At the end of the year, I am taking time to reflect on the past twelve months and the insights I have gained. In 2024, I was reminded of the importance of adopting a long-term perspective and exploring new territory slowly and patiently. The featured mixed media work, which has found a home in California this summer, serves as a reminder of these ongoing lessons. For me, butterflies symbolize hope, transformation, and resurrection.
I once perceived my aborted attempt to reach the summit of Kilimanjaro as a failure; however, more than a decade later, I recognize it as an important stepping stone on my journey.
One evident benefit has been the publication of a book, a goal I first set when I was 16. Profits from the book continue to support In Ministry to Children (charity registration number 1064690), which assists disadvantaged children in Colombia.
Other blessings are harder to quantify. This adventure ultimately instilled in me the habit of regular exercise. Would I still possess the energy, strength, and flexibility to undertake new projects in my late fifties if I had not taken up sports?
I also wonder whether I would have embarked on my artistic journey if I had not struggled to find the words to articulate and explore challenging emotions and memories.
Following the publication of the book, I initially lost all interest in writing. However, I have realized that I have always been a storyteller at heart, whether I convey my ideas through words, paint, or other media. I now enjoy integrating my various creative pursuits. In 2024, I published four booklets, sharing about my artistic journey, life lessons, exhibitions and the inspiration behind paintings. You can download the booklets for free in my Ko-fi shop.
This year I also realized that I often push myself way beyond my comfort zone when addressing a perceived weakness. I now recognize that attempting to scale one the highest mountains in the world to cope with the pain of infertility was breaking rather than stretching my boundaries!
Learning how to use oil paints, whilst simultaneously adopting a structured approach to photo realism that contrasted sharply with my intuitive working style, created a challenging ascent in my art journey. Whilst I learned many useful skills, I felt depleted upon completing my course at the beginning of 2024. (If you want to learn more, download “Adventures in oil – An intuitive painter’s journey into realism: Art and life lessons.” in my Ko-fi shop.)
So I began experimenting with a slower and more gentle approach to exploring and learning new skills. This shift has resulted in my website taking significantly longer to relaunch than I initially anticipated. While it does not yet encompass all the features I envision, I am less stressed and have energy remaining for other pursuits.
Regardless of how 2024 has unfolded for you, look at your life with “Kindsight“: Instead of slapping your forehead and asking, “What was I thinking,” breathe and ask yourself the kinder question, “What was I learning?” (Karen Salmansohn, Bounce back”: How to thrive in the face of adversity”)
I would love to hear what you have been learning this year. Please leave a comment below.
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