You Be The Artist

----YOU---
Be the artist
Of your crisis.

​You can create something beautiful and lovely out of the hardship you have been dealt.

You can.

It may take time.

It may take tackling a lot of anger, tears, WHY ME?s and feeling completely overwhelmed.

It is not overnight.  

It IS a matter of perspective.
It is a matter of not giving up or giving in to despair, denial, or depression.

It is also a choice.

But maybe you never knew you had a choice.
Because what was handed to you was NEVER your choice.

You can decide this day:
My child’s diagnosis or cancer or behaviors or struggles SUCK.
It sucks the life out of me.
It sucks the life out of my family.

AND YET—this is not the end of the story.

I own my story and I will choose to write the ending—even if the beginning was written for me in the ugliest vomit color sharpie pen.

I will choose to find the hidden treasures.

I will choose to find the blessings.

I will be transparent when I am absolutely at my wits end and cannot find the joy, the gifts, the gratitude; and I vow to seek help if I get stuck.

I decide.

I decide every day.

I will create beauty out of the ashes of disappointment, loss, heartache, endless appointments, meetings, hospital visits, medicines and schedules.  

Even if it starts out looking like a paint-by-number piece. At least I started.

I can rise up,
Show up,
And reach out.

I CAN DO SOMETHING beautiful for someone else.
I can:

• Write a note
• Send an inspiring quote on a text
• Drop flowers or chocolate chip cookies off to a friend
• Knit blankets for babies in hospitals
• Listen with empathy and compassion
• Write a blog sharing vulnerably  and openly
• Teach someone a skill I have
• Mentor a mom younger than me
• Invite a mom to coffee or a walk
• Start a support group in your town or school district

Ask the universe:  
What am I called to do as a result of the crisis I have walked through?  What have I learned?  What do I have to offer?

And then just wait.
The whispers will come.

Until then, say every day:
I will be the artist of my crisis. I will paint something beautiful.
I choose this.  I choose this today.