I write to keep things. These blogs provide a way that I can look back and make sense of things. When I am done writing, I have a sense of peace and optimism about moving forward.  Today, I ponder my Peacock Collage. Peacock feathers pop up in my work fairly often. They remind me of my mom and my sister from my eyes as a child. This is my way to reflect and then to move forward with new understanding. I recently sent my sister an email with some pictures of my artwork. I wanted her to make sure that the things I had painted would find a proper home: hopefully in my home someday. My mom is still alive, surrounded by her things, so this is a good thing. It’s not time to say goodbye to her, her home or her things. But, when she passes on, I want to be able to look back. It would be really wonderful to place the things I have painted right next to their inspirations. This will help me move on without too much grief about what I have lost and can’t get back. My paintings, the special things I remember and the words I share about them will help me grieve. I write to keep things. These blogs provide a way that I can look back and make sense of things. When I am done writing, I have a sense of peace and optimism about moving forward.  Today, I ponder my Peacock Collage. Peacock feathers pop up in my work fairly often. They remind me of my mom and my sister from my eyes as a child. These two people had flair and a mystique that made them fascinating to me. I was proud of how different they were from the other moms and sisters I knew. We were no ordinary family. That’s why the peacock feathers are in my paintings. They decorated my house while “normal” families had ordinary flowers in their vases. I consider how much I deviate from the norm. I am an eccentric just like my sister and my mom. What I write today makes me proud of this. I will move forward in confidence and remember that I must never be ashamed of not being ordinary. Consider writing about something you remember. Use what you reflect on as an impetus to move forward in a new and better way. We can learn to look back and then move forward together. I invite you to share what you learn with us here at JourneyOnCanvas Blog.