How Resolve Becomes Purpose - A LetterPDX Lettering Prompt
I dug deep for this one.
The #letterpdx community has a prompt for 2022 going on…Have you seen it?
It was actually just in time because I usually try to come up with a word for every year…and a quote for every month…and an affirmation for every week in my planner…and a theme for every school newsletter.
This prompt is just right up my alley.
If you remember, I came up with a word last year after resolving to be thankful for every day, despite what it brought. That was a tough thing to do after the crazy of 2020 since what started as a two week break evolved into a traumatic year (to say the least).
But, this year, it was so difficult for me to think up just one word. I thought ‘experimentation’ might work because that’s still on the radar-especially with color (although you may have to peel a few onion layers to get there on my posts). I also felt ‘stretch’ might be good because I intend to push myself, as usual.
In the end, just like last year, I felt like I wanted something that would be deeper and more of a true stretch for me than just trying new lettering styles and color palettes. I experiment with those all the time anyway.
The word ‘purpose’ came about because of the drive I get when I letter something that is particularly meaningful for me. Those things could be uplifting students, bringing awareness to a cause that is close to my heart, or even just creatively practicing devotion to God. I find there is something in those small projects that keeps me motivated to “show up”, as they say.
‘Showing up’ are terms that get thrown around a lot these days. It’s most often used for social media. When I was first learning how to post on IG, that’s the phrase I kept hearing-and it was mostly tied to every day, consistent posting.
I find ways to be creative every day. But, I quickly found that trying to post about it every day was a recipe for exhaustion for me. Not to mention, although lettering is fun, and I grow a lot the more I do it, every day posting, short of the occasional challenge, is not a sustainable practice for my lifestyle-especially during the school year.
I just believe that showing up every day for the sake of ‘showing up every day’ for the platform (whichever platform) would not work for me, long-term. That doesn't mean I don’t value those that choose to follow my journey, nor that I believe you shouldn’t learn how to use the platforms you like. It just means for me not to do it just to make the platforms happy.
But, there’s another meaning to ‘showing up’ that I can wholeheartedly get behind…That is, the idea of how you show up is an idea I’m much more likely to engage with.
Personally, I don’t go to the platform for the platform, no matter how much I enjoy using it. I go to be inspired by people that I enjoy following, to laugh and to learn. I hope I can do the same for others from time to time.
To me, I think a better long-term strategy is to find what the purpose is behind why you do what you do that gives you a reason to do it again and again.
This past year, a few small projects like the epilepsy awareness stickers, the 30-day Bible lettering challenge, and lettering uplifting messages for my students did that for me and I’d love to try some other manageable projects that give me a similar sense of purpose. ❤️
What’s your word for 2022?
