AJC10: Don't - now as a layout

This creative writing piece appeared earlier in my art blog this week, as I needed to record the thought, play with it and refine it before I'd reached the page it was to appear on. The messages at the top should be read with the DON'T as the first word to each line, until "Some rules are made to be broken". These were messages I was left with as my depression has revealed, explaining why on bad days I feel bound/tied up by my past, paralysed to do anything. The good thing about depression is that your mind does eventually reveal these past messages and often reveals ways around still believing this "all or nothing" thinking. I am still on the road to recovery, but each step forward takes me away from the darkest days.

Credits:

Background paper - Birgit Kerr, Echoes from the Past, Love letters paper

"Don't" - Dyno Junior dynotape

"Round the World" and Airballoon elements - Tangie Baxter, Art Journal Caravan, Steamer Trunk elements

"Word" card - Tangie Baxter, Art Journal Caravan, Week 1 Parcel - I added "Freedom" using Photoshop and its fonts

The words of the creative writing piece also used a Photoshop font.

Don't...

DON'T: Draw outside the lines
DON'T: Make mistakes
DON'T: Try something new
DON'T: Rock the boat, whatever you do.

DON'T: Do unless you're told otherwise
DON'T: Think you're anything good
DON'T: Stray off the path or amount to much
DON'T: Be fearless, some of the time.

DON'T: Be anything original
DON'T: Be messy, or break rules
DON'T: Be unique
DON'T: Be you

Some rules are made to be broken
DO instead of DON'T
Try, let go, feel freedom
BE instead of DON'T

Let some rough edges show
Don't be neat at all times
Or perfect in your lines
Let things be fluid, unplanned
For life is about the freedom
Have joy as you take a path
Explore, meander, wonder
Rather than blinkered
Look around, linger, stay,
Whenever you can.