This past summer during the pandemic I became increasingly bored and anxious. There wasn’t much to do without my friends due to the limitations on social gatherings. I needed a way to express myself and my emotions on a daily basis. My mom suggested I stop complaining and feeling sad and try painting as an independent way to enjoy quality time with myself. I immediately went to the local art store. I was amazed to see all the different paints and supplies. Within no time, I had purchased all the supplies I needed and more to begin my new adventure. Before long I had completed so many acrylic paintings that they were filling up space in my attic. Soon after I shared my collections with my friends, they started to offer me money to paint something unique for them. Nonetheless, I was still unsure about what I was going to do with all of the paintings in my attic. After doing some research, I learned that a local assisted-living home was asking the community to send letters of encouragement to the senior residents. As a result, I decided to donate numerous pieces of artwork that I had created during the pandemic. To my surprise, the administrator for the center posted me and my artwork on their website to thank me for my generosity. A local news station picked up the story and ran it on the news the next day. I had no idea when I started to paint that in less than six weeks, I would be selling art to my friends but also sharing my new found joy with the senior community. As a result from this activity, I get to visit and volunteer with the senior community every break and home visit. They are a wonderful group!

This past summer during the pandemic I became increasingly bored and anxious. There wasn’t much to do without my friends due to the limitations on social gatherings. I needed a way to express myself and my emotions on a daily basis. My mom suggested I stop complaining and feeling sad and try painting as an independent way to enjoy quality time with myself. I immediately went to the local art store. I was amazed to see all the different paints and supplies. Within no time, I had purchased all the supplies I needed and more to begin my new adventure. Before long I had completed so many acrylic paintings that they were filling up space in my attic. Soon after I shared my collections with my friends, they started to offer me money to paint something unique for them. Nonetheless, I was still unsure about what I was going to do with all of the paintings in my attic. After doing some research, I learned that a local assisted-living home was asking the community to send letters of encouragement to the senior residents. As a result, I decided to donate numerous pieces of artwork that I had created during the pandemic. To my surprise, the administrator for the center posted me and my artwork on their website to thank me for my generosity. A local news station picked up the story and ran it on the news the next day. I had no idea when I started to paint that in less than six weeks, I would be selling art and sharing my new creativity with the community. I was thrilled that I found a way to take a leap of faith during the pandemic while also bringing joy and smiles to myself and others in society.