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| The Sentient Beings Sketchbook |
At the side of my bed I have a little sketchbook I have titled “Sentient Beings.” The characters that come to me are from another world. Some might call it the imagination, and some might call it another dimension. I haven’t named it. But the beings are named “sentient” because I believe every living thing possesses a sentience that we as human beings are too quick to dismiss.
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| One of hundreds of my quick sketches of Sentient Beings |
I believe there is a quality in all things, called sentience, an ability to experience sensations. This is an argument for an approach to life in which all things require respect and care.
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| The Introvert. He is the first Sentient Being I am developing into a character, using paintings and stories. |
So, I have decided to treat my own Sentient Beings with the care and respect they deserve by letting them develop into characters and be a part of a story. I’m letting them lead. I’m starting with one character and letting the story develop in its own. The first character is The Introvert.
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| The Introvert travels between dimensions in a small world of his own, but it is full of treasures. |
The Introvert is very self contained, and therefore able to travel easily between worlds. He carries with him a rich existence, but is often tempted to stay there, in his little self contained world, because he has everything he needs. Almost.
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| The Introvert is Duckling |
When he first ventures from his safe little world of his imagination, he lands in a world with lots of water. And he is Duckling. He has bright orange galoshes and tiny wings. His galoshes give him courage and his wings, although small and unformed, give him hope. With this he ventures out, slowly….