The Tapestry of a Life in the Making
Life, at its core, is nothing more and nothing less than a tapestry.
Each of us begins as a blank loom, and over the years, countless threads are woven in — some bright and golden, some muted and worn, some torn and mended, but all part of a greater design. Family, friends, even strangers who pass through for only a moment — they each bring their color, their thread, their hand in shaping the fabric of who we are becoming.
A tapestry is never the work of one hand. Historically, entire teams of craftsmen were needed: painters to design, weavers to pull the fibers tight, seamstresses to bind edges. The earliest fragments date back to ancient Egypt, and throughout the Medieval and Renaissance periods, tapestries hung in castles not only to insulate the stone walls but to tell a story. They were living art — documenting myth, faith, triumph, and loss.
And the colors mattered.
In medieval Europe, the most common hues were red, blue, and green. Red, drawn from the root of the madder plant, was warm and accessible. Blue, taken from the leaves of the woad plant, was resilient and deeply symbolic, often tied to devotion and trust. Green came from layering colors — yellow over blue — and spoke of rebirth, renewal, and life itself. Even then, some threads were costly and rare — like gold or silver metallic strands reserved for kings — while others were simple, woven from the undyed wool of common flocks.
Isn’t that life, too? Some colors arrive easily, like joy. Others are layered, like resilience born out of hardship. Some shine with wealth and triumph, others remain humble and plain. Yet together, they form the whole.
Every thread tells something. The laughter you shared with a friend, the heartbreak that unraveled you, the kindness of a stranger who showed up at the right time. Even the darker, heavier strands matter, for they make the brighter ones shine.
The beauty is that your life isn’t just a masterpiece already woven. It is a masterpiece still in the making.
Some threads you would never have chosen. Some you wish could be pulled out. But step back, and you begin to see what those contrasting colors add: depth, resilience, and dimension. A story far richer than if you had only woven with gold.
So today, pause. Notice the threads being added. Honor those who have contributed to your tapestry. And remember: you, too, are weaving into the lives of others.
Your story is art. Your life is a tapestry. And it’s not finished yet.
Your life is a tapestry.
Every color matters.
Every thread belongs.
Every story is art. 🧵
💙Jen