Metamorphosis

I created this painting during the COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) pandemic. There has been an odd, but welcoming stillness during this time amongst the stay-at-home orders and the business shut-downs that has caused all of us to move at a slower pace than usual, amidst a great deal of uncertainty.

In that slower pace and uncertainty, we are forced to confront things about ourselves and about our society that are no longer working; no longer serving humans, animals, or the earth. These realizations may be the scariest part of all, but it is also the most hopeful. I can’t help but feel there is something bigger at work here. That we are all being called to heal and rest in some way.

The biggest failure will be if we do not come out of this changed. Changed for the better. More appreciative of what we have, with a newfound understanding that we do not need much. More aware of the power of a hug, a handshake, touch. More aware of the beauty of a gathering of people at a concert where we dance closely and sing together in unison. More aware of the sweetness in a walk with your dog and your partner. More aware of how good it feels just to be outside, and how crucial it is for our bodies to be in nature and therefore, protect it. More aware of the unnecessary pressure we put on ourselves to fall into a cycle of work that is unsustainable. More aware of how lucky we are to walk into a grocery store where food is just provided for us. More aware of what it feels like to be caged. More aware of what feels good, and what doesn’t. More aware of why it is important to nourish our bodies with real food and exercise. More aware of the fact that we need to share this earth with the other precious beings that inhabit it. More aware of how connected we all are across the globe. More aware of how much we truly need each other. More aware of how much we actually need art, play, and creativity, because it lights up the human soul. More comfortable with silence, stillness, and the simple things in life. More grateful, more kind, more present, more playful, more patient, more compassionate, more balanced. Transformed.