Manifestasian

(Warning: post is really long. I took it to town boii!)

2005. Paolo Coelho’s book, The Alchemist, found me. I didn’t find it; it found me- I had purchased the book months before, but somehow felt a strong inclination to pick it up December of that year. Little did I know it was the book I needed most, right there and then.

If you haven’t read it, I highly suggest you run to the store and pick it up- immediately!! It seriously changed my life. Back in 2005, I had just graduated from college; lost, confused, and completely new to the Bay. On top of that, I was still suffering from an agonizing relationship gone awry. I didn’t know what to do with myself, what job to take, what kind of money I’ll be able to acquire to pay all the bills. Then I read this book and everything made sense.

My tattoo above is the English translation of “Maktub”, a recurring phrase in The Alchemist- a simple premise that reminds us that everything happens for a reason; every challenge, every heartbreak, every triumph, every person in our life exists because we’ve come here with our stories already written in the script of God’s Universe. Everyone has their own Personal Legend (aka purpose) and when one goes in search to pursue this dream, God and the Universe conspires in order to help one achieve it. (I’ve found that this is true! So very true!) It was a reminder that it was okay to dream big- and as cliche as it is to repeat the phrase “never give up”, it is often when people give up too soon that their potential stunts just as well as their daddies. (pun. sorry. can’t help it.)

Summer of ’06. Mai-Lei asked me watch The Secret with her. Call it corny, a load of bushwack, or cheesy, but honest to goodness, it allowed me to shift my thoughts in a more positive way- it taught me about the secret of manifestation, the power of positive thinking, and the simple practice of believing. Since the Alchemist and the Secret, I’ve led my life in the direction of positivity and possibility, and I truly believe that I’m blessed enough to have found my passion and direction so early- it is this passion that assures me that no matter what anyone says or what the circumstances are, I’m doing what I’m supposed to.

And my little secret? I create collages- vision boards that help me visualize what it is that I want in my life. Its like a wish list that I send out to put my dream out there- so that ‘someone’ will see and hear me and that positive thought will come to life! Trust. It works. It really does. Call it law of attraction, magic, whatever, but I ask, and word up, I receive! Even if you doubt me, it couldn’t hurt to try, right? =) I’m telling you though, real talk playa, I make my collages and I’ve gotten almost everything- maybe its that new found affirmation while creating them that help me focus on my goals, but nevertheless, I get em.

Another secret? Being an artist can bring some crazy stresses. All summer, I’ve been hit with insecurity pangs about everything: my career, my finances, everything. It can get really draining. Being an artist means having an unconventional career development path, momentary instability, and when you come from an immigrant family, you gotta face the facts that no one exactly understands why you gave up a stable career as a nurse instead of gallavanting around with poetry shenanigans. Nawmsayin?

Still, I know that I’m following what I was put here for. I’m so, so, so happy that I’m an artist. I love the life I live, as difficult and frustrating it can be sometimes. My art is a platform for my vision, my creativity- all things that I know derive from my spirit that God wants me to translate. The purpose of my art, I hope, is to inspire other people who are searching to pursue what makes them at their best, what makes them spiritually, mentally, emotionally buoyant! I want to somehow inspire people to seek the things make them thrive, not merely what makes life bearable.

We deserve that. You deserve that.

Perhaps my biggest privilege is the ability to know and feel that life is not merely about survival, but one of passion, opportunity, and possibility. I recognize this. And because of this, I am conscious about how I can be there for others, how I can reciprocate my blessings and pay it forward- it’s the cycle of our co-existence. The basis for the things I create is the possibility for change, however small. It’s about making someone feel moved, moved enough to know how they can affect the world. I love being in high school classrooms because there’s nothing more incredible than watching someone discover they can write their reflection and see it clear on paper, then share it with a classroom that affirms and recognizes the beauty of that reflection.

Even why I’m writing this right now is driven by the hope that someone will read it and feel recharged enough to continue their own pursuit- I tell you, you deserve it.

Now let’s keep on, yeah. I’ll see you at the top, fam.

Peace.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 23rd, 2008 at 12:08 am. It is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.