we dream of - would we have the key to our life?
You might be surprised ;)

I created this collage several years back. I had been cutting pictures, phrases & words out of magazines for about a year or so. I found it to be a creative & satisfying thing to do. I would put them up on my bulletin board over my writing desk as inspiration and as a reminder of what made me tick, why I was here, what I wanted my life to be about.

I would change the quotes, words and images as a new desire came in or a new writing subject would take over. Sometimes there would be steamy lovers tangoing or portraits of jewel encrusted ladies from the Renaissance. Depending on what was going on in my life and more importantly, what was needed to inspire me and remind me of my journey - there could be anything from a fabulous beach in Tahiti to a simple word like trust.

The collage above was one I put together one afternoon when I wanted to create a story board for what I was feeling in that moment. I had never made an intentional collage before. I was living on a small island just off the Pacific Northwest coast at the time and had recently found a bright blue, painted wood board on the beach. It had been roaming the seas for awhile but was still vibrantly blue and alive. I took it home, knowing I would use it for something creative. I laid it down on the floor that afternoon, got out my folders of images and words and set to work composing my feelings, passions & desires. It felt really good putting all those pieces together and seeing the story it told - of me, at that time.

I had been going through a tough time, having just made major changes in my life the year before. An upheaval really, of all that I knew my life to be. Difficult choices were made, then a five month journey through Europe - following my passion, moving across the country to be near my family again and embarking on a dream to write a book. So many changes, so many emotions and things not turning out how I had envisioned. I needed to create that collage that day to send a message to myself and the universe of what I needed and who I was.

It all started with this quote from J. R. R. Tolkien

"Not all who wander are lost"

I felt those words deeply in me and wanted to reassure myself and the world that I was on a life changing journey and may not find my physical home for awhile. Then there was the hand with the heart which represented self love to me and how I needed to love myself through this challenging time. Not always an easy thing to do. I also put images and words of what I love doing in this world - travel, treasure hunting, creating, relaxing, meditating, laughing with family & friends, eating delicious foods & drinking champagne ;) !

I felt excitement and was full of joy after completing that collage. I photographed it and later that season sent it as a holiday email to all I loved. It was not a permanent collage, just something I put together one afternoon and dismantled almost immediately. Like the magic & impermanence of life.

View from my house sitting gig in the San Juan Islands - 2009

I still have my bulletin board full of inspiring images, words and quotes but haven't made a collage since that day, many years ago. I came across the collage last night as I was searching for a photo to post with my New Year greeting on facebook at midnight. In seeing it again, I saw how I have changed but also how many things are exactly the same, only from a happier place now :) It also seemed to be filled with life affirming messages that anyone could relate to. A message and reminder to all, to follow your heart, trust yourself and be loving to yourself - because from that place of love, all things are possible.

I'm back on the other coast again, continuing along with my journey. Loving my city and my home but understanding that life is a continual journey of choices and experiences. I look back on my life so far and see a very rich collage indeed - one that keeps expanding into the next adventure and the next adventure...
And perhaps, more than ever before, do I understand the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson..

"Life is a journey, not a destination"