I “When you beat the cancer, what will you do with your time?” I asked my wife's sister. Myra seemed startled by the question, as she was waiting in her hospital bed. I asked during her first hospital stay, where medical hope was by her bedside. Manners of the doctors were compassionate, as they answered all her family's questions regarding her treatment. There was cause for concern. The diagnosis was dire. There was never much hope. No matter the result, hope is never wa

A conversation I had decades ago has been kept safely in my backpack of memories. It is an old memory, with the cover missing, and sand tattered pages to show it was read. Most of her words have been lost, but the closeness I felt has remained. Kindred spirits are the rarest of all encounters. It is like finding yourself within another. The conversation I kept was about what we do with unfinished paintings. "Start over, learn from them. Even the worst painting have value," sh

First Age of Creation - Birth Oil Painting: First Painting Age: 21 years old 2nd Age of Creation - Balance Age: 22 years old Still Life Study: 260 or so Age: 23 Figure Painting Only commissioned painting Age: 27 years old Portrait Painting Favorite painting Age: 48 years old Painting 701 or so Last attempt for my grandson Last Age of Creation - Rebirth Techniques My best guess is I did about 700 oil paintings in the span of 6 years. A few were given to family and friends, so

The only faith I believe will always be, and will always remain, the Arts. Art is that statue of Victory above, a concept that took form in my writing. For me, Art is the path that leads to making the most decisions, which helps make choices in life. It is a limitless pursuit which reinforces courage, for me anyway. It is a testing ground, better than any practical course, of how much faith do you have in your work. I was a painter back in the day, who lasted 6 years before I

Truth is often unpleasant, as often untrue as the pleasant. The limits of faith is one can only see what their beliefs allow, including belief in others. Some only want to see the pleasant and deny anything otherwise. Those that only believe in what is believable or likable will be easily led. Pleasntry is the easiest thing to mimic. Limitations are not obstacles, but boundaries of what is possible. Within borders are opportunities of how far one can push the limits, instead

When I was first writing on Wix, there was no red underline pointing out misspelling of words, I read my work more intensely looking for mistakes. Sadly it has that function, but I still make sure not to select the correct spelling. I type it out so I improve. I didn't know how bad a speller I was until there was nothing pointing it out, nor giving me a fast click correct. Auto-correct gave me a false sense of pride. The change in environment revealed that I needed to improve

Speed story. There was a job where I had to check peoples's answers for . I believe, I could do a 50 question that was given 2 hours, in five minutes. This score was clocked by CMS. But I was sble to get the speed to a point where Choices Shortcuts I was sitting next to these men working remote at a coffee shop. I struck a conversation wiith the project manager. He told me a story of how he went to 4 years of college, saddled with student loan, and can't reach the 6 figures h

I Orphan A community is a gathering of people of similar faith, with beliefs that create unity among the faithful. The Names of the communities hold a Tribe. Family is the first place one experiences community. It is the first soil where beliefs are found. No matter the environment, that genesis is where a first seed is planted. Loyalty to family teaches loyalty to others. It starts from actions towards one's own. Without family, then you are a family of One. You have to rely

East 13 Exodus 13 13 Redeem with a lamb every firstborn donkey, but if you do not redeem it, break its neck. Redeem every firstborn among your sons 13 author's note School never ends Study, practice & complete A first attempt takes courage The final draft takes resolve Doubt refines, until the best survives According to ancient Egyptians, the god Atem created the world out of chaos, utilizing his own magic. When humans were created, that magic took the form of the soul, a