Back in Action

For all those wondering about my arm, I'm feeling great! It was very interesting seeing the x-rays of my neck and back. It's amazing how much our bodies can take and pass off as normal. I have a tenseness in my shoulders that is completely normal to me, but my chiropractor said I have the shoulders of a 60 year old! Wow all I can say is I'm one tough cookie. In addition to my scoliosis, I don't have a gentle curve to my neck, pinched nerves, and no range of motion in my low back. But after few weeks of treatments, ice, regular exercise, and breaks; have given me use of my arm again! Oh and here's an odd yet interesting fact, I'm missing my last ribs. My chiro joked that if Adam didn't need it neither do I. LOL

Funny thing is today I tried writing again with my left hand and my writing has improved greatly. It doesn't have the childlike quality like my first attempt. And I'm getting more control painting with my left hand. Even though the pain and numbness is gone in my right arm, I'm still going to push and refine my motor skills in my left arm.

On the health tip, I met my chiro at a 5k walk I did for Girls at Risk. I got 2nd place in my age group! A few weeks ago, I completed the Long Beach Half Marathon which was awesome. Since then, I have been actively running and doing weight training, trying to maintain my health and prepare for the Las Vegas Marathon. It is 38 days left and counting.

My Marathon training has been a great discipline factor in my life. I have to wake up early for training and get rest at night, not the easiest thing for a night owl. This has helped me prioritize the important tasks that need to be accomplished in my day.

Selfish or Selfless.....

One thing I have noticed on the non-profit front is there are a lot of wonderful ideas and passionate people. From there sometimes these passions and goals become tangible. But during the formation phase of the non-profit everyone seems to face similar issues, like funding, loyal staff that can work for damn near nothing or really low fees.

While I think I have a really great idea that can benefit many people, a part of me feels selfish. Like what makes my idea so special, so unique that I need to reinvent the wheel and start from scratch and struggle through when there are plenty of organizations that have similar missions or goals.

Yesterday I heard countless people talk about their orgs and the hardships they face. A few of them were very grassroots with only family and friends as their "staff." They had the same struggles as a person sitting a few chairs away. From the outside looking in I see 2 people with similar goals and values that can pair up and strengthen their forces, funds, outreach and effect on a variety of communities.

But is that all they are really looking for or is it a personal agenda to avenge a situation from their past, to see change in a specific community that is near and dear to their heart, or are they completely selfless with their intent.

The Keynote Speaker told everyone to reflect on why they are in the non-glamorous arena of public service, specifically in arts education and management. What is their personal connections and values that led them to this line of work? For her it was to avenge a negative experience she had growing up in the segregated south during the 1950s. She has a personal vendetta if you will with the Baton Rouge Little Theater. When a black family approached the theater, the welcome sign was turned around. She was denied the access to experience the arts through theater. This lead her to pursue a degree in theater and work in arts education. She closed her story with an interesting thing to ponder on. She said every accomplishment, every milestone, or action in her career has been driven by her hurt the Baton Rouge Little Theater caused her, and until the day she could be okay and forgive that part of her life her work was selfish.

Wow, is all I could think! A prominent African American woman who sits on national and civic boards for the advancement and advocacy of Arts in America ties her passion for the arts to be spread because of a memory of the segregation of the South growing up.

Personally I want to spread art because of a variety of experience I had growing up in South Central. I used to work for a program called S.E.Y. Y.E.S., Save Every Youngster Youth Enterprise Society. This was my first attempt at the working force at the age of 13. I worked there from the ages of 13-17 with many of my friends. When I was in high school I took the job very serious and wanted to really help the children in the program to the best of my ability.

That's when I meant Boneshica(real name not making it up!). She was classified as one of the bad kids. But when I sat down with her to really help her out with homework, I discovered she was illiterate. I couldn't believe that she had been passed along to the 4th grade with the inability to read. I asked her how it was in her classroom, how did she participate and do work. Her reply was during reading times herself and a few other kids were placed at a back table to color and do worksheets at a Preschool/kindergarten level. I worked with her and taught her the essentials of reading and helped her increase her confidence.

When I entered college and discovered my art talent, I had the same reaction and feeling of accomplishment that Boneshica did when she began to read. Someone suggested that I unite my love of children and art together. I wanted the children in the area that I grew up in to know they could do well and achieve greatness, despite what one of my elementary teachers told my classmates and I. The feeling I get making art, to make something tangible and recognizable is one of the best feelings in the world. I want to spread that confidence and give that tool to the children.

So am I selfish or am I just driven by my circumstances and experiences?

Put your right hand in, take your right hand out....

And you get an artist that has no idea what to do with herself!

I have had a pain in my right arm for about the past 3-4 weeks. At first I thought it was because I was sleeping wrong, but then the pain began to radiate from my shoulder down my arm. Not good, I know!

Well after being very stubborn and fighting with my schedule to actually set-up an appointment with my doctor, I talked to a few specialists at a 5k walk. The prognosis you ask? One of a few things: Tendonitis, Carpal Tunnel, Repetitive Motion Injury, Pinched Nerve, or Nerve damage. I hear back from the doctor tomorrow to learn what exactly I have and how to treat it.

But in the mean time I'm becoming a Leftie, or at least forcing myself to learn. When I write words, it is actually legible and aesthetically interesting. I am looking forward to adding it into my art work. Now that I'm tapping into my left side more, I think it could really influence my art. My paintings consist of loose, broad paint strokes. It's not something that needs technical precision from my right arm. While the pain is not fun, exploring my art work with my new found tool my Left Hand seems like a cool direction to take my art. I am very excited to see what results from this.