Part 1 —
This object is the epitome of excellent and elegant craftsmanship. It’s a piece that has been cared for by its creator, and as a piece so respected I, as its latest owner, feel responsible to care for it, too. It also serves as a memento to my last trip to the Middle East, when I traveled with my father to Jordan to visit some family. It’s a reminder of a different way of life, of my current luxuries, and as a jewelry box it humbles me.
Part 3 —
I believe if we looked at all objects, people, thoughts, and things in the world this way, we would have a more deliberate lifestyle. Perhaps the pace of life would be slower, more reflective, and so each of our actions would bear more precise consequences. Perhaps, too, society would be more compassionate and inquisitive, looking to further our understanding of our differences and our individual struggles.
When life seems to be getting ahead of us, it would be beneficial to look at the world in this way: it would force a rushed and racing mind to fight against a societal tide and pressure, to question why the state of being is the way it is, and whether there is any reframing — of perspective, of demeanor — to do. It allows us to look internally, too, as the environment around us is as much affected by us as we are affected by it.
I do not think the meaning of this object has changed for me. I think I have always appreciated it for its intricate design and craftsmanship, and respected it for the hands that respected it so. If anything, I have become more curious about the whereabouts and wellbeing of the artist, and I hope they’re doing well.