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Who knows what we are each capable of doing that we haven't done before? Who knows how many human beings have lived their entire life without realizing what vein of rich possibility wasn't tapped? Probably all of us in one way or another. But when we take a chance and dip into that vein of aspiration the revelations that surface are pure joy!

I've tried and have not succeeded at lots of activities. After many painful piano lessons I can play just one song on the piano (Heart and Soul); after skiing backwards down a Vermont ski slope I do not own a pair of downhill skis; after failing physics in high school I never pursued a degree in Quantum Mechanics. I have lots of shortcomings. We aren't all good at everything but we are all good at many things.  It is the exploration that leads to building new neural connections and pathways and staying as alive in the moment as is possible. 

I found and opened my art vein after a long satisfying career in education as a teacher, administrator and consultant. Yet, I yearned for something else creative and elusive that I couldn't quite put my finger on.  I come from a family of artists and musicians but I was happily the art appreciation critic and sing along partner.  Several years ago, following a string of surgeries, one of my artist sisters came to visit and brought with her canvases, paints and brushes. We sat on the porch and painted peonies, well actually I painted one peony.  In that moment, even without benefit of an EEG, I felt my brain light up with joy. 

I now find myself telling anyone who will listen that they should try painting.  Of course that worked for me, but they should try any new thing that attracts them, anything they've always dreamed of doing or admired others who were doing it.  Still, I can't let go of the art push. When I am gallery sitting or talking with people about art I ask if they are an artist. It astounds me how many people tell me they used to paint or take photos or etch...but they aren't now. "Why not?," I ask. They tell me they weren't very good at it, or they went to college and majored in Political Science, or they fell in love and there was no time left for art, then, you know three kids later... They invariably look longingly at a distant memory of themselves. And I say, "Just paint! Dig out those watercolors or pencils and start. It's never too late!" And they look at me and slowly nod.

If I could do it at my age, you can too.  It is never too late to find that vein, that artery, leading directly to the best parts of us... our hearts and souls. 

"First Peony" - Oil 6x6 ~ 2009