When you wake up in the morning and continue along your day to day routine, do you ever stop to wonder- why am I doing this? Maybe you ask yourself this everyday and do nothing to change it. Once in a while I think it's good to let this question settle in, and not simply respond as if in that monotone answer to the typical conversation starter question- so what do you do? Instead ask yourself occasionally- what am I doing that really correlates to what I want from life, do I actually want this.
In this day and age we have the opportunity, challenge and pressure to choose our individualistic path. However this pressure to obtain resume highlights borders on obsessive planning rather than simply enjoying the natural flow and adventures of life. So when you ask yourself these societally-embedded questions, naturally there is no ten second answer. But the refreshing thing is that when you ask yourself, you're not under the pressure of trying to show off your achievements to the stranger in an elevator ride timeframe.
Since returning to the States, I wanted to seriously consider why I am so impassioned about the dream of our Artship. Also, if I am so impassioned, why I am committing to a resume impressive lifestyle back in New York rather than simply jumping aboard a sailing vessel and heading for the desired seas. Retrospectively it is easy to answer- the Artship is not solely a journey out at sea and creation of art projects in ports, it is a movement towards learning the art of living and sharing that experience.
I believe strongly that if we share the experience of reevaluating our desires through more than intellectual/accultured responses but also our sensational and inner nature, we will learn to feel more satisfied with our path while living a life that benefits others. Art, in a basic definition, is something valued of extraordinary significance based on aesthetic principles. Therefore I see it as a tool for reevaluation, I see it as potential and expression of something greater than one perspective of intellectual reasoning. My desire is for the Artship to be a symbolic and functional vessel, carrying a team that uses art to work with others, encouraging them to reevaluate the dominating art of living in their community. It is time to not simply ask: what am I doing? or why am I doing this? We have the ability to ask ourselves: what do we want to change, and how do we do it?
When I consider the why am I doing this (the Artship), I uncovered my deepest desires. Now you might think that I've gotten too granola-crunchy free-spirited again, but then I highly encourage you (wait, challenge you!) to do this exercise on your own. Share if you'd like, or simply keep your written words tucked away for your personal indulgences of your heart. Here's a link your task:
Three Deepest Desire Exercise
And here is my response. Just something I thought appropriate for the development of this project, a step of clarifying my desired art of living. It includes:
The ART of Love:
Eric Fromm states it eloquently in Die Kunst des Liebens (The Art of Loving)- "The first thing we have to learn is that love is an art, just as living is an art; if we want to learn how to love we must proceed in the same way we have to proceed if we want to learn any other art. Maybe here lies the answer to the question of why people in our culture try so rarely to learn this art, in spite of their obvious failures: in spite of the deep-seated craving for love, almost everything else is considered to be more important than love: success, prestige, money, power - almost all our energy is used for learning of how to achieve these aims, and almost none to learn the art of loving."
My desire is to live harmoniously with others, nature, and my own being. I want more than just to be witness to love, feel loved, or love others, I want to truly embrace and feel its everpresent existence.
The ART of Peace:
Peace comes from the self, and inherently cannot be forced upon you or taught to you by others. It is a willing acceptance of an inner stillness and understanding. While simultaneously forming an encapsulating protection of your inner awareness, you are aware to the conflict that surrounds you. Peace is a practice, and like any manner of being, it is supported by habitual diligence of focus.
Whether I am out at sea on a boat, cruising down the busy avenues of New York on my bike, or lying awake on my bed, no matter where I am I find ways of centering myself in peace. The Artship is not a distant goal in which I want to obtain peace, rather through peace I will arrive at the goal of this Artship. Through peace I will follow the right path.
The ART of Light
The way in which we see this world is nothing but reflections of light. Light is literally energy that nourishes the body, mind and spirit. This desire is directed towards learning how best to nourish my body, and in turn share that with others. I know that even if I let my light shine (can't help but sing), the world would be a brighter place; and just imagine if we shone as enlightened communities. Wow, the most pun-filled sentence I wrote yet.
The desire to live and learn the art of these principles is the guiding force for my passion, my communication, and my daily choices. My daily choice is to find the art * the extraordinary significance in my actions. Know that your actions and desires do make a difference.
Seek out what you desire most.
With Peace, Love and Light
Artship Team Member: Kyra
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