Choose Your Mantra
New art work for next week exhibition in Warsaw, Poland is called ‘Choose Your Montra’
Every day, you have the power to choose how you feel. Even when life presents challenges, you can still make the best of each moment.
As a world traveler who has visited over 88 countries—many of them more than once—I’ve had the privilege of experiencing a wide variety of cultures. Born in the West (The Netherlands), I was fortunate to grow up with a good quality of life. The struggles I’ve faced don’t compare to some of the hardships I’ve witnessed around the world.
Yet, even in places that were materially poor, I encountered people who were rich in spirit and mindset. I prefer to say “materially poor” because, mentally and emotionally, these individuals were anything but.
My time immersed in different cultures has given me some of the most memorable and meaningful moments of my life—experiences that continue to shape and inspire me to this day.
We have more in common with each other than what divides us. But the farther we stray from love and from being true to ourselves, the harder it becomes to see this truth. I often say that at our core, we are all the same only programmed with slightly different “software”: culture, religion, and upbringing. But the foundation is universal we all want to be happy, healthy, and loved.
This artwork is about the idea that we can choose our mantra every day. It reflects the belief that when we stay close to our hearts and therefore to our true selves life becomes more beautiful. Each of us longs to express our individuality and live authentically.
However, life is full of challenges, and this is symbolized in the artwork by the closed leaf. When we make too many negative choices, our lives can become closed off, rigid, and filled with negativity. The farther we drift from what we love and from who we really are, the more problems we may encounter—addiction, depression, illness, and a loss of joy. So-called “leaders” often try to place us into categories to create division. But when we realize that, at the core, we are all the same, their efforts to divide us fail—because we begin to recognize ourselves in others. And when you truly see yourself in someone else, would you ever want to cause them harm?
It’s never too late to become who you truly are. Nature, animals, sport, healthy food and positive energy can help guide you back to yourself.
In the closed leaf—the negative side—you’ll see representations of harmful thoughts, Big Pharma, the endless chase for money, mass media manipulation, unhealthy habits, and controlling leaders who try to divide us.
Everything outside of that is focused on the positive: love, friendship, learning, sunshine, hugs, and the symbolic connection between East and West. If you look closely, you’ll notice that clouds are drawn differently in Eastern and Western art—but we still share the same sky. We should celebrate our uniqueness, but never forget that deep down, we are not so different. We are one.
