The Painting

 

I've been painting a picture

for as long as I can remember. I remember going out to buy the canvas and paints, the brush, and the easel. I spent years on this painting, making sure every stroke, every shade was perfect. I made mistakes, but it was nothing I couldn't fix. This painting is my pride and joy- everything I have to show for the last few years. I invested everything into that painting: time and money, tears and joy- and then the painting was stolen away. Sure, it might still be out there, maybe not, but I don't think I will ever see it again, no matter how hard I try. All I can do now is remember how proud I was of what I had accomplished and what went into it. I think this is why it is so hard for people to let go- to start over and face a blank canvas as daunting as that may be, rather than not paint again. This is why it is important to know when to let it go,  

and to start again and forget about my portrait of you.