2022 Reflections: Art Heals

Looking Back

There’s still a few days left, but 2022 has been … well … a year.

I started to write that it was a “busy year.” Then that it was “a challenging year.” But both of those seem so cliché. Something that could be said of any year that we are alive.

So, I’m sticking with the present moment. Sure, it was a year with its ups and downs in its own special flavor.

Highlights

My counselor has been challenging me with the idea of perspective. Which is why I stayed non-committal with my description of the year above. And why I’m choosing to focus on the highlights from the year in this blog post. Partially, because that’s what I want to take into 2023 with me.

But make no mistake, I have plenty of lessons from 2022’s lows. And I have plenty to learn from some of those lows, and some healing to do from others.

I say this, because I know on the interwebs and in social media, sometimes we get the impression that everyone, except us (of course), is doing wonderfully (thank you very much!!). I try to be real and my authentic self in virtual spaces, but I know I don’t share all of my struggles. For a variety of reasons.

So my heart goes out to you with your own learning and healing. If 2022 was especially hard for you, and it’s not so easy to focus on the highlights, that’s Ok. You’re enough no matter way.

If you’re reading this, my heart goes out to you in gratitude for sticking with me in my sporadic blogging and Living Daringly experiments, and I wish you … whatever it is you need.

On to some highlights!

Highlights: A year of creation

This year has been filled with creation through out. Sometimes drawings of things wherever I was.

I also tried my hand at wood carving. Below are a couple of my creations.

And playing with air dry clay.

I’ve created some paintings that I feel good about. (Each of these is available to go home with you.)

And along with creating, I started offering my art and crafts to the world; participating in six markets in Gulfport and St. Pete. I even submitted two pieces to calls to artists at local galleries. A lot of firsts for me all around!

**Prisms & Scales**. Available at Ekeko Gallery until February 11 as part of the White Art exhibition. (16×20″ mixed media on wrapped canvas) When you shine a white light through a prism, it splits into all of the visible colors. And scales are the basic units of music. Light and music bind the universe, and us with it.

**We Will Not Be Controlled**. Submitted to the DRV Gallery‘s Art for a Cause. If the piece is accepted, it will be available through the gallery into February. (16×20″ mixed media on wrapped canvas) Part protest poster and song, by The Bengsons. It’s a reminder that no matter the law, women and pregnant people will not be controlled and we are always sovereign in our bodies.

Closing Out

I hope you’ve been kind to yourselves through the holidays.

Thank you for letting me share my creations with you, whether they be stories, meanderings of my thoughts, or my visual art & crafts.

I’m setting some big goals for Living Daringly, and by association, for myself in 2023. No spoilers right now. I’m excited to challenge myself with them and see where they take me!

A Little Blessing

May we share kind thoughts,
kind words, &
kind actions, intentions, & love
throughout our days.

Namaste