It’s been a year full of sorrows and joys. On a personal level, one great sorrow: my mother’s passing, and one great joy: the birth of my first grandchild. For our country and the world, many sorrows: hate, violence, man-made and natural disasters, and a continued assault on truth, science, and universal values. Kindness and hope, however, continue to abound, and there are many lights that continue to resist the darkness.
Art, books, music, and nature are medicine for my body and soul, and my faith in a merciful and loving God gives me the spiritual strength needed to move forward with my creative work.
Finding quality time to create is a challenge when you’re working full time, but I press on! I’ve learned to accept that I can’t get as much done as I’d like (especially blogging!), but that I musn’t let that diminish my bliss.
I love working at the library, and I’m learning ways to use my job to complement my creative work. Being a library clerk also gives me the opportunity to make small but significant connections with many different people. Making someone’s day a little brighter brightens my day in return. Add to that the blessing of having access to thousands of awesome books!
All things considered, I’ve had a productive year. I’ve completed three bilingual picture books (text only), three children’s illustrations, and seven botanical drawings. You can take a look at my art at E. Pla Art. Some of my pieces are presently on display at the Hampden Branch Library Staff Art Show, which is a fun and encouraging way to end the year.
Wishing you all a blessed holiday season!
“If you follow your bliss, you put yourself on a kind of track that has been there all the while waiting for you, and the life you ought to be living is the one you are living.” —Joseph Campbell
Catch a Butterfly 