A Reminder to Practice Kindness

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I keep this photo of kid-Hilary on my desk to remind me to be kind to myself as I practice new things. I particularly like how it shows a smiling and exploratory face peeking through the trees. As I sit at my desk, it’s a perfect reminder that art is an exploratory journey; one that I’ve undertaken with much enthusiasm, eagerness, and hope. If I start being critical and hard on myself or begin to feel vulnerable and discouraged, it helps to return to a hopeful and curious explorer’s mindset. From there I can practice compassion and find my enthusiasm once again for this long but exciting journey.