January 14, 2010
Following my daughter’s wedding in December, I was struck with many feelings, both personal and artistic. I decided to make some collages to commemorate these feelings and to help me internalize the process that generated them. The purpose of this particular collage is not to create a “wedding memories” album. Rather, it is to memorialize the link between preparation and success. I want to remember the feelings of accomplishment and satisfaction that I had, which were so strong that they lasted for days.
Satisfaction: Not only was I able to make eye contact with my wife, daughter and new son-in-law and get through my remarks without getting emotional, I actually enjoyed and remembered the moment (in fact, I could not get it out of my head – I kept re-living it for days).
Accomplishment: My remarks generated enthusiastic applause throughout the presentation and a huge ovation at the end — indeed, I received a Standing Ovation from one table (a group of friends from the neighborhood). Further, as I circulated thru the room after my remarks, numerous people commented that I had “raised the bar” for other Father of the Bride to come! One woman told me “it wasn’t just a home run but you knocked it way out of the park.” Another woman said she was deeply moved by my homage to Jane — particularly when I said I loved her at this moment more than ever. (All the women ate up this part!)
As I looked back on the events during the days following the wedding, I concluded that all of this was only possible because of the preparation I did — practicing my remarks over and over and visualizing myself giving it. I also concluded that creating art work is the same — a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction will only come with preparation. The process creates the results.
