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Think about the symbolic doors we can be right now. Fresh stARTs and second chances happen when we open a door to something new. Doors provide comfort, security and protection when needed. Yet they can also promote hospitality when thrown wide open. Are there any new doors we might open in 2022?

As this year comes to a close, we need to celebrate. We can never forget the persistence, resilience and tenacity that got us to where we are today. We can never ever give up on ourselves or our dreams and nor should we ever ignore our inner voices. Make a resolution to be more present each day and to always delight in the daily gifts at hand. With a hopeful eye towards the future, find the balance not to rush through the gift of today. 

As Covid continues to spread throughout our communities, some days it is hard to feel hopeful and energized. The past 20 months have left us exhausted and the pandemic has impacted everyone and everything. Healing is necessary and a fresh start is needed. 

In response to this somber period, I am organizing a new collaborative group project called the fresh stART project. Creativity will play an important role; however you do not need to be an artist to participate. You just need to be willing to try it all. There will be opportunities to write poetry, make music, arrange flowers, bake, write letters, journal, paint, draw and find inspiration in nature. These activities will happen on your own timeframe and will be a part of your own fresh start as well as be material for our group project. I hope you will join us. 

On a whim, I imagined a large art project to foster community and encourage hope and healing and I made it happen! I was able to recruit 18 diverse artists from 8 different states thanks to social media. These men and women represented both coasts and were extremely excited to use their creative gifts to help. My hope was that through working on the project, each artist would find joy and our collective joys would provide comfort to a broader audience.