Peace ya'll,
I would like to take this chance to remind everyone, (and myself), to mentally and emotionally relax, slow down, and take things easy. I do not mean just take things "slightly" easier either, but I mean really take it easy on how you perceive yourself, treat yourself, pursue your goals, approach betterment, and overcome any other adventitious scenarios you may find yourself in -- if you have the privilege to do so. If you are incapable of doing so, please try your best to make due with your situation and when you can, just find a way to breathe.
A question I have been asking myself as of late, simply as a reminder towards its importance is: "When is the last time you were able to breathe?" The meaning of this question can be figurative or literal, definitely both, but understanding the necessity of oxygen to our bodies and knowing that with anxiety and stress, we can cut off oxygen levels due to more rapid heart rates, expend energy thinking about our unfathomable futures, and even, (as this is something I find myself doing), hold our breath or simply not breathe when our minds are racing with thoughts and concerns. I believe that now, more than anything, we should be working hard towards preserving our futures, by tending to our physical, spiritual, and mental health first.
Get that good night of sleep every night, and you'll have more energy to actually be productive and animated during the day. As my friend S put it, which I have been using as a reminder, is that "Nothing good ever happens at night," and when you really think about it, that is very true. So I try not to stay up or stay out too late anymore, because I often just do dumb things or waste a lot of valuable time.
Put your phone away for a while, (a long while preferably), and live in the present. Social media has gotten so bad for my own health that it feels as if I am convalescing after just a few minutes of scrolling. I am left with a tightness in my chest, unrealistic desires reawakened, and false perceptions of what I should be doing, even though I know these feelings to be tenuous. It is a genuine sickness, an epidemic of its own what social media does to us.
Ignore as many text messages as you need to. Sorry to anybody I haven't replied to, but I do not think we are built to be having 20-30 conversations simultaneously. Just going back and forth in conversation with one person for more than 10 minutes is difficult now, as we've diminished a lot of our social skills from isolation, and just don't have the same enthusiasm to socially drive us. So I'm sorry, but I'm sure you're doing it too lol. And that's just fine.
It may feel bad not accomplishing goals or doing what we set out to do because it seems we have more time than ever, and I know I am simply reiterating what I have said, and what many people on the internet have said time and time again, but we still need the reminder, that it is okay. Breathe. Live free. Focus on your heart, your soul, your body, your health, and those you love and care about. It's all that really matters at the end of every single day anyway.
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I have been reading/learning about a lot of late artists who, widely recognized for their work, have unfortunately passed away - such as Eva Hesse, Noah Davis, Jean Michel Basquiat, Giambologna, and others. And what has stuck out to me when reading about their accomplishments and accolades, learning about their impacts on their fields of focus and what they were able to provide society with, the speakers and writers relaying their stories do so with such energy and gratification, but then, in a more flattened tone, remind us that all these accomplishments ceased, when they eventually lost their lives. (Before I go on, forgive me if any of this comes off as pessimistic, but I ask that you hear me out.) We will all die, yes, eventually. Everything we have worked towards building in this life will cease, and though it may not be forgotten, we will not be here anymore to uphold the legacy we left behind. Death helps us remember what is really important. Covid has clearly done that for us, as it represents nothing but death itself. And when I read about these artists, and think about the fact that they are gone, and are not coming back, I wonder where they may be right now, and whether or not they were happy with how they lived their lives.
As you all know by now, I am a proud and practicing Muslim. While I am not the best Muslim, I still find a peace in the moral guidance, spiritual exercise, and closeness to a creator and higher being outside of myself that keeps me grounded and optimistic. I share this with you all, because it is something that brings me happiness, and a deep contentment, especially in times like this, so if I can help in bringing that same feeling to someone else, I always will. (So if you ever have a curiosity or questions about Islam, need clarification, basic information, or have misconceptions, you can always ask me.) However, I mainly say this because I believe humans need to practice some form of spirituality. You may not believe in Allah, Buddha, Jesus, science, America, celebrities or whatever else humans find themselves worshipping and placing their trust in, but we all believe in something. And I think it is especially important to our overall health that we build a bond with what it is that we look to in times of distress. For me, it is Allah, the one creator. For you, it may be the same, or something else. But this is just a reminder that we cannot find everything we need to survive and get by in this tangible realm. A lot of what drives us is a part of the world of the unseen. We cannot see our soul, that thing that gives life to this walking piece of meat we call the human body. We cannot grasp hope, the only thing getting us through all the absurdities, and calamities we are currently faced with. But we must remember these things and tend to them, otherwise we'll be left with lives spent ungrateful, forgetful, idealistic, and lost in futures cut short. Therefore I pray, and hope that every single one of your hearts are doing okay, and that you can look at your current situation every once in a while and truly mean it when you say, "I'm blessed".
Do better for yourself, then everybody else.
Love, B.
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Art Updates
I will begin selling some of my work soon inshallah. I have not made a single dime off of my personal work, (commissions non-included) in over 4 years, (since I sold two of my best paintings for way too cheap), partly because I am a perfectionist, but also because it is a bit daunting putting a price tag on my work. The thing is, I have long passed the point in which I was uncomfortable with the quality of my art and writing, thankfully, and therefore, I anticipate getting a shop up to sell various favorite pieces of mine. (The books are coming soon too, inshallah. Still working!)
The first which I hope to sell, is a poster from my Fountain Flower photo series, still deciding whether I'll do black or white, or both:
Fountain Flower. Poster
11 x 17
There is also this image from my upcoming photo book, titled "Maghrib on Istiklal" I hope to do a limited run of prints with.
Maghrib on Istiklal. Print.
12 x 18
If you would be so kind to take the time, just let me know how you all feel about this. Do any of these interest you? What kind of stuff would you like to see in my shop? Photography prints, Zines, Posters, Writings, Art prints, Clothing, Original pieces, etc.? Just so I can get a gist of the direction to take this. I'd appreciate it greatly. <3.
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Art Show Alertttt:
If you are in San Diego and have some time, stop by Amel Janae's show, Like Honey at Swish Projects. Absolutely loved it. I'm so lucky to know such a talented artist such as Amel, and it's great seeing Swish Projects help put shows like this together. Make an appointment to view it here.Open January 27 - February 21
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Currently on repeat:
OH MAN OH MAN. TEEZO! THANK YOUUUUUU. I'M BOUTA SEND THIS MAN A PERSONAL LETTER.
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Film:
Santa Sangre by Alejandro Jodorowsky
To be honest, I have absolutely no energy to get into this one lol. It is bizarre, avant garde, abstract, basically every word you could think of that represents surrealism haha. I loved it. I was weirded out, confused, repulsed, enamored, disgusted, angered, needed to take a few breaks from it lol, but besides that, this is a superb film. If you haven't seen this, I honestly won't "recommend" it, because it may not be for everyone, but I will recommend it. If you decide to watch, good luck, and lmk what you think haha.
That's all from me for this one ya'll. Thanks for reading. And as usual, please feel free to reply to these emails if you feel inclined to. I'll be here.
B <3