YOU DON'T NEED TO BE GREAT TO START BUT YOU DO NEED TO START TO BE GREAT.

Open basket with grape branches

February 14, 2019

A tough grapevine and a soft date stem

Met for a curious…date. Look at them!

They dined and they chatted and had lots of fun

Then decided that they’d live together as one

Each gave its share to the newly-formed pair

The grapevine—power and firm stability

The date stem—wisdom and flexibility

A match that was made in heaven above

Will endure forever, with undying love.

Hard branches provide a solid and stable foundation for a basket that opens progressively, as we use our bones to stand upright. Bones are our basic foundation, but must be wrapped with soft, supple flesh to mediate between ourselves and the outside world.

My personal sense of self is very solid and stable. Nevertheless, to conduct myself in this world and communicate with others, I require the mediation of softness and flexibility.

The combination of bone strength and flesh softness is what creates a human being.

The combination of rigid vine branches and flexible date stems creates a basket that stands upright and makes a statement.