The pain passes, but the beauty remains.
Auguste Renoir
For the last 30 years of his life, give or take, the French Impressionist lived with debilitating rheumatoid arthritis. His hands were so deformed that he couldn’t pick up his brushes himself, so he had his children and assistants help. He constantly came up with new ways to continue to create his art, despite the obstacles his body placed before him.
Shortly before his death in 1919, a young artist named Matisse would ask Renoir why he continued to work even though it clearly caused him a great deal of pain. “The pain passes,” he would say, “but the beauty remains.”
I wonder what things are stopping you from creating something beautiful in your life. Maybe after you read this, you will see those obstacles as opportunities to think outside the box. The world needs you, and it needs your distinct and unique voice. Don’t let hardships silence you.
Never forget that I love you, and that excludes no one.
Love,
