After college, I set aside my joy of creating and for almost 25 years I was laser focused on my career. A career that started as a first responder, advancing to become a skilled trauma, emergency department provider, to healthcare and public health disaster management after September 11th. I've been assaulted countless times trying to care for sick, injured, or dying. I have seen horrific dismembered scenes, violence that inflicted fatal wounds, and witnessed unthinkable mental trauma.
Experiencing all this and much more, my view of humanity is jaded and watching current events unfold in our Nation reinforces that the world is ugly, sinful, demonstrates little remorse, and is becoming more hate-filled by the day. There are glorious examples of kindness, fleeting moments of joy, which are refreshing when observed. But empathy and compassion are rarely evident today. We have turned our back on morality, principles of individual Liberty, common sense, and intellectual honesty.
All my focus dedicated to caring for others, I never realized the insidious decay of my humanity, peace and joy. It wasn't until one of my nursing staff saw me "doodling" during lunch. She showered compliments on the graphite sketch, which wasn't exceptionally good. We talked about my drawing when she asked why I never took classes. My answer was the root of what was keeping me sane, "I do art to escape the ugliness we see in our jobs. I wish to mimic the Master painter of creation and it gives me peace. Classes can't do that."
PEACE....solace from the hate, violence, and trauma people inflict on one another. This solace is why, after 25 years, I started creating art again.
Thank you God...for having that very special nurse.
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