patient

Patient is about the complex, time-intensive process of healing. Whatever we need, whatever we are working on, whatever the universe has in store for us, can feel incredibly urgent, but take sooo verrry looong. We can try and try and try—sometimes ignoring the signs and symptoms below the surface.

In my own experience, I found that eventually — empty, raw, tangled, alone — I reached the point when all I could do was to simply allow the gears of time to do what they do — to generate answers, strength, compassion, hope, love, whatever life-sustaining elixir I needed to go on. I learned that sometimes we must pause, open up, and put ourselves in the care of the process.

We have no choice but to be patient.

“I learned that sometimes we must pause, open up, and put ourselves in the care of the process. We have no choice but to be patient.”

Interestingly, I will add that I created this piece, Patient, mere days before I was diagnosed with a large (benign) meningioma brain tumor. When I look back now, I can’t help but feel like that news was in that giant droplet from time’s gears above—my tangled little body a patient on a table below.

That news shocked and overwhelmed me. And over time, it also awakened and nourished me. It ultimately reminded me of how precious our time is, and to love and take care of myself. It certainly was not what I thought I was waiting for, but it was the perspective-altering shift I needed, and I am grateful.

Patient was created in Adobe Photoshop, where I combined original photos, paintings, and materials. The gears are originally from the pages of the book“Watch Repair for Beginners” by Harold C. Kelly, 2012. I scanned, edited, and arranged the graphics.