The Lunch Plate
(Another early post from when I started my newsletter three years ago. The wisdom still holds true today.)
I stood up to clear the dining table when I noticed my lunch plate. There was a picture here. I loved how the orange peels had fallen into place next to the mismatched utensils. Even the tiny nick on the rim added to its imperfection. I brought everything to a window, recreated the scene, and photographed it.
Just like this image, my life has been a hodgepodge of experiences. Sometimes I can’t make sense of them or where I’m headed next.
In an interview with Maria Shriver, Anne Lamott recounted advice from a professor who once told her that writing is like driving at night with the headlights on. You can only see a little way in front of you, but you can make the whole journey that way. That resonated with me.
I have this vague theory that if I string together these meaningful endeavors—collage art, writing, and photography—they’ll eventually lead somewhere.
We’ll see how it pans out.
If you’re in the same boat, maybe in this messy middle where you don’t know what to do next, I invite you to take a few pauses in your day and appreciate something beautiful right in front of you—something as ordinary as clearing a plate after lunch.
Marica Notecards
These notecards honor my sister Marica’s gift for small, thoughtful gestures. Each one transforms collage pieces into meaningful connections, carrying both art and intention.
The collage “Cords and Chords” is a wordplay that captures both her love of gadgets and our memories of learning and playing guitar together in high school.
Begin the year with intention— share words of encouragement or gratitude, or offer a simple reminder that someone is loved.
To learn more, visit: MARICA NOTECARDS
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Anne Lamott has the right words for almost everything: "writing is like driving at night with the headlights on. You can only see a little way in front of you, but you can make the whole journey that way."
I relate to the way you feel about your art, but I do believe that we ought to simply keep going. And if we continue on, it will lead to something, maybe something unexpected, maybe something we are hoping for, but regardless of what it may be, it will lead us there.
That is what I am trying to tell myself. It is what someone once told me, and it is what I try to hold unto when everything I do feels a bit pointless. Keep going!
Brief, to the point and so relevant! I love that photo. I have had many moments like those. You're inspiring me to create a new series ... thank you Stella!