When I look back to the
years of my childhood, they seem like a lifetime ago and seem to be distant and
lost memories. I start to wonder if they were even my memories at all or just a
dream but I remember my childhood well and what a dream it was.
We often dream of
growing up and what life will be like as an adult when we have freedom to do
whatever we want, not realizing just how free our little lives are as children.
It is not until we grow
up, graduate from college and start living on our own that we realize just how
good life was; life with no bills, no responsibilities and not having to be a
slave to society to earn a decent living. The memories and joys of childhood
should never be forgotten nor should the lessons learned - to take time to stop
and smell the flowers, to rest and take a nap, to enjoy calling a friend and to
simply live your dreams.
When we get old, the
phone doesnt ring that much any more. Friends are grown up and gone, moved away, married,
slaves to the job and we forget the simplicity of just being a child. I miss
those days and when life gets to be too hard, I do as the children of Israel
often did during their years of captivity; I look back to the good old days and
smile, remembering when life was fun and simple.
It is for this reason
that I have been inspired to create children's art. To capture the memories,
the dreams, the imagination of children to inspire us so that when we grow old
and life beats us down, we can see the world as we once did, with wonder and
amazement and where every day was a celebration. I think this is why we are a
society fascinated with art, movies and fiction books. We love to dream and
escape from the doldrums of everyday life to go out on a little adventure and
slay a dragon, escape to Oz or Narnia and see the world the eyes of a Hobbit.
If nothing else, we
manage to escape just for a few hours in a movie theater, in front of a book or
to stare at a painting. We get to dream again and step back into the world we
once forgot known as childhood.
- Rick Short
March 6, 2013