Just Sing Because You Have a Song

As I was cleaning up our spaces from our water damage, I found a stack of paper I made probably twenty-five years ago. I had saved lint from the dryer, treated it and made five sheets of paper. I used the other four pieces to test and design this piece. Lint paper is not the easiest thing to use, it is very particular. I had to experiment with lots of pens and inks to find the ones that would work effectively. I saved my test papers and will use them in other pieces, so they will serve a beautiful purpose in the future.

Spring has sprung here in Georgia, which means the birds and bees are frolicking all over our property. I thought the delicate nature of this paper and the season went very well together… we are in the middle of a thunderstorm while I am writing this! I utilized this quote as it seems appropriate for a first run on lint paper:

The bird does not sing because it has an answer,
it sings because it has a song.

– Chinese Proverb

Life can feel tenuous and fragile. We all have good days and bad days, dull days and sunshine filled afternoons where nothing is wrong in the world. In a world where anyone can post anything for everyone on the planet to see, I thought of that singing bird. Not the expert or professing to have all the answers, it just sings because it can’t help it. The bird doesn’t expect responses, or to converse with other birds. It just sings….Such joy, such freedom, such abundant energy to sing for no reason other than to sing!

I would wish for you a day like that. One where you just do what you do simply for the pleasure of doing it. Be it writing, walking the dog, talking to your neighbors, creating something or simply reading a book and being quiet. Maybe you try something new- like lint paper – and make a mess. Some of the best days for our mental and physical health are the ones where we give ourselves permission to be ourselves, just because we can. No outcome or production expectations. No end result to hit, or goal to reach. Just to do and be and enjoy who we are and what we can do.

In this rushed, activity filled world, it can be difficult to slow down and enjoy a rainy day without feeling guilty. “I should be doing …” tugs at our heart and mind even as we sit down in the quiet and grab that soft blanket. Let today be the day you spend time just enjoying who you are…no pressures. The world will be there when you get up, and it will continue to spin around the sun while you relax and enjoy being yourself. So be that bird, just sing because you have a song.