![\"PReject](\"http:\/\/truthdevour.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/PReject-2.jpg\")
<\/a>Lo and behold as I am wandering toward my favorite cafe this person engages me with her smile and politely asks if she can take a photo of me. I naturally asked what it was going to be used for, which provided the perfect segway into the artist Nina R Salerno telling me about her story.<\/p>\nNina walks the streets of L.A approaching people to ask to listen to their\u00a0stories. She has a blog on her website that she updates daily with a new personal share from\u00a0people she has met. Her\u00a0objective is to demonstrate\u00a0that an adjustment in how we choose to see our differences can be the variant\u00a0between us allowing ourselves to feel like an unreachable outcast or\u00a0\u00a0embrace it allowing the very essence of our individuality to be something we cherish, thereby\u00a0becoming\u00a0a strength.<\/p>\n
It was after this, she pulled out a toy she had made called Wilson\u00a0named after the musician Brian Wilson.\u00a0 This\u00a0magnificent one-eared Teddy Bear instantly evoked a need in me to cuddle him. Nina\u00a0passed him\u00a0across to me as she prepped the camera and explained\u00a0everyone she blogs about holds Wilson and tells their story. Honestly, at the time I had no idea of what I would\u00a0say, all I knew was that I didn’t want to let go of my new bestie Wilson, so I spoke about what was on my mind while she took some images. The whole time the camera clicked I had to resist\u00a0burying my face in him. He is definitely a special little guy. I’ve intentionally not placed an image of Wilson in this article because I feel your curiosity is best sated by taking a\u00a0look at Nina’s\u00a0blog. When you see the smiles on people’s faces while holding this teddy bear, you will begin to get what I am talking about. There is something undeniably charming about Wilson.<\/p>\n
I found Nina’s drive admirable and her desire to connect with people is truly amazing. In a world of fast pace where everyone seems to have ‘no time’ she is devoting time to seek people out,\u00a0to listen.<\/p>\n The experiences exchanged hold an impact, which Nina reflects\u00a0into her unique pieces of art. I really like that it all begins with a toy being rescued from a thrift store, pulled apart, before being recycled into new forms.<\/p>\n Each of the toys is\u00a0her expression of celebration around imperfection being a source of beauty, strength, empowerment and joy. Nina\u00a0is fearlessly\u00a0putting it out there that it is okay to be who we\u00a0are. The stories being\u00a0shared with her demonstrate that people are willing to participate if they are nurtured, accepted\u00a0and\u00a0celebrated. Her blog is a testimony to the vast array of challenges\u00a0people\u00a0have faced and overcome. It’s inspiring.<\/p>\n PERFECT REJECT\u00ae is a line of plush toys. Quirky. Authentic. Wonderful. Just like you.\u00a0Tattered and torn, vulnerable and soft, Perfect Rejects celebrate the strength in our weaknesses. They cultivate joy and understanding, reflecting difference and empathy for our inner, most tender, human selves.<\/p>\n \u201cHappiness needs to shine from within.\u201d \u00a0<\/em><\/strong>\u2015\u00a0Truth Devour<\/em><\/p>\n I feel\u00a0Nina translates a lot of the emotions she receives from her journey with talking to people into her individual\u00a0pieces. I think intrinsically her secret to making these recycled character filled creations come to life is her love for making them. They represent the presence of happiness in the absence of consumer driven concepts of normal. The quirkiness of each one holds within itself an untold story that I suspect forms with the owner who is drawn to purchasing it.<\/p>\n After our initial chance meet, Nina and I made arrangements to catch up for a coffee. This lead to us having a meal and then walking along the shore line while we talked. I find myself blessed to be witness to people like Nina, who are placing themselves out there in the world. She confessed to being naturally shy, yet her need to do this process of connecting with people to know more about who we are compels her to rise above her instinct to refrain. The passion she holds for what she is doing is reason alone to reach out to her. We need more Nina’s extending themselves to follow their calling for it not only gives us a\u00a0reminder that we are great just the way we are, I feel her energy rekindles a sense of hope. That there are\u00a0kind people out there contributing in any way they can to make a difference. Who by their actions are demonstrating they genuinely care and want to be a participant in your life, even if it is only for a brief time. What is life other than a series of moments?<\/p>\n Nina Salerno, you are a dear soul. Thank you for relentlessly doing what you do. Never stop\u00a0recognizing and celebrating\u00a0our differences and accepting us for who we are. You and Wilson made\u00a0a delightfully perfectly imperfect impact on me.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n‘Imperfect means I’m perfect.’<\/h2>\n
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‘Create art with heart.’<\/h2>\n<\/blockquote>\n
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