Everywhere I loved has permanently closed. Everyone at the gallery I interned at were laid off. My mentors are struggling with anxiety. People are out of work. My heroes have died.
But I'm still here. My stomach is full, I have a roof over my head, and I am loved. I'm hanging in there, making the best of it, because this is the only life I've got.
Lately I switched from lacking the bandwidth to handle complaints, to having so much empathy and love for people. I have a superpower for identifying the best in people and I think I do a lot of good when I tell them what I see in them. I see role models and peers struggling with their self worth when so much of it was based on career, awards, external validation. But even my guinea pig will jump through a hoop for a treat.
People, it is enough to just BE! Your YOU-ness has intrinsic worth. Your value is from within. All else is just decoration. You are enough!
You can certainly go on stage and perform and succeed, but you don't need to prove anything. Magic is in you all along, even when you're just sitting on your couch. I think this is something that needs to be said, in times where people don't have their old crutches of recognition and validation via accomplishments.
I hope everyone is well. It's all I think about lately. "I hope they're okay." Please be well. Please know that you are amazing.
12:34 p.m. - 2021-07-23