I inspired myself this week. I went back and read my own words written over the past several years. When I write, I imagine an unseen audience out there somewhere, that will be moved to take a chance and tell their own story through art. I hadn’t really anticipated needing that reminder myself. Coming full circle like this really makes it all worthwhile for me. I picked up a brush and smeared paint on a canvas, just like I told myself to. Yes, it was a familiar theme, my go-to trees against a cloudy sky. After a few days of building up the paint on a loose forest, I saw unintentional fish in the branches. They just appeared everywhere on their own, and they made me happy. They swim inside me, and they wait for an opportunity to slither out my fingertips and onto the canvas. About a year ago, I lost my cat, Lempi. I loved her for 10 years, and felt her loss every day for a year. Recently, I met a cat at the shelter who had a face like hers. This past week, we brought Neeta home. Neeta had lived for months in a small kennel, surrounded by other cats, and hearing the constant barking of dogs. Now she has a quiet house to explore. She is clumsy, learning to use her muscles for running and playing again. She’ll wait by a closed door, for an opportunity to dart into the bedroom, or out into the hall. She’s like those fish, waiting for a chance to flash in the light as they escape my hand and enter the painting.