Shape inspired by an ancient Egyptian kohl pot

I’m trying to eradicate the old way of thinking. There are things ingrained in me that are not kind, and yet it’s hard to let go of them. The messages were reinforced throughout my early life. Humility is one of those double edged swords.

It is not boastful or arrogant to recognize your gift and embrace it. It is not virtuous or helpful to be self deprecating.

If you can find your niche and then cultivate your gifts, you can grow and bloom in your own skin. You can do some good for yourself and for others.

A humble person with an extraordinary talent can be generous with their knowledge. They can excel without competition, and mentor others in their field of expertise.

The way you learn things at first can become cemented into your foundation. It is then difficult to remove. Sometimes, the rains and winds of life erode the mortar and it crumbles very easily. Other times, a sledgehammer will clear the way. You can change. You can grow.

My first college drawing instructor taught us his version of gesture drawing, and that is how I made sketches for years after. I remember what he taught me, though I no longer sketch that way. There is nothing wrong with it, I just do it differently now.

Sometimes scientific discoveries reveal truths that change our thinking. Some people may reject the facts because they are comfortable with the old school of thought… because they were taught it first. Maybe they derive benefits from the outdated information, and the facts pose a threat.

My mind is malleable. I’ve dragged a lot of old files to the trash, and I empty it regularly.

I accommodate those beliefs that make the most sense to me. I can only believe what I find believable. I can enjoy fiction as long as it is presented as fiction.

It is the eve of a new calendar year. Let’s be kind to ourselves and to each other. Let’s be generous with our gifts. Many people knocked us down in their attempt to feel superior, and I’m afraid we’ve believed a lot of those messages. Let’s brandish a jackhammer and write new messages in the wet cement of 2021. I am creative. I have a gift. I have a story that is worth telling.