Priorities

"It is through creating not possessing that life is revealed"

Vida Dutton Scudder

American writer 1861-1954

I came across this quote awhile ago and have been thoroughly inspired by it. Creating art is my true passion and when I put my pencil to paper, I am truly at peace. I am beyond grateful for the artistic gift that I have been given and want to push myself to the limit. If I am creating I am growing and learning constantly. At the same time that I satisfy my passion I want to use my art to help others. This is why I am doing "awareness frames" for CancerCare Manitoba.

My friend Marcy succumbed to breast cancer 6 years ago. She was one of the bravest people I have ever met and taught me so much about strength, dignity and what really matters . I remember near the end Marcy telling me that her life had become very small. I asked her what she meant by that and she said that she no longer had energy to do much other than sit on her couch and wait for her children to come home from school. Whatever strength she did have was all for them. I was deeply moved by this and told her that she had one of the "biggest" lives I'd ever known. What could be more important than being there for your children, I said. That conversation had a profound impact on my life and I think of it often especially during tough times. I still miss Marcy terribly and am doing my "awareness frames" in her memory.