A Heartfelt Thank-You • by Stephey Baker

Dear Art: A Heartfelt Thank you for saving me.
 
Thank you for believing in me when I choose not to believe in myself. Yet, despite my disbelief, uncertainty, and at times flat out sabotage, you continued to lay your trust with me, through sharing your dreams freely. Though I withheld action from your ideas, Art, you consistently motivated me to begin again. I am grateful to you Art, for sharing your whole-heart so openly, for keeping it wide, supple and imaginative. Thank you for consistently whispering your inspirations, expressing your endearment, and encouraging me, to believe, in you.
 

When I think of how tender you expressed your love for me Art, I am humbled and shed soft tears of graciousness.
When my thoughts ridiculed you, you honored me with your patience.
When I cursed you, you softened me with devoted compassion.
When I abandoned you, you invited me back with an open heart.
When I lost confidence in you, you encouraged me with small steps.
When I was reticence towards you, you shared your vision with excitement.
When I felt dead inside, you breathed me alive with possibilities.
When my heart was closed to you, you became a kindler and fanned yours with a fervency, which dissolved me free.
 
Art, your love liberated me from all the negativity, can-knots, misbelieves of poverty (if I followed you), ridicule (for not having a “real job”), torment (of living the predestined life of an artist), worried I’d get bored from selfishly indulging LIFE, doing what I loved.
And. I. loved. YOU. Art.
 
I love Art
 
I realize now, denying my true feelings for you Art, is what bear the agony of my unexpressed heart. You did not cause me suffering; rather I created my own torment when denying myself your engagement. Thank you for believing in me when I didn’t recognize who I was.
 
I am grateful that you knew what I did not, that I am an artist. You awakened me to self-acceptance. You mentored me to nurture my artistic spirit. You knew what I did not, that being an artist isn’t something I choose to be, but rather it’s something I had to come to terms with, that being an artist isn’t something I do, but allow to be done through me.
 
Art is the only medicine that can cure the Artist and my cure was you - Art.
 
with devotion
~Stephey


Learn more about Stephey Baker at www.stepheybaker.com.

 

Comments

[Stephey Baker : Marked by the Muse™]

Thank you Jenny for allowing me to share my Heartfelt Thanks to Art and now bunches of Heartfelt Thanks to you and all the work you do to support art. It's true -Art Saves and it has me many times. If I was a cat I'd probably be on life five! Best to you. xox stephey

[terri st. cloud]

amazing, huh? great post, stephey! amazing the power of this stuff. thanks for even thinking of doing this. it made me really think about how i feel about art. and my gosh, it's a deep, deep appreciation.
ms. stephey, you rock!

[Jen]

Beautiful post, Stephey! Well said. You gotta love art and all that it can do.

[stephey baker : Creative Living: Marked by the Muse™]

thanks terri! It it is amazing the power of ART and how it truly does heal and that healing saves us from despondency and living a life of "shoulds" instead of the one we truly desire. The only cure for the Artist is to - create!

[Ellen]

Stephey,
What an amazing letter; You can't hear me yelling, "YES, I feel the same way"~ I tucked my art away, allowed people to make me think it was frivolous and unnecessary. I am glad I woke up and listened to the stirrings of my heart n' soul. We all have unique paths to take, to connect the dots to our souls. Each a journey, so worth taking, so unique. Our lives are a work of art and only we can decide how to portray them~ Such a beautiful, heart filled letter~ Thank you for sharing a facet of your soul!

[Stephey]

HI Ellen! I couldn't agree more with you! You wrote it so beautifully! "We all have unique paths to take, to connect the dots to our souls. Each a journey, so worth taking, so unique." We all are unique and our fingerprint proves it! Thank you for sharing your voice and giving a shout out - right back at you!