This is my methodology of moving from one emotion to another, and the time it takes. At the end of the process, there is left a beautiful residue of surplus love, more than enough to share around with others. 

When we share love, we grow, and love is a limitless resource in the world, that the more it is shared, the more it replicates itself. It’s not used up, but multiplies towards a place of infinity. 

So when I’m sad, I actually think of others, helping others, sharing love, and that simple thought sets me on my journey out of sadness, and into a state of happiness and giving. A place of richness, and an abundant life.

This is a very personal drawing for me, my new roadmap. Drawn to give my life clarity, a new plan moving forward, and a new sense of purpose and direction. 

Over this last year, with all the problems and wars going on in the world, I’ve personally thought long and hard about what the priorities are in life. 

The conclusion is that I really want to simplify this life. Understand what to hold on to, and what to leave behind. When I think of refugees fleeing their homes, I wonder what they would take with them? What is essential to living? I think it is love. It’s family. It’s our health, both mental, spiritual and physical. And it’s a few possessions, but not that much else.

A physical home is just a place where we store all our stuff. Our real home is that small crevice of a space in the arms of a loved one. Or holding our pet. Or truly comfortable in our own company. Or cherishing our beautiful memories. 

If I’m with my loved ones, my friends, my family, with my art, then that’s truly all I need. The rest is all just worldly stuff, material possessions that don’t truly matter. It can be destroyed by life’s bombs at any time, but what can never be destroyed is my love, my optimism, my belief in the future. My dreams. The rest can just be rebuilt, again and again. 

So I’ve personally drawn some conclusions that I always suspected, but now fully realize: my life from here will be about simplification, uncluttering, keeping only the essentials, and spartan living. Health above everything. Love above all else. And life experiences and travel being more important to me than collecting more things. 

So, what will I put in my backpack, if I have to quickly flee, to leave a difficult situation, or change up the stagnation in my life? All know is, it won’t be that much: Just my lessons learnt, my sketchbook, some pens, the clothes on my back, and my love. 

See you on the road. There’s an endless supply of love in my backpack. If you need some, just ask, and it’s yours.

Do you remember the moment that you first met the love of your life? Or can you imagine the moment that you will first meet them? Or is the love of your life, yourself? Or is it your art? Your furry companion? The one true love, that we first met, that changed our path in life forever.

This is a drawing about crystallizing the memory of that singular moment in time. A message, either never drawn, drawn yesterday, or drawn today and forever, for the #jeremyvillecomicstories series.