I am learning to look at the places of struggle, challenge, perhaps even darkness as the spaces in which I come back to myself. I'm learning that I seek more in this space, that I am more aware of myself in this place, that I take more time for myself, I look for ways to bring in more light and in so doing I am connected to a wisdom I might not otherwise find.

These uncomfortable times of not knowing what's next, of moving far away from your own truth are the places where you can dig deeper and access otherwise hidden layers of truth. It is a place where I need to take greater risks and open and soften even if all I really want to do is crawl under the covers.

From the vulnerability real truth has room to rise. While I do not in any way want to romanticize dark times, I am aware that these are the times of my richest growth and the expansion. What follows such contracted periods tends to be richer, more full of rawness and soul.

I find my shadow side, the places of resistance, the ways I'm holding myself back and even the way I am fed by the resistance.

I write deeper, I paint deeper, I live deeper.