Negative vs. Positive

Why are humans always more intrigued with news that has a negative connotation rather than a positive one? A few weeks ago, my friend visited me in a frenzy about how awful her day was and how it started with her Starbucks coffee not being made to her standards. This was at the end of the day so the fury for her improper coffee still remained in her thoughts. Now I know anyone who enjoys a certain type of coffee is less than pleased when they pay 3 to 7 dollars just for it to not to meet their expectations but are we becoming accustomed to not being grateful for positive moments in our lives? Think about that, I can assume most people enjoy Starbucks from time and time so how many times has your coffee, frappuccino, cappuccino, americano, espresso, mocha, or latte been made to your expectations? I mean it was delicious, the exact scrumptious taste you were craving but you didn't think to yourself, "Damn, that man/woman knew what they were doing because this is glorious!" We just briskly walk out and continue with our day without even a thought about it. It met all the requirements for a positive start to our day but we hardly even noticed like our minds automatically say, "Duhh, that's how it's supposed to be made." Now I am not talking about this to make anyone feel bad, because I know I have done this as well. I am just bringing it to light for us to be more aware of ourselves and of others. Maybe next time you get your Starbucks you'll tip or give a big THANK YOU to the person who made your drink spectacular for your day to start off on the right foot.

Now the coffee example was just an introduction about what I really want to talk about. A few weeks ago, a fellow artist came by my studio to discuss where my work is progressing to and what ideas and research are informing my ceramics. I explained that my work is made to make a person live in the present moment by being caught up in feeling different textures on a vessel instead of being caught up by thoughts in their head. To show that nature also forces us to stay aware of ourselves so we know where we are going and what else is around us and how nature can improve our health the same way living in the present moment does. Well this person totally did not get it. She kept insinuating that I should pick a different idea or draw mountains on my pots rather than aerial views like I have been doing. My heart was bursting ready to explode out of my chest because of my frustrations. One of the main causes of depression and anxiety is from thinking of the past or dwelling over an experience or thinking about the future instead of living in the moment ! Research had been done in 2016 that found 16.2 million adults in the United States of America had suffered some form of depression within that year. But wait, my artwork does not matter because I am pushing for it to have positive connotation? I create my work in hopes that it will inspire someone to go outdoors and make a decision in their life where they say, "Hey I am not going to let my past or future experiences dictate how I feel about myself as a human being." THAT'S MY DREAM. If I am 87 one day and a person comes up to me and says that my work had a positive influence on their life, I may just have a heart attack right there.

I do understand that there has to be artwork out there that has negative connotations and I commend those who do so! Some examples are artists who focus on environmental issues, self-identity, or politics. All of those topics I feel are so important for today's society and during a majority of my research has shown that those types of artworks usually become famous because they have a powerful message that makes us realize negative impacts and how to change it. I am just saying that I have the right for my work to not be those things and it be okay. I do not care if it does not get attention because the work carries a positive message. It is important to me and it is my work that I am creating it so I shall do with it what I please. I believe our world needs more positivity! So many things happen throughout our days and our world that can make it quite easy to crawl up into a ball and wave the white flag but humans are not designed that way. The next time you get a coffee and its delicious give the person a big old thank you and smile and I'm sure it will make them feel good about themselves. People around you might see that and do it next time because positivity can work in the same exact way as negativity can. A person who had a crappy day can certainly make another person have a crappy day but so can a person who had a fun-filled day can also make another person have a fun-filled day! You get it? Keep pushing my friends, Thank you! Wander.