As artists, we pour ourselves into our work—our time, our vision, our heart. And sometimes, just like a carefully layered painting, life throws in an unexpected splash of chaos, forcing us to step back and rework our composition.
I had been planning a collaboration presentation for weeks, investing energy into every detail. But life, in its unpredictable way, had other plans. My husband, who is in recovery from spinal fusion surgery, developed pneumonia. Fever and shortness of breath replaced my carefully laid-out plans, and suddenly, my focus had to shift entirely. Thankfully, my art partner, Dot picked up the pieces and carried on with our collaboration demonstration so I could be where I was needed most.
Disappointment is part of the creative process, whether in art or in life. How many times have we started a piece, only to find that an unintended stroke changes everything? Sometimes, the composition we planned simply isn’t the one that emerges. We have two choices—resist and struggle against it, or step back, reassess, and find a new way forward.
In moments like these, I remind myself: just as a painting evolves with layers, so do our experiences. Even when things don’t unfold as expected, they become part of a larger picture—one that might hold unexpected beauty, wisdom, and growth.
