Flourishing

No matter where we live on planet earth we all want to flourish. We want our lives to mean something. To leave something behind that others can appreciate. To remind them that we also had our day under the sun. (Ie. Don’t forget us too quickly!)

Once again I find the book Your Brain On Art by Magsamen and Ross helpful as they pass on their understanding of what flourishing means:

Flourishing, we believe, is about living an authentic and full life. It’s feeling present and alive by noticing and appreciating what you already have around you. It’s about being in touch with yourself—what many refer to as mindfulness—in order to live with a sense of purpose and meaning, a moral compass and sense of virtue. Flourishing includes caring about the welfare of others and contributing to the greater good.

When you are flourishing, you are curious, creative, and open to new experiences, and there is a conscious commitment to fostering a positive mindset. You’re nurturing your mental, physical, and social health. And you’re appreciating the time you have on this planet. (Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross, Your Brain On Art)

The art piece above titled Defend the Earth by Joyce Wieland has been displayed at the National Science Library in Ottawa since 1972 and recently came to the AGO as part of an exhibition on her work called Joyce Wieland: Heart On. Wieland’s concern for her artwork can be captured by her comments on how she understands “flourishing”:

I think being an artist is about following your own way, and having the courage to be who you are and what you are.

I must show in my work, what it is to love.

And her artist statement for Defend the Earth reads:

To give warning to students who go there to do research. Defend the earth against the god-damn chemicals.

From my perspective Joyce Wieland was a flourishing artist who cared deeply about her art, her Canadian roots, and what it meant to be a mindful citizen of the global community.

My hope is that in our own way we will be committed to a life that flourishes and that we will manifest it by living joyfully, gratefully and gently on our chosen path.