Today I'm grateful for.... illustration of my gratitude by MELISSA MEDWYK
My friend Ayla and her partner recently released 1THING, an app that acts as a gratitude journal. I love the idea of being able to make notes of things I am grateful for throughout the day by using my phone (something I almost always have handy), rather than having to remember to bring a physical journal along with me. Further, I love how 1THING is not just an app, it's a community. You can keep your thoughts private, but you also have the opportunity to share your gratitude with others. And each day, an artist-in-residence chooses one of those gratitudes to illustrate, making a beautiful piece of art. Amazing project, right?
Illustration for 1Thing by Mike Ellis
Inspired, I contacted Ayla to see if she would be interested in collaborating. My experience creating Before I Die walls in my Small World Big Dreams event demonstrated to me how powerful and inspiring it can be to ask provocative questions and have people answer publicly. I love the digital community of 1THING, but I'm interested in taking the concept out into the physical realm. What if we ask people what they are grateful for as part of a collaborative art piece? What if, just like the Before I Die project, we ask people to complete a sentence and share their hearts with a community on a giant blackboard?
With 1THING's support, I will be creating a 'Gratitude Wall' community art project. It's going to be installed in Whistler Village during Wanderlust Festival next weekend. Wanderlust is a festival that celebrates music and yoga - the perfect environment to celebrate gratitude.
If you're headed to Wanderlust, make sure to have a look around the Whistler Village for the Gratitude Wall. I can't wait to see what your'e grateful for.
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Update, September 1: There is now a portfolio page set up for this project. Check it out! See more here >
Photo: Pat Young