Let's Cultivate Tenacity

I used to paint pretty princesses,

a lot,

but not anymore.

I don’t think we learn much

from princesses, posing helpless,

in a victim mentality,

waiting to be rescued

by valiant princes.

We learn far more

from real people

walking through life’s struggles.

The other day,

I saw a poignant photo

of a man with prosthetic legs,

holding a bouquet of flowers,

standing in the snow,

waiting to meet the monks.

I wanted to honor him

by my art and I did.

I embellished it with wise words

of writer Maya Angelou:

“I can be changed

by what happens to me,

but I refuse

to be reduced by it.”

That's the mindset we need,

let's make tenacity

our definite trait.