Let’s start here and work our way backward into this discussion.
My paternal grandmother was an amazingly creative woman who had a hand for calligraphy and making pottery. Her sister was an incredible baker, who would construct beautiful, multi layered cakes with intricate decorations … from scratch! My maternal uncle was a wonderful artist, a master of charcoals and pencils.
But sadly, they’ve all passed over the last few years.
And I think there’s an extra layer of sadness layered atop the usual mourning when I think about the fact that none of them were able to share their incredible talents with the world.
Sucks, right?
But this conversation isn’t about what was lost, it’s about what was found.
You see, I turned a ripe, old 37 on Monday!
And as I was going about my day, celebrating another year of life, doing the things I like to do most (eating, laughing at nothing with my sister, and shopping), when it dawned on me that January 7th also marks another “birthday” of mine:
The birth of me as an artist!
It’s been exactly 2 years since I decided I wanted to paint.
I mean, it was really that simple.
My sister asked what I wanted to do for my birthday and I said I wanted to paint.
So we did.
She and I sat down in my living room with a few tiny tubes of acrylic paint and some canvases she’d bought for the occasion, drank wine, and (you guessed it), laughed at nothing.
The next thing you know, I was at my local arts and crafts store, buying canvas, and spending my nights making things I thought were pretty … because it just felt like what I should be doing.
I started with small pieces, then got some coins together for some larger canvas, and the next thing I knew, someone said, “hey, you should post these online.”
While it was the last thing I wanted to do at the time … I did.
A few likes here … a few heart reacts and double taps there … and the next things I knew, someone said, “hey, I want to buy that.”
And then someone else …
And then another person …
Who would have thought?
I mean I’m a writer, working in finance *insert shrugging chick emoji.
But this is where I am.
And the more I create, the more I’m reminded of those that came before me. Those people whose DNA I share who were amazingly creative; those people who didn’t get to realize the full potential of how far their creativity could have taken them for a variety of reasons.
So as I shout myself out on my birthday for successfully navigating another 365 days of adulting, I also gave a special thank you to those who graced this space before I did. Whatever spark allowed them to create something from nothing with their hands, is also in me.
And for that, I’m grateful.
And that’s what I learned this week: another layer of gratitude …
gratitude for the exposure of hidden talents …
gratitude for those who didn’t so I could …
gratitude for the last year of growth and success …
gratitude for another year to achieve goals …
gratitude for the power of genetics …
gratitude for being able to carry this torch I didn’t know could even fit in my hand.
Happy Birthday to Me!
Until next time folks,
Erin – AKA TheLadyWrites – AKA TheLadyMadeIt
What did you say?
You miss me when I’m gone?
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https://www.amazon.com/author/erinmcmillon
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