This blog is brought to you by the generosity of people who support me on Patreon , buy my art, and who support me in so many different ways.
If you’d like to make a one time donation, you can do so at paypal
Cards and prints of some of my art is available on Redbubble – also T-shirts and stickers and other unique items. When you click an image on Redbubble, in the lower right hand corner you’ll find a link to all the various products that these are printed on. If you have any trouble finding what you’re looking for, let me know. joyzmailbox@gmail.com
You can subscribe to this blog by email in the link below this post.
My last painting of 2024 was inspired by a young woman who radiates strength, wisdom, humor, and light. So many people move quietly through the world, you don’t necessarily notice their power and kindness. I’m so glad I keep finding them in my life.
She Made Her Own Light, by Joy Murray, 20×16″ acrylic on canvas “In a dark world, she made her own light.”
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Thanks for reading my blog. Feel free to share it, if you’d like.
This blog is brought to you by the generosity of people who support me on Patreon , buy my art, and who support me in so many different ways.
If you’d like to make a one time donation, you can do so at paypal
Cards and prints of some of my art is available on Redbubble – also T-shirts and stickers and other unique items. When you click an image on Redbubble, in the lower right hand corner you’ll find a link to all the various products that these are printed on. If you have any trouble finding what you’re looking for, let me know. joyzmailbox@gmail.com
You can subscribe to this blog by email in the link below this post.
Here we are in the future. I hope you take some time today to appreciate all that you did this last year, and your whole life, to make the world a better place or easier for someone else. We get so stuck on improving ourselves and goal setting, we forget to appreciate who we are. When you see the goodness in yourself, you can encourage and grow that part of you, become more of who you are meant to be. Even our mistakes, contradictions, and misdirections are part of who we are, how we grew, what made us stronger and wiser — if we can let go of shame. We all contain gravity and grace, we all contain multitudes.
Last year, around this time of year, I wrote and posted this poem. I feel like it’s still appropriate for me and hopefully for you. Have a well-rounded year — look forward with awareness and do what good you can.
I Regret Nothing
by Joy Murray
I regret nothing. I regret every day I don't write down what happened. I remember everything. Everything runs from my memory as if from a burning building. I am responsible and well organized. I loll around in bed wishing for eternal sleep. I love deeply, a star sparking in every cell. I close myself off to everyone, every sensation.
I am so afraid. I am fearless. I ramble freely through dangerous streets. I can barely crawl across the room.
My wheelchair is a magic carpet that I steer heavenward. People are in awe of my strength. I get suck in bathroom doors, on muddy roads, and in dark corners.
What a waste of resources I am. I have survived brutal mysteries and carry pain lightly. I am so weak I can't speak my needs. Every inch of my being is in perfect harmony with life.
When I lost you, music went mute. A 24-hour feed screeched out every horror of life so shrilly I broke into shards.
I am a shattered window letting the breeze in. I am stained glass waltzing.
I regret nothing.
I Saw Delight, by Joy Murray, watercolor on paper
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Thanks for reading my blog. Feel free to share it, if you’d like.
This blog is brought to you by the generosity of people who support me on Patreon , buy my art, and who support me in so many different ways.
If you’d like to make a one time donation, you can do so at paypal
Cards and prints of some of my art is available on Redbubble. Also T-shirts and stickers and other odds and ends. When you click an image, in the lower right hand corner you’ll find a link to all the various products that these are printed on. If you have any trouble finding what you’re looking for, let me know. joyzmailbox@gmail.com
You can subscribe to this blog by email in the link below this post.
joy murray art~stories~life 