Water Spirit Art Musings

Turning 50 has brought a different kind of reflection. Not the kind that looks back with regret, but the kind that asks, “Who am I now, really? The last few years have reshaped my life in ways I didn’t expect. I lost my mom. I embraced my art. I got engaged, then lost that relationship. I started prioritizing my health, and then drifted away from it. I went back to school. My daughters became adults and moved out. So much has changed in such a short time. And somewhere in all of that, I started thinking less about the roles I’ve played, and more about me as a person. I’ve always known certain things about myself. I am intelligent. I am creative and capable. I have depth, emotional awareness, and a genuine kindness toward others. I’ve built a life that is stable and meaningful. But I’ve also come to a quieter, more uncomfortable truth: I’ve spent years calibrating myself for other people’s comfort. Softening my intelligence. Downplaying my presence. Holding parts of myself back so I wou...

 I'm laying here in bed reminiscing and enjoying the silence. Thankful for reaching this milestone birthday. I immensely enjoyed my day at the Georgia Aquarium yesterday being awed by the magnificence of life.  As a Pisces and former oceanography major, aquariums are my favorite places to visit. I overall loved the feel and layout of this one. I enjoyed the belugas and the dolphins as always. I saved the Ocean Voyager room for last because it's the one I really wanted to experience.  One of my favorite unexpected things was the bioluminescence exhibit. I couldn't capture it because you're not supposed to use phones in there, and honestly it would take away from the moment of just being present. There are millions of bioluminescent dinoflagellates in the ceiling above you, and randomly a ripple would cause them to light up. I stood with my back against the wall and just looked up at the ceiling for about 20 minutes. Most people just walked through, but it was the perfect...