The Granny Creed

 

Over the course of the last month or so, I have been receiving comments here from a fellow art blogger over at turningturning.  Mal* is an art therapist and she is very good at articulating her comments.  Having been an art major in college, I can appreciate a really well articulated critique...Mal*'s definitely qualify!

Well, as I often do, after reading some of her comments I booked it on over to her site to see just what sort of artist she is...and I instantly fell in love with her blog.  As well spoken as her comments are, her posts are even better.  One post in particular really got my attention and it has weedled its way into ever crevice of my brain since I first read it.  You can read the original post here, but "let me sum up" as Inigo Montoya would say (any Princess Bride fans out there?).

Mal* introduced us to what she calls "Granny Day".  It is a day set aside each year where she endeavors to live life like her dear Granny once did.   I was really moved by her post, in particular her description of Granny's life philosophy...

"It involves making delicious food from scratch, doing something creative, giving something away.  It involves waking up early and going to bed late, calling someone you love to check up on them, and making sure all the chores get done.  It involves fulfilling your own needs while being sensitive to the needs of others. "

We all know this woman.  She is our own Granny, our Great Aunt, or the dear, spunky Irish woman who sits in the pew in front of us on Sunday morning.  She is someone we'd give our right arm to be like, yet when we look in the mirror, most of us see just how far we fail from reaching such heights of personal development.  But she inspires us to want to try again, and again, and sometimes, yes, again.  And how sad it is to think that, just a few short generations ago, this life philosophy was so very commonplace...now it is so sorely lacking.

I felt Mal*'s post rolling around in my head most of the day and into the night.  It prompted me to write "The Granny Creed"...a set of beliefs based on Mal*'s original description of her Granny.  [It also gave me an excuse to play with my *new* 1940s Royal typewriter, freshly home from a tune up with the office man.]  This is the Granny Creed...

Make food for the soul with love in your hands; traverse daily to the well and draw from the living waters of creativity; from a generous heart give something away.  Rise early, stay late; call or write to one held dear, whether far or near.  Work until it's done.  See to the needs of those around you, but never lose sight of your own.  Live each day with reverence and joy.

I'm going to post that in a journal somewhere, or maybe inside my kitchen cupboard.  A little something to use at the end of the day to help me take stock of the "footprint" I left in the last 24 hours. 

Thank you so much, Mal*, for your comments here and for your very thought provoking and heartwarming blog and most especially for sharing your Granny with me.  I am so glad you came my way!

**final note** I was also inspired to create a new playlist for the month based on the thoughts rolling around in my head from all this.  Enjoy!

Comments

[Pearl Maple]

That is a lovely post.
It celebrates all that is good in life and what we would - if we could, be doing everyday.

As a new 'granny' I will have to put this plan in motion!

Thanks for sharing.

[Mal*]

Wow. I am truly moved by your inspired words and kind tribute. Thank you for letting us know how my Granny impacted you. I love your creed and I hope we can all start living by these values more seriously. I warn you -- it can be exhausting! But it's a lovely way to live and I stand behind you 100%. I'd love to see the playlist, too! Any chance of you sending it along?

PS: A few years ago I bought a wonderful old typewriter. You have inspired me to pull it off the shelf as soon as my fabric disaster is cleaned up. I miss it!