What a difference a day (and many friends) makes...

Okay. Let's just say it like it is. Yesterday was a real downer.

As I wrote yesterday's post, the rain was pouring outside in torrential waves. We even had thunder and lightning, which we rarely have. Seriously, I can specifically count the times and years we've experienced thunder and lightning. That's how rare it is. As the storm raged outside, I was sitting here in my studio writing the post with a storm of a different kind raging inside me. And I was feeling pretty uncomfortable about writing about it so openly in the post.

As I was in the middle of the post, the kitties at the windows started chattering and staring intently up and out the window--the tell-tale sign that a bird is sitting under the eaves (usually one of the nesting sparrows). I quietly leaned to my right, so I could see what they were seeing. To my surprise, it wasn't a sparrow but a sweet tiny rufous hummingbird trying to escape the torrential downpour. It looked so tiny, so small, so alone and bedraggled--not its normal perky effervescent self. It looked about how I felt. I had the wherewithal to snap some shots through the rain-speckled window.

Shortly after publishing my post, so many wonderful comments and emails came pouring in that lifted me and my spirits. Like the pathetic wet hummingbird under our home's protective eaves, I had found shelter and comfort in the protection of your friendship. And like the hummingbird, I had to take some chances in order to find it. I had to be willing to stop flitting about in the emotional storm I was feeling, sit down, and be still for a moment.

This experience has brought to mind again what a rich blessing this world of blogging is to so many of us. It is this wonderful community of individuals that has, once again, lifted me from my "awful-izing" and self-doubt to trust my instincts, be true to myself, and not let criticism paralyze me.

If I had been fortunate enough to have all of you 15 and 20 years ago when I was a newly trained artist full of promise but barraged by criticism, I probably wouldn't have abandoned my creative passions as I did.

Yes, the storm will often rage around us with torrential downpours, thunder, lightning, and winds that would knock us down. But there is always protection and shelter somewhere amidst the storm. Sometimes we have to just stop flitting about long enough to recognize it.

Thank you, my dear friends!