Conversation Canvas

This blog will need you to be creative. Imagine yourself as an artist - you can envision yourself to be Van Gogh, Michaelangelo or Banksy. Who you choose doesn’t matter but once there in that frame of mind, your next task is to design your next masterpiece. The canvas on which you will draw will be your next conversation and the tools you will draw with will be your words.

Words just like the strokes used to paint by an artist are important. Words since their beginning have been one of the most important tools for our development as a species. Without the creation of words, we would have to rely on memory alone for the transfer of skills to one another, to illustrate stories, and convey a vision. The way with which we transfer information would be different. References may not be stored as efficiently as they are without words to fill them. All these utilitarian benefits, and the many more not mentioned, show much it has enhanced communication.

There are hedonic benefits too. Words have given birth to a media of expression such as spoken word, songs, and poetry to name few. There are those who make a career using words to express their thoughts and feelings (unfortunately I’m not so lucky), that does not prevent us from being an artist in our day-to-day (although I would seek a second opinion before you go audition for The Voice). Whether you are speaking to someone or communing over written words are you being deliberate with the words you use? As an artist, are you designing a masterpiece or just going through the motions? 

Pay attention to what words you use. Speak purposefully, let every word like the detail in a painting have meaning. Your words matter because they are a reflection of you. Is your perception of the world captured on your canvas? This year, or in fact last few years, have felt extremely volatile. To say the wrong thing is potentially detrimental with even comedians, where your job is to make satirical comments of current events or topics are under (intense) scrutiny. It can feel intimidating to express how you feel. But you must (unless it incites violence or hate of someone or a group). “Watch what you say,” should be an invitation to educate yourself more on the topic and articulate yourself better. There should be space for criticism to reflect on your piece and “could I have put that in a better.” The world doesn’t deserve the worst and it may not deserve the best but it does need a masterpiece.

I leave you with this - Rifle