Hi, Reader,

I am a fan of Dolly Parton and French chef Jacques Pepin. First Jacques Pepin. I have a lot to say about Dolly later.

Interestingly Pepin is a chef and a painter. Here is a piece of wisdom from him about cooking and painting.

In the same vein, here is a 4-minute clip from the class I recorded last winter, where I compare painting on glass to working like a chef!

Today I joined a live Q&A with author, frequent guest on The Oprah Winfrey Show, and former presidential candidate Marianne Williamson, who said that “the species will not survive if we don’t produce more wisdom.” She also suggested that those of us over 50 have a responsibility to share the wisdom we have gained.

During the interview, I found myself thinking how I’ve been finding my way toward what comes next, and how I don’t feel over 50 at all. I have not yet located my accumulated wisdom, except in my left knee.

Then, in the last two minutes of the live webinar, my teen daughter whispered to me that Dolly Parton had died. I wrote in the chat "RIP Dolly Parton," and with that all of us on the call collectively wept while a teary-eyed Ms. Williamson said a prayer for Dolly.

It was a poignant ending to a conversation about wisdom, purpose, and the mark a life can leave.

Dolly Parton once said,“You really need to do things your way, according to your rules, your personality, your mindset, your faith,”

Williamson said today, "It’s up to you to give your life purpose."

It’s up to you to give your life purpose, or purposes. My personal take is that a purpose might last for years, a season, or even just a few days. Contrary to what some may think, it is allowed to change, end, or quietly become a side project you avoid thinking about.

There is an arc, I think, to everything we do. It goes like this:

1. Start-up obsession
2. Cruising
3. Braking
4. Buying supplies for the next obsession.

Listen when you tap on the brakes. By allowing the arc of one thing to slow and stop, you make room for the next arc to start up.

Perhaps Dolly’s mother said it best. She gave her daughter a phrase that stayed with her throughout her life: “To thine own self be true.”

Until next time!

Mora

​artist-designer-educator​

​moradasilva.com​

nurturing the unconventional and tinkering spirit

P.S. If you would like to take my painting on glass with a microwave kiln class with a founder's discount click on this link.