I’ll start this post off with complete transparency- I am an awful gift-giver and I have the memory of a fly.

I always try to get something that people won’t expect, but it often means that I don’t always hit the mark.  Recently,  I have been gifting my art and other creative handmade things to show my appreciation.  I personalize art done by other artists, create my own works, and sometimes try my hand at throwing clay in hopes that my gift proves to be meaningful.

For Mother’s Day, I gifted my mother 3 paintings, each one a portrait of my two younger brothers and myself.  I accompanied the paintings with a cute, feminine,  little glitter note,  shared my feelings, and got on with the day.

 For my dad, I was a little lost at first. Though he is not super picky, I only really hear him talking about tech, music, and politics, so I had to come up with something meaningful and true. For the most part, the gift to my mom was a gift to both of my parents, so I thought it was only fair to do the same thing on Father’s Day.

I decided to make a digital print and try something new to accompany the paintings I made previously of my siblings and I.

With the pressures applied to those of us who are paying attention right now, it can feel like there isn’t time to breathe or time to appreciate life;  it is hard to stay positive, but for a good reason. Pain brings change and reflection.  In a time that is so raw and unexpected, it is important to reflect upon yourself and the company in which you hold.  I wanted to show appreciation for my parents while depicting their positive encouraging energy. I hope that their light and the light of others is enough positive intention to withstand lifes ugly bits without ignoring them.

On that note, I wanted to briefly mention the other Holiday that I celebrated this last week.

June 19th, I had a virtual celebration with some of my friends and family. Juneteenth is a holiday commemorating the liberation of the last enslaved people in the south. Contrary to belief, the civil war was not the end of slavery; two years after the emancipation proclamation executive order was the “end” of slavery. This two-year late announcement is what made the previously enslaved individuals aware of their newly found “freedoms” and lack of reparation.

We celebrate Juneteenth as a means of remembering true America History in relation to Black individuals.

Happy Last Week of June!