Many of us were raised with the same subtle instructions: Be kind. Be agreeable. Keep the peace. Don't make anyone uncomfortable. I appreciate this. It shaped me into an excellent observer. Generally, I'm calm, accommodating, and easy to be around. But it also tucked my voice deep inside for much of my life. Only in recent years have I truly met her, and this week she stood a little taller. As I near the completion of my current painting journey, my voice has risen to a new level. Part of that process involved unearthing pieces of myself that I had stored away long ago—beliefs, patterns—and inviting them onto the canvas where they could soften, transform, and become nourishment for new growth.

I'm doing my best this month to practice a kind of tunnel vision—filtering out the constant noise that comes at us from every direction. It's not easy. There are so many big topics vying for our attention, each one insisting it's urgent. But I keep asking myself: what kind of attention is really needed? The reactive, fear-based, OMG kind of attention is exactly what those in control would prefer. But we are far more powerful when we can respond from a grounded, centered place. Beneath the smoke and mirrors, what actually matters? What needs to happen now to take the next step toward a healthier, more loving world?