Life is a pretty epic mosaic

At my core, I’m an artist. I’ve always found joy in sketching, finding a creative outlet, writing,

painting — all the things. I love to see the art that surrounds me. Recently, my heart has been stuck on the idea that my life has become a piece of art as well, in a way. I am a mosaic.

In me is a piece of everyone I have ever loved, and a piece of everyone I have ever been loved by. 

The saying “you are who you hang out with” is cliche and old-fashioned. But, as I’ve reflected on this, I’ve seen how true that saying really is. As I’ve gotten older I’ve realized how right adults were when they said things my whole life (p.s. I hate admitting when I’m wrong). Who I am, how I function, how I communicate… it all can be tied back to the people I love. 

In the silly things, I’m a mosaic of the people I love. My favorite gas-station-snack is a coke banana slurpee, because that’s what my dad got with me when I was little. I’ve developed a bit of a southern accent at college and will forever call Winnipeg, “Winnie-peg,” because of Hannah Grace Nash (if you know, you know). I love a NYT game in the morning because Linden introduced them to me when we lived together in London. I wear aerie workout tops because Emma Grace raved about them and I believed her (she was right!). 

In the everyday things, I am a mosaic of the people I love. I fold my clothes and roll my t-shirts the way I do after Rylan reorganized my closet last year, it’s how she showed love to me when I didn’t feel good. I use my ring finger to smooth out my makeup because that’s what Abbie told me to do when I turned 13 and started wearing makeup. Speaking of makeup, my entire makeup routine is the way it is because it’s how Sloane taught me. 

And in the big things, I am a mosaic of the people I love. 

I feel comfortable to worship without abandon because of how I see my sister unashamedly approach the throne of grace. Abbie shows me what a healthy relationship with Jesus looks like and her devotion convicts me regularly. 

I know how to be compassionate to friends that are hurting because I have seen how my mom has been compassionate not only to her hurting friends, but to me throughout my life. Re-nay-nay (as my friends call her) is a “fix-it” friend and never wants to see her people hurting or sad. 

I dance without caring who’s watching because I know that Courtney will be right next to me dancing just the same, and I know that she would never judge me for being myself. She reminds me, whether she knows it or not, that I should never be judged OR judge others for

being the truest version of themselves. 

I know how to be there for friends who are struggling with their mental health, because Meagan Ashlea showed me by being there for me in my mental health challenges. I know how to best check in on my friends because of her intentionality and consistency in how she checks in on me. 

I am a mosaic of the people I love.

As sappy as this seems, I could go on for hours and hours and hours about who I am because of the people I love (and the people who love me). Whether they knew it or not, these people (and many more) helped shape me into the woman I am becoming. 

And… whether you know it or not, there’s a piece of you that lives in who someone else is too. In thinking about this mosaic, I’m drawn to the idea of influence. Whether these people meant to or not, they influenced parts of my character, my habits and my personality. And whether I’ve meant to or not, I’m sure there are pieces of me that have influenced parts of others character, habit and personality. 

As I enter this next year of my life, I’m reminded that my actions hold purpose. Whether they are big or small, I have the opportunity and the privilege to influence others through my actions. 

You, too, are a mosaic of the people you love. You, too, have the ability to influence others. 

My hope for me, and for you, is that we make choices and act in ways that influence others for the better. Life is a pretty epic mosaic.