Inktober Day 31: Become!

It is the last day of Inktober, thirty-one pieces of art in thirty-one days. I have not done that in a while and it felt good, challenging, and even a bit daunting at times. When I read these words from Max de Pree I though them a fitting end to Inktober 2025:

We cannot become what we need to be
by remaining what we are.

– Max de Pree 2017

I was out and about today, thinking about the end of Inktober and what’s next? I have a few ideas swirling in my head. Actually, more than a few ideas. I have bought some new equipment to add to my studio and repertoire, which means I have to make time to learn it and use it. I guess it is part of my becoming. Notice that I did not say I have to find the time, I have to MAKE the time. I am old enough to know that time is a finite commodity, and if we do not use it well it flutters away before we know it. And none of us are guaranteed tomorrow.

There are 61 days left in 2025….only sixty-one! Wow, that went by fast. And with things still to do, equipment to learn and bigger ideas to produce, how is all that going to happen with the holidays coming up and the weather changing? Let’s face it, there are always reasons to NOT do something – tired, lazy, other to do items, sickness, work load, responsibilities – each of us has our own list of go to reasons. Instead of trying to fit all the things we wanted to do into the end of the year, maybe we can pick one or two that we know we can do and feel a sense of accomplishment in getting those two things done. Two crossed off the list is better than none!

Just because our time in this year is fleeting, doesn’t mean we have to give up or give in. Remember, each day is an opportunity to become…which is another more palatable word for growth. I thought about who I was this time last year, and this time five yeas ago…very same and yet VERY different. What if you give yourself the gift of becoming just one thing more than you thought possible? Finish the one or two things to cross them off your list, then pause, reflect, ask yourself what you learned and how are you going to apply that learning to make the future even better? How have you become who you want to be? And if you are not the person you want to be, how do you become THAT person? I’m going to ponder this, I hope you do too.

Thank you for tuning it to my Inktober 2025 blog posts. See you in November, with new ideas and new work. There are still 61 days in 2025, so don’t quit on me now!