Art is a lot about taking chances and trying something new, whether it is showing my work in a festival,  the blank canvas or paper that can be intimidating or the uncertainty of the next step in the painting process.  The phrase “I don’t want to ruin it!” comes up with my students and echoes in me when I am at certain points of a painting or project.

Over the holidays when our children and grandchildren were visiting, we took an LRT (light Rail Train) ride downtown. We were going to turn around and come back after we walked around Churchill square. Instead, we discovered the ice rink was opening up with free skate rentals. Our grandchildren and my son and daughter decided to go skating. I, on the other hand, was not going to. Last time I had skated was two years before when visiting my grandchildren. I did not grow up skating, so I am not great at it and I really don’t like to fall. But as I helped put on my granddaughter’s skates and talked to the fellow in charge, I got to thinking about not letting my fears rule me. Why not skate? It was fun to skate two years ago with my grandchildren. Why not try it again and participate, not just sit on the sidelines and watch the fun. 

So, I took a chance and got a set of skates. It was a beautiful day, with sunshine, Christmas music playing and fun skating with family. It took a few laps with the stacked “help” before I felt I could skate on my own. But I did it!  I even had a fall where I fell without hurting myself.  As I became a little more confidant, I even tried to skate backwards again. Here is a link to the short video.

I will hang up this image of me skating with my family where I can see it whenever I need to face the challenges and the fears that come with new things or next steps. I want to remember how to move forward again – even if it means going backwards.