Cade’s teacher showed us a collection of his schoolwork that demonstrated how much he has improved this year in reading and handwriting. One of the items we were presented with at the meeting was a picture he drew of what he wanted to be when he grew up. The picture was simple and seemed to be quickly drawn as an afterthought. Mark and I both were surprised though, as it was a picture of a police car and he had written “cop” next to it. His good buddy had the same interest, so we just figured they wanted to pal together in this venture, or Cade just hadn’t told us his latest career goals for the future! At seven years old, it changes quite a bit. I remember wanting to be a “cow” at one point………hmmm, glad that phase didn’t last long!
Last night the conversation came up at home with my husband Mark and Cade. Mark questioned Cade about his newest desire to be a police officer when he grows up. Cade innocently replied: “Well, that’s not really what I want to be. I really want to be an artist, but I didn’t know how to draw that”. Classic Cade response.
So it left me pondering, as those little nuggets of insight my children tend to grant me, how many adults are out there working a job that they really don’t want as their life occupation, but they just don’t know how to metaphorically draw out the picture of their own dreams?
In the last year, both my husband and I have morphed and expanded our careers in different directions. It is simultaneously exhilarating and challenging! Worries about finances, stability, and routine could have easily prevented us from taking on this new challenge. However even when the risk seemed high, and with the economy at a new low, putting all those new colors on our blank canvas has been a way to renew our sense of peace in the creative process.
And a process it is! We are amatuer artists trying to create a masterpiece. But as daylight savings rolls around, the days get longer, and the flowers begin their journey through the surface of the once frozen ground, I am hopeful. We won’t cop out, for our sake, and as a good example for Cade. We will learn how to draw, even if it means going back to the drawing board several times.
LIFE LESSON? Be your own famous artist. Create YOUR life with color, and enjoy each new image that unfolds.
