With life as I know it having turned completely upside down as of the last few months, I haven't really known where to begin this. Do I write about the ending of my engagement and my move to Lawrence? In time I may share those thoughts. But right now I have news that's rather exciting!

This blog is a way of putting myself out there for people to read. To work out things in my head and perhaps help someone else feel that they aren't alone in their thoughts. But pretty soon the written word will not be my only form of putting myself on display.

The new company I'm working for now (Boston Financial) is holding an art fair for its employees. It's a large company that has lots of other companies tied to it, so the art that is submitted is amazingly extensive. This first leg of the art fair is pretty open. Anyone can enter, and as long as it fits into the rules, you can enter almost any form of art; photography, 2-D and 3-D as well as fabrics, etc. They even have a digital enhancement category for work done or modified on a computer.

So after looking into it for weeks, I took the plunge and decided to enter some of the things I'd done. I've decided to enter two photographs, one drawing and one digital piece. The showing is in Kansas City in one of the buildings owned by Boston Financials parent company, DST.

I don't win money. I don't get an award. But what I do get is a little more confidence in the various forms of art I like to dabble in. There is one thing I could win, but again, it's more in the lines of confidence than anything else. At the end of the company art fair they hold an employee vote. One artist out of each category is chosen to show his or her artwork at a larger showing at Union Station.

I can't imagine having something of mine displayed in a venue such as that. So many people taking trains, visiting Science City or just having a meal. And I suppose while that ultimate showing would be the most awesome experience of my life to date, I'm pretty excited just to have the opportunity to show something of mine in any way.

There was a time when I'd get discouraged with myself when I couldn't draw a duck when I wanted to draw a duck. I'd run into artistic walls that I'd spend months behind. Then my friend Tiffany told me that being an artist isn't about drawing a duck or a person or even a straight line. It's about expressing something inside you in whatever way that happens to be. I admit to blowing her off and telling her it was easy for her to say, she had talent oozing out her ears. But I've had some time since then to digest her words and take them to heart.

And while I still wish I could draw a duck, I'm pretty happy with what I've done. When people see my drawings they know its something I've done. Even though it's only within a small group of people that have seen my work, it's still a pretty good feeling to know people recognize a piece and know it's mine.

Perhaps after the art show I'll take another plunge and post one or two of the pieces in my next blog so my friends and family back home can see them. That is sometimes harder than showing strangers. Letting those close to you see something you've had no confidence in before. I suppose we'll see just how brave I really am next time!