Particularly when it's a simple insight that probably many others have seen, when the "aha" hits, it's both humbling and exhilarating.
This morning I was reading Charles Hugh Smith's An Unconventional Guide to Investing in Troubled Times in which Charles quotes legendary trader Ed Seykota, "Whatever you put your mind to, whatever you expect, be it positive or negative, you tend to draw into your life."
This is not a particularly new thought. But what struck me was Ed's use of "draw."
Zentangle's slogan is "Anything is possible, one stroke at a time." And not to get all "pop psychology" on you, but you "draw" each stroke one at a time and Ed's use of "draw" as attract offered a wonderful (and obvious) parallel to that.
I looked up "draw" on The Free Dictionary. Here are a few of their slightly edited definitions for "draw."
- Cause to come by attracting; attract
- Move after or toward one by applying continuous force; draw the chair closer to the table
- Move in a given direction or to a given position, as by leading: The teacher drew the children into the room to see the decorations.
- Move or pull so as to cover or uncover something: draw the curtains.
- Cause to flow forth: a pump drawing water
- Take in (air, for example); inhale.
- Take or pull out: drew out a wallet.
- Extract or take for one's own use: draw strength from one's friends.
- Take in from a given group, type, or region: draw clients from all levels of society.
- Bring about deliberately; provoke: draw enemy fire; draw a penalty on an opponent.
- Evoke a response; elicit: a performance that drew cheers
- Earn; gain: deposits that draw interest
- Use (a check, for example) when paying.
- Receive on a regular basis or at a specified time: draw a pension.
- Take or receive by chance: draw lots.
- To take (cards) from a dealer or central stack.
- Pull back the string of (a bow).
- Stretch taut.
- Flatten, stretch, or mold (metal) by hammering or die stamping.
- Shape or elongate (a wire, for example) by pulling through dies.
- Inscribe (a line or lines) with a pencil or other marking implement.
- Make a likeness of on a surface, using mostly lines; depict with lines: drew a map of the area; drawing landscapes and still lifes.
- Formulate or devise from evidence or data at hand: draw a comparison.
- Compose or write out in legal format: draw a deed.
- Use or call upon part of a fund or supply: drawing on an account; drew from the experience of fellow workers.
There are many more examples and definitions of "draw" on that page but I didn't include them all. I had to "draw the line" somewhere.
This all just goes to underscore our personal ideas, that life really is an artform, and that everyone is an artist.