I think and ponder and design and gather and work and edit until it is all just the way I want it. It's quite a process for me, because it is MY GIFT to my family and it has to express EVERYTHING I want them to know. AND I only have a few moments to wrap a year of thoughts into a picture.
I comb through photographs to ensure that I represent every member of the Deason clan. I pour over songs and lyrics until I find the "one". I look at sweatshirts and colors and envision design. There is meaning in every part of the creation. EVERY SINGLE PART. No lie.
I usually begin my Chirstmas-gift-hunt around June. I pay close attention to songs on the radio. I look at color and styles of clothing. I lock away memories and thoughts and actions of my family and try oh-so-hard not to forget "epic" moments in order to represent them correctly.
So when Daulton sent me a song and said "this makes me think of you." I knew I had found my song. I told her as much (which is like pulling my teeth. I DON'T share my song choice, video, or design with my family. EVER.)
I came up with the design and colors for the shirts. It was GOOD.
However, I kept going back and analyzing my choice. Things weren't settling like usual. The song was for ME and represented me and MY life. I know I always say that it's all about me, however, the video and sweatshirts are for US. All of us.
Shelby calls me every day on her way to work. One day she called and we were talking about our family and the difficulty behind 2015. "I think we need to get back to basics. I think we each need to remember the good that we have and focus on that."
Shelby was right.
I am a HUGE Tim McGraw fan. I go every single year to his concert. He could sing every single song he has EVER recorded and it wouldn't be enough. I love him. I love him. I LOVE HIM. I do.
Because I love him OHSOMUCH, when his new album came out, I couldn't drive my 1993 Jeep fast enough to Target. I seriously stood in front of the cd's for a VERY long time gazing at my soon-to-be-newest-treasure. That cd is still in my player and is listened to every day since the release.
Did I mention that I love him? Sigh....
Maybe it's because I listen to this album so much, or because I LOVE HIM. Whatever the reason, I couldn't get the song "Top Of The World" off of my mind. And guess what? It fit
I did something I have NEVER done before. I switched everything up.
If I could line my family up, I would tell them...EACH of them...not to forget to find happiness in the life we have been given. I used to always say that if it became necessary, I would find happiness and beauty living in a cardboard box. We may not have much in the thing-owning world that we live in, but we top the charts in the gifted-family-that-has-everything world. They need to remember that. I need to remember that.
So, I guess the song was for me after all. See? I TOLD YOU. It IS all about me. Right?
The song begins with:
We could have a little double wide planted in an empty field
We could have a big old white picket wrap around on a hill
Don't make a difference to me baby,
Where the wind takes me, long as I'm with you girl
We could have something or nothing still be sitting on top of the world
Cause when you got love, like we got love
I'm holding on to heaven, holding on to you
When you got one, like I got one
Anyway you looking it's a hell of a view
Don't know where we're gonna be
But I know we're gonna be
Sitting on top of the world
So keep hanging on to me
Yeah, don't you wanna be
Sitting on top of the world
According the personaltao.com the "starting" definition to yin yang is:
Two halves that together complete wholeness. Yin and yang are also a starting point for change. When something is whole by definition it is unchanging and complete. So when you split something into two halves - yin/yang, it upsets the equilibrium of wholeness. This starts both halves chasing after each other as they seek a new balance with each other.
Here is my madness:
I created the world on our sweatshirts using the yin and yang symbol. The "offset" letters are to represent the singular personalities necessary to make the entire Deason family complete. Not one letter is a duplicate of another letter just as our family members are not a mirrored. Yet the typeface comes from ONE font just as the individual in our family stems from the whole Deason unit.
There you go. We ARE on top of the world. We are unique and lucky and TOGETHER in this life. Don't forget it.
Shirt FRONT:
Duh. Because it IS pretty dang amazing..
Shirt BACK:
Enjoy my movie:
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