Emptiness

I'm exploring this concept of emptiness.  I like defining and redefining words.  It gives me a larger perspective and helps me understand what things(words) really mean. 

©Deb Koffman

There Is Nothing Here

I used to feel as if nothing mattered, not me, not my life, not my future.  I used writing and drawing to explore what I really meant by 'nothing'.  Drawing a picture of 'nothing' opened me to a larger way of thinking. Seeing a blank page I realized the page, like my life, is free to become whatever it wants.

©Deb Koffman

Anything Is Possible

I was wondering about the Buddhist concept of 'emptiness' and what that means.  If I'm empty, or something is empty, it (I) doesn't hold any thoughts or judgments or labels. It (I) can be redefined and therefore responded to differently.   This is Dina Noto pointing out the possibility in emptiness.

Food For The Soul

Food For The Soul ©Deb Koffman

I often see the world...people, places, situations, filled with anger, violence, resentment, fear.  I noticed that as I was seeing and hearing these qualities I was influenced by them, and becoming angry, resentful, afraid.

I was feeling more and more depressed with this view and thought

"wow, this isn't working", so my artist self kicked in...

I wondered what the world be like if it were filled with joy and love and kindness and patience.

I imagined that as I observed these qualities, I would be nourished by them.   And as I was nourished by them, I would become more joyful, loving, kind and patient.

The practice of filling my life, body and mind with what feeds my soul 

seems a useful and good thing for me and for the world I live in.

I can fill myself with anger, worry, fear, judgments or I can choose humor, humility, respect, love. What I fill my mind, my body, my life with is my choice.

Walking A Fine Line

I host an open mic once a month in my gallery space where the community can come share a poem or story or song of their own.   This month's theme was 'Walking'.  I love making things out of cardboard life size and a little larger, and this became the set for the stage.  I love feeling the different lines under 'my' feet.

I had a lot of fun just drawing lines, although not all of them made it to cardboard size...

Signs Of Well-Being

I need to hear, and see words that encourage my well-being, lift my spirits and open my heart.  These do that for me.  I made them big so they would fill the space around me and I could hear them LOUD AND CLEAR.

Signs Of Well-Being Installation by Deb Koffman

There are other words I hear (inside and outside myself) that aren't so encouraging. They deaden me, make me feel depressed, anxious, worthless, 'stupid'.  These words encourage my suffering.  I don't need to hear them any bigger or louder, but I do find it useful to feel, and see the difference between them.

The interesting thing is that I have a choice which words to pay attention to.  There are people and places and voices that support well-being.  It seems important, essential, to surround myself with those voices.

This 81/2x11 print can be purchased online at 

                                 http://debkoffman.com/products/index.php?catid=610

Make Room For All You Need

These doors are a reminder that my feelings  and needs matter.  I need a space, a place, time to be with them, experience them.  

Anger is as valuable as dreaming, as valuable as making mistakes, as valuable as not knowing.  Being with them shows me what they have to offer me.  They each serve me in some way.

I can't always be 'perfect' and 'certain' and 'happy'.  For me, being a functional, resourceful, creative human being means accepting, respecting, making room for all parts of me.

These doors are part of larger installation of 15 doors that I photographed and photoshopped so I could put it in this context.  Click on image to see larger size.

it's good to have the handy 81/2x11 size debkoffman.com