I have mentioned “fabric of life” in previous blogs. My Grandma Myrna’s life was inextricably intertwined with the City Club. The history, the tradition and the people that made up her life comprised her life fabric. Your life too is made up of your Grandma, Grandpa, Mom and Dad, spouses, brothers, sisters, Loves, children, grandchildren, acquaintances, fellow workers, teachers, childhood friends and more. You can’t escape the entanglement of emotion, commitments and obligations. You are defined by your personal “life fabric”.
In my spare time, I got to thinking about life fabric. Some people’s lives could be described as woolen meaning a strong natural weave, warm and high quality. Other people could be cashmere which would be soft, elegant and aloof. How about life fabric being denim? Or gunny sack (gunny is a coase scratchy material)? How many people do you know that might be described as having a life analogous to gunny sack? The list is long. Silk! Polyester! Cotton!
Now you can begin to expand the fantasy. Colors. Some people have “black” fabric lives. Some with white might think they can do no wrong. Reds, blues, hues, rainbows and natural tones.
Some of life’s fabric is imperfect. It can have holes in it. It can be tattered and torn. It can be dirty or clean.
The material of your life can have buttons, zippers, and decorative sequins.
Fabric can be treated with “fabric softener” to make it artificially soft and smell good (or stink dependig on your point of view).
You can take your life analysis to the level of fairy-tales. There is the story of Rumplestiltskin who had the fair maiden spin threads of gold. Or there is the story of the Emperor Who Wore No Clothes. This would be for people who live a fantasy life (a world of their own).
How would I describe my life fabric? For sure it is weathered. It is strong to have survived this long. It is colorful based on the people that are in it (or have been in it). It is practical. It is woven with purpose. It almosts sounds like cotton or wool. I don’t know. I want it to be silk, expensive and striking. Ha.
So Grasshoppers, the lesson is that your life is woven together with the people and events of your life. The fabric of your life defines you. You can’t deny it. It is a woven maze of experiences. Wear it proudly.
The question is “How would you describe the fabric of your life”?
Love,
Dad