Carry a talisman
Oh, my. I am constantly reminded how incredible, artistic, engaged, passionate, real, true, and just plain wonderful you all are.Late last night, a reader of 37days named Donna Miller emailed. "Ever since you’ve begun your 37 Days without Complaint," she wrote, "the idea of fresh starts has been rattling around in my brain. I was really struck by your column today…so much so that I designed an artist trading card to share with my friends. I thought I’d share it with you, too."
I was so touched by her gesture of generosity and beauty. These kinds of talismans hold such great meaning, whether yellow silicone bracelets to support cancer research or purple ones to remind us to be complaint free or small grapes and tiny soaps that hold a meaning we cannot fathom or a yellowed grocery list from 20 years ago or leaves sent to London or Philip Glass Pocket Shrines, these objects are the touchstones of our lives.
As someone who has for decades collected small pieces of art from around the world to support people like Donna who create beauty in the world, this was particularly meaningful to me, a touchstone I will print on beautiful cream colored card stock, laminate (I love my laminating machine, as my friends Gay and Rosemary can attest. I’ve been known to travel with it), and carry in my wallet (alongside Philip Glass and my magic scruple from Mr Brilliant, of course).
I asked Donna if I could post it. She said yes, and more: "If anyone wants it, they have my permission to copy it. I think I’m going to print it out on magnetic paper, so I’ll have that constant reminder that I so need."
If it will be a helpful talisman for you, a gift from Donna this morning. Let’s all look in our wallets every morning or on our bathroom mirror or between the handlebars of our Schwinn bike or wherever we tuck this piece of beauty and remember that every day is day one. Not failure to start over, but a gift.
Thanks for this gift, Donna.
