Have you ever carved your name into a tree, a rock, a sandy shore at the beach? Seems the need to be remembered, or at least make our mark, is universal. And why not? You are one person among over seven-billion currently on planet earth. You are unique. To coin a well-intentioned phrase, you are special. No one can do the things you do, or think the way you think exactly the same as you.
DO NOT BE AFRAID
With all these people, there are bound to be duplicates, right? Impossible. Nothing new under the sun? Yes, and no. Will someone steal your idea? Let them. Their work will be incomparable to yours. Sure, on the surface it may resemble something of your idea, but it can never be the same.
How else can I describe it? Lots of ways, but you may come up with something different. Something someone else may understand more clearly based on their temperament, location, upbringing, etc.
TO MAKE YOUR MARK
In my research of the American Southwest, I have wandered through Petroglyph National Monument near Albuquerque, Three Rivers Petroglyphs site, La Cieneguilla Petroglyph Site, and Chaco Canyon to name only a few. The aboriginal markings may include religious symbols, trail markers, and other carvings whose meanings are impossible to know. Recent (between 300-700 years ago) American Indian carvings were created by pecking directly across the face of a boulder with a hammerstone. The lasting imagery remains visible, beautiful, and I must add mysterious.
These sites are not merely outdoor museums, but they link something of the past to the present day. How? The Southwest Indian Foundation serves multiple tribes by selling modern day artwork. This is just one place among many where such artwork is sold, and each piece is as individual as its maker.
Obviously, I haven’t’ even scratched the surface of this topic (bad pun… sorry!), and I will revisit it again with more focused detail, but until then I encourage you to visit websites and plan your vacation around some of these historical parks. They’re not just in the American Southwest, but also in Pennsylvania, Florida, Washington, indeed, petroglyphs are found world-wide.
One more thing: when I said, “Do not be afraid to make your mark,” I did not mean it literally. The parks where the petroglyphs exist are like books to read, not tablets to draw on. Now take your water bottle and go explore. It will enrich your life.
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