Soaring with the Eagles

When I painted this some years back, my thought was mostly about setting free, about peeling away the layers of years of conditioning and becoming my original self, my authentic self.  It was about taking a leap and daring no matter what others might think. One of my favourite quotes is by Theodore Roosevelt's:  "Dare Greatly".  Another is Helen Keller's "Life is a daring adventure or nothing".  The composition is not my own.  It's from an image that had appeared in the local newspaper some years prior to my deciding to paint it - making up the colours I wished as it was black and white newsprint.  I consider it my first "successful" painting after years of dabbling in watercolours but never "finishing" any painting.

Now I look at this painting, and it takes on a whole new meaning.  It becomes a message about rising above the fray of fear and despair for all that is happening in the world.  The fear of global warming, the fear of wars, the fear of fear itself driving the agendas of so many groups and individuals.  It retains the same message of "daring greatly" to have hopes that little things you can do as an individual to improve the lives of those around you are still possible, still worthy of consideration.  Even, necessary to maintain quality of life no matter how bad things get.  To hold your head high and hold to your conviction that you can make a difference, however small, to effect the world in which you live.  A bit of conservation of water - reusing.  A kind smile to passerbys.  A generous and selfless action.  Dare ... great things can come from small actions.

Soar with the eagles with hopes for a bright future.  Make it happen ... Dare, and dare greatly.