First sneak peek
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Transsphenoidal surgery is when a doctor goes through your nose and cuts open your sinuses to reach parts of the brain. It was 2006 and I was scheduled for this very procedure in two weeks’ time. After months of headaches and doctor’s visits, I had an answer. I was 25 and in my 2nd year of teaching high school art. And I still wondered if I was any good at art. After the surgery I had an elder colleague come up to me in the hallway, dart his head from side to side to see if anyone was listening, and ask how my art was going. Surprised, but pleased to have someone ask (rather than stare at me like some 3-eyed monster) I shared how quiet my inner critic had become. How much freer I felt. I mean, what did I have to lose, right? He let out this laugh and with a twinkle in his eyes, he told me he had the same experience when he survived cancer. Because when you finally realize you have nothing left to lose: you choose your art. * * * I’ve been asked to write a book for years: about my life adventures, about making art. But I never knew what to write. I was operating from a place of perfectionism: I had to know all the answers before I wrote about any of it. While facing brain surgery paused my perfectionism for a time, it’s taken 2 more decades for me to finally understand what writing this book is about: I will never have all the answers and I choose art anyway. Hi Reader, This is one of my first snippets I'm sharing from the book. Thank you for the great feedback on the title. Several of you noted I missed communicating the memoir element entirely; most of you liked language around reclaiming. Click here if you want to guarantee you receive any and all updates on this book. Remember: proudly call yourself an artist. Carrie |