Sometimes I feel like I’m shouting in to a void. I’m out here on all of my platforms just trying to paint and do some good in the world. It never really feels like it’s being picked up. But as long as one little person hears my voice, that’s all that matters to me.

Yesterday was National Suicide Awareness Day. A heavy topic, I know. But these are the EXACT trigger points that make people uncomfortable that I try to evoke through my work. God forbid we ever feel something real. And God forbid we every TALK ABOUT IT! Oh my!
Our minds + environments have conditioned us to use ‘it’s fine’ as readily as ‘the’ and ‘yes/no’ all while numbing everything around us, just to keep shuffling by. I mean, as a woman in the south… come on. I so get this. I AM THIS!

So we don’t talk about what’s going on, we bottle it up and we can lose ourselves. And the ones we love.
Is it worth fitting everything inside of a bottle for the sake of not bothering someone?? (Short answer: No.)
Here, I choose to use my little voice and my platform to instill HAPPINESS, JOY, and POSITIVITY. Because I’ve been in the darkest of corners and it’s really hard to see your way out without a light shining to guide you. I finally realized sometimes you have to create your own light.
So I am.
And I did.

Now I try to be that light. I’m extremely empathetic. I want you to feel less alone, understood.
And honestly, no one is perfect. We are all a little off. It just depends on the degree of how much.
But imperfection is much more beautiful to me than a perfectly wrapped package.
Flaws make you unique. And there’s only ONE of YOU… so why dilute it to fit in?
Why water down who you really are so you don’t stick out? Why are we programmed this way?

Let’s take this moment to find pride in our tarnished corners and wear them like a medal.
Wear that medal and make the weird art. Say what’s been unspoken. Stick up for those being bullied. Be bigger than you were the day before.
Less fear, more courage. When you feel low, find your light.
Talk it out.
Breathe in, breathe out.
There is no shame in being you. You were made by design. And you are amazing!

Tell someone you love them today — tell them that they matter.
And then find the closest mirror and tell yourself the same damn thing.
We are all doing the best we can.
Breathe in. Breathe out.