sjsprWriting

A blank white canvas stares back, waiting and mocking me. It’s completely devoid of any color, of any imperfections. The array of colors surrounding the white canvas seem to be endless: my fingers are itching to swipe shades of different tints over what's barren and create a constellation of reds and blues and greens and yellows. There are so many options, so many possibilities to define what is undefined, to create what has not been created. The opportunity to sculpt my new canvas into anything I want leaves me shaking in excitement. But doubt starts creeping in. What if once it’s all done, the colors just don’t blend into what it should be? What if the lines are to thin, and the colors too bright? What if I screw up? Just drop the brush and turn away. No breath, you got this. If you mess up, you could always start over, get a new canvas. Yes starting over after putting so much time and effort into the first piece is tough but it’s manageable. Ok, i’ve decided. Let’s have blues and greens on this side. NO! The green doesn’t complement the blue and the lines are too thick. Breath. Get a new canvas. Start over. Select the right colors, add some textures, styles, and designs. Ok, i’m ready. Let's start this new journey. Shakily, I dip my brush in reds, and blues, and greens, and purples. I create a series of dots in one corner as I make swirls in the other. I fill the empty with my emotions, my values, and my goals. There’s no room for fears. Slowly, the image comes together. I create life on paper. I drop the brush in the murky water and step away from the canvas.