Sometimes we go through our day to day feeling less than grateful for the guy that just cut us off in a lane of traffic or for that annoying person in our lives. But did you ever think that maybe that "cut off"  saved you from something, woke you out of a deep thought that was distracting you. That annoying aunt is gone now and boy is she missed at get togethers...no other character like her!

I was juried into an art exhibit at which I earned Honorable Mention. The artists in this exhibition worked in different medias with totally different styles. There was one small 12x12 work there that I couldn't stop looking at.  It was a black and white ink and acrylic on a big clunky wooden panel about 3 inches thick. Far too thick for that piece. The sides weren't finished and I thought to myself, that alone may disqualify the piece. In looking at this little work, I found myself feeling an overwhelming sense of gratitude for this artist and their gift. The painting moved me in time back to a happy childhood sense of calm ,comfort and protection.

There were other paintings from master painters that would take your breath away with their technique and color prowess. Never in a million years did I think the judge would give that little painting a second look but it must have affected him in the same way because it took First Prize! I felt like a proud mama and the gratitude for this small miracle was without bounds. 

Gratitude fills us with a sense of "this is enough" and this feeling can't be bought.  I will take the time to feel the art rather than just looking at the skill level, be it abstract, realism or impressionism. It comes from someone that felt it first.

-Shirley