The Voice of Hope

Much like me, this painting started out as something very different than the way it is now. On first pass, I loved what I saw. I thought I was “done”. I called it complete. Then, as I studied it… really looked at it’s pieces… I realized it was a shiny, incomplete mess. Too heavy on one side, too light on the other, and most of it’s parts weren’t talking to each other. So I pulled it off the wall and REALLY took a good look at what was working and what wasn’t. I built upon the things I loved and transformed the things I did not. The end result is above, a fantastic exploration of both light and shadow working together to create a whole that is greater than the sum of it’s parts. And I love it.

 A few days ago I was in the shower and could feel the uprising of fear deep in my chest (I have some of my best realizations in the shower and on my walks). Rather than panic or let the fear overtake me, I got curious. I pulled the fear down off of the wall and saw it for what it was… an imbalance of shadow rooted in chaos that was not mine, heavy on the old stories and woefully light on the truth. In that moment, with shampoo in my hair, I did something new. I started giving my acceptance speech. Or my TED talk. Or whatever opportunity I know I will have one day to share how I shifted from fear to hope and kept on walking toward the sun. 

 “How did you do it?” they asked. I answered,

 “I let the voice of hope be louder than the voice of fear.”

 There is shadow in this painting and in life. Yet the pops of color that shine through the cracks are so much louder and brighter than any dark mark. We have, in any given moment, choice. My offering to you is to choose the voice of hope. Sing love out loud. Let your beautiful dreams speak louder than any doubt in the room. 

 The painting above is 36x48”, and also available in canvas and paper gicleé prints. Let me know how this message lands for you, and as always, I love you.💜