Describe one simple thing you do that brings joy to your life.

For the longest time, I never appreciated my art work. From others outside of my family, they always told me I was very talented and brilliant.

But I never heard such graces from my family, moreover my mother and father. I can understand my father’s discontent, he was a tortured soul – he wasn’t really here on Earth, mentally. However, my mother chose to be cruel.

I wasn’t fishing for compliments, but as someone’s daughter…it was odd they were never offered.

During my beginning years of healing, I began looking through my work and really putting more thought into what I was viewing. Realizing it took me however long, or how accomplished what I was going for, I thought, “how did I miss how well I’ve done?”

It was in these moments I realized the compliments I didn’t receive were because my mother NEVER tried to do anything. As far as my father went, he wasn’t alive when I started really getting into my art. He never criticized my art as a child, being that he was an artist.

I also realized that if I didn’t like my art, how someone else feels does not matter. Why create something you won’t even look at or admire? What’s the point in that.

After years of telling myself that I am amazing and talented, I’m glad I can see that…that’s the important part. That brings me joy. Below are a few of my favorite pieces.

---