Day Forty five – English Cottage Apple

Don’t you think that life often puts things in front of you precisely when you need them the most.

I subscribe to a Newsletter from a really cool website called Brain Pickings and today it arrived with a TED video talk that completely captivated me.  A woman by the name of Brene Brown speaks and writes about the concept of  wholeheartedness.  Her belief is that to live life whole – heartedly you must be not only authentic but also vulnerable.  That is the tricky part – opening yourself up to life and exposing yourself.    This has been something that I’ve struggled with.  I’ve spent most of the last 8 years hiding this horrible disease from co-workers, friends, and even some family.  I didn’t want to be treated differently, doubted, or ridiculed.  I somehow felt that having AS made me less of a person and that I had personally failed.

I’ve come a long way in the past few years but announcing to the world that I have Ankylosing Spondylitis with this site was the most difficult thing I’ve ever done.  It took a long time to realize that it is part of what makes me who I am and to not be ashamed of it.  Now my challenge is to continually push myself to tell more about my journey – to live life sharing not only my art but myself.

Until tomorrow.

Jenna

Day 45 was created with ink & watercolor.

4 Replies to “Day Forty five – English Cottage Apple”

  1. I think it has shown amazing courage and also an impressive set of skills also. You are so adept at so many mediums and your words inspire.

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