I ask a lot of the
Heavens. I ask a lot from/for Life. I ask for LOVE, Growth/Lessons,
Change, Acceptance of What IS & Peace - to name a few. But when
I am in the throes of my darkest moments, I always ask for a
sign. And I ALWAYS receive one- at least one.
It was an Autumn morning
as I was walked to work in the drizzling rain. Feeling despair about
my less-than-healthy relationship* at the time, I asked for a sign.
Upon stepping on a curb of the street a block from my job, I saw
this:
Immediately, I felt
something heavy, even if just a wee bit, lift.
It was just what I needed.
Choosing LOVE.
YES!
In spite of the lack I was
experiencing in the Love department*, I was reminded that I was in
control of this one thing. This one very huge thing.
Love.
Love IS Everything.
Love is the catalyst for
the growth, change, acceptance and peace that I ask for. Love is the
strength which holds me up when I fall. Love is the patience that I
need to sustain my hard lessons. Love is the seed of possibility I
plant for my future self.
And Love starts with me.
For a few years now, I
have been lifted by specific public art around New Haven. It started
with the Anne Frank mural on the side wall of a gay bar on Crown
Street. Who is not inspired by the Strength, Hope and Love that Anne
had?
Fast forward to last year with the Love curb message. I
did not know that also was done by the same artist. I knew he made at least
one more, since I found this another down-trodden day when I was walking to meet up
with my mother after work:
Fast forward again to last
month. I was at work and my boss' wife was reading the New Haven
independent (an online newspaper) and came upon an article about the
art and artist who I am referring to and asked if I knew him. (Not YET.)
He goes by BiP. Believe in
People. He is from New York, but trains in to New Haven to share his
messages with us {Blessed}New Haven folk. I was so excited to learn
about his prolific art in town. I had no idea he created so much for
us! I still take it personally, knowing that when an artist touches
one single person, it changes them, and they did their job well.
Well done BiP!
Tonight, I was reading
that article again and found a link to an earlier article:
which had a link to more
curb-side messages, and a map that BiP made for us folks to use so we
can walk around downtown and appreciate all 23 Encurbagements:
I cannot wait to print it
out and walk the town. Knowing that someone is willing to risk
getting arrested for art with positive messages inspires me very
deeply. I want to let him know how much his art has helped me on
rotten, rough days, how I walk out of my way to read those 2 curbs I
knew about (before tonight) and I want to hug him!
After reading these BiP
articles and others linked & related to it, I Believe in
People more than ever!
Thanks for sharing these. They give me some ideas for new phrases to scribble in the margins of dollar bills... something I used to do from time to time...
ReplyDelete(In pencil, of course... shouldn't deface the legal tender!) :-) :-)
Love that! When I worked @ the art shop I used to make "Funny Money" when I was bored by embellishing it with colored pencils and pretty markers. Mostly to look like characters from Rocky Horror Picture Show- with poignant messages on the back, of course.
DeleteSo- I say;
DO IT