Chalkboard Wall

Recently, my daughter Ryli and I painted a 4-foot X 6-foot chalkboard square on one of the walls in our dining room.  We were getting tired of staring at the big, blank expanse of green nothingness and so, on a shoestring budget, decided to make do with the chalkboard paint we had purchased several months earlier to fill the space. 

This chalkboard wall has turned into quite the creative palette for our family.  Ryli – being the most

arts-and-craftsy of the group - designed the first couple of boards, and at Christmas time we turned the space into a giant Advent calendar.  My favorite board so far, though, is the 2017 goals and intentions board we created for the New Year.  Each family member took the time to think of several intentions that he or she has for 2017, and in no time we had filled the board with a beautiful, colorful collage of words and phrases that best represent what is most important to our family.

Looking at the board, I can see each family member’s personality coming through in the lines of chalk on the black.  Ryli’s intentions revolve around her physical space and a sense of connection: stay organized, host more events, read, take up a new hobby, host our second annual backyard concert.  Evan’s intentions revolve around his physical health and academic achievement: gain 15 pounds, eat healthier, start yoga, get all A’s and B’s in Physics.  He also contributed a couple of new family adventures to the list: go to Knoebel's, tube down the Delaware.  The one intention Avery wrote down reflects his passion for the arts combined with his current feeling of overwhelm at the prospect of graduating high school and contemplating what’s next: go to college or start performing – it almost feels as if it should be read as a question. Dave’s intentions reflect his love of nature and music: gig more, go on seven backpacking trips.  And my intentions reflect my ongoing aim to slow down and be more mindful:  hydrate, be present, play more, less screen time.

Seeing the desires of my loved ones so clearly expressed all in one place fills my heart and makes me wish that I could hold on to this moment in time when we are still all together under one roof.  When it's time to change the board, we will capture all of our goals on a piece of paper to be posted on the refrigerator where we will see them each day and can keep them in mind as the year unfolds.  
~Rebecca