Live the Questions Now.
“Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart
and try to love
the questions themselves,
like locked rooms and like books
that are now written in a very foreign tongue.
Do not now seek the answers,
which cannot be given you
because you would not
be able to live them.
And the point is, to live everything.
Live the questions now.
Perhaps you will then
gradually,
without noticing it,
live
along some distant day
into
the
answer.”― Rainer Maria Rilke
One evening I just felt like painting watercolor in a circle wet in wet to create a fun kaleidoscope effect. After doing the negative painting I shared last week, I wanted to paint “inside the lines” this time.
And then I heard this quote (which just so happened to be shared by Lendon Noe in that class I spoke about in Sunday’s post), and I had to write it around the circle.
Live the Questions Now.
Don’t live your life waiting for the answers.
There is so much that you will miss.
Live everything every day,
and then, along the way,
you will likely live the answer.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Daniel Smith Watercolors Used: Cascade Green, Mayan Red, Quinacridone Gold
Beautiful words so well composed Jodi. Excellent picture too.
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Thanks kamal. Rilke has some amazing thoughts
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Welcome and yes absolutely Jodi
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I love this, Jodi!💕
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Thank you mary!
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Amazing! I love both poem and painting! All the best! 😊
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Thanks so much!
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That is such a beautiful quote and beautiful painting!
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I must read more Rilke
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A beautiful abstract Jodi!
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Thanks Evelyn!
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Oh, Jodi. I’m stunned by what I just read. THANK YOU for confirming something huge in my life. I’m always asking BUT WHY things happen but I don’t get answers. At first it frustrated me that I didn’t know why. I’m the curious type who wants to know why. Anyways, just recently I did find something out (something I read) and it was so mind-binding, I quietly heard …. Now you know why you are not given the answers. You wouldn’t be able to handle them. So yes, I really have learned to let the questions flow off my back like a duck in water, and just to live life. It’s much simpler that way. Life is a mystery and it’s meant to be that way for a reason. Bless you for clarifying not only what I “heard” but the attitude I’ve developed which is … I don’t know why but I do know this is for my Highest Good … and so it IS. Much Love to you!! 💖💖💖
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Oh Amy. Perhaps it was meant just for you and that totally makes my day ☺️. So glad it was so meaningful to you. Hugs!
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🌷🌷🌷
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So lovely my friend ! You help me wake up with a smile!
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Yay ☺️❤️
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Interesting concept and I totally agree. We don’t need to get wrapped around all the answers to everything. Just live life and be patien as the answers will come in good time when you least expect them.
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Interesting concept and I totally agree. We don’t need to get wrapped around all the answers to everything. Just live life and be patien as the answers will come in good time when you least expect them.
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Yessss! 😘❤️
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The answers do come when we are listening, don’t they. My kind of painting, I love the depth and textures.
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Thanks so much sharon!
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Very creative Jodi!
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Thanks jenna
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This is so beautiful! I love the quote!
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I loved the Rilke quote too. I can see it being meaningful to you and your life. I’m sure you often ask why 😘❤️
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Love your painting, Jodi! And the Rilke quote is one of my favorites. Have you read his small but powerful book, “Letters to a Young Poet”? This quote is from that, and the book is riddled with similar quotes—so wise and inspirational that they take your breath away! It will be treasured by any kind of artist, and anyone who wants to live a wholehearted and authentic life. I give it as a gift frequently.
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Thank you donna. I did know it came from that book. You’ve convinced me I must get a copy. Thank you
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So amazing. Painting and words. 🙂
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Thank you lynn ☺️
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Beautiful ❤️
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Thanks margaret!
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So wonderful.
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Thanks sylvia!
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Beautiful poem with a very important message to enjoy the moment and leave the questions to solve themselves, as they will.
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I thought it was a good message. Rilke. Pretty profound stuff 👍😉
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Rilke is magic…as is your image! (K)
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💕❤️😍
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Thanks ☺️
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Excellent quote, and love the style! Very fitting. xoxo
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Learning so much good stuff So much yet to know and learn and do! 😉💙
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Great watercolor!! Really cool color and texture and wonderful words! 😍
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Thanks Charlie!!
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Oh, Jodi, this is beautiful!! ❤️ I love how you did this with this quote. In some ways, your circle reminds me of a plate and the expression, “I have too much on my plate,” when life is hard. But maybe I have just the right amount? And maybe it isn’t for figuring out but just for living and enjoying for this moment… finding the gift isn’t always easy but so worth it. Cheers! 😃
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I love your interpretation and thoughts. Thank y
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Thank you for sharing! (Sorry I accidentally hit send too soon)! Busy day. 💕
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Love the words, the writing around the circle, the brilliant colours… beautiful Jodi!
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Thanks so much!!
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‘Don’t live your life waiting for the answers’… an excellent way of looking at things, Jodi.
Love your watercolour sploshings!
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Thanks Tom!
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Our conversation : What do you think of Jodi’s new painting? The Toddler Art Critic says : “It is a love circle!” Benjamin, you mean it is a lovely circle? “No Gem, orange and green and red are love that My Jodi painted inside a circle.” I think he just might be right! Thank-you x 2. P.S. I decided against telling him that it is not orange, but gold. P.P.S. I love the Rilke quote and the Love Circle!
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Oh My HEART!!!!!! Could Benjamin be ANY SWEETER! This was my favorite note of the day! OH THANK YOU for sharing that sweet little guy and YOU with me so often! HUGS from Mars and the Love Circle!!!
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Art. It makes you feel. Think. And want.
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☺️🎨
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Love, love the colors. Quote is great idea to compliment painting.
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Cascade green!!💚💙
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What are your thoughts on Mayan Red? I know cascade green thrills me evertime I use it and weirdly, bacause I dont quite know where to use Rose of Ultramarine, but It is a wild granulating color thats is so exciting. i just haven’t had time to play around with it for the right subject to use it.
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Haven’t played with that Mayan Red enough to form a strong opinion yet. It didn’t blow me away like Cascade Green – lol – but may serve a much more functional purpose nonetheless 🙂
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Your picture is captivating, the words are the most pertinent reminder x
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Thank you Fiona!! 💙💧☺️
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Well said, Jodi! And thanks for typing out the quote. Before I scrolled down to see the rest of your post, I was actually trying to read it simply from the photo of the painting, and my neck was getting a bit stiff! LOL! (PS: love the painting, too)
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lol – I can picture it. 🙂
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Jodi, Rilke is my favorite! Your creative watercolor in the round is perfect for the quote! Nicely done. 📚Christine
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thanks so much Christine
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Amazing painting and unique quote, Jodi! I love your choices and new chances you take! 💖
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thanks!!!
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It was simply gorgeous!!
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How if the answer is to waiting?
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