g is for...genuine

Genuine. Real. Honest. When it's unbelievably hard, when it's not pretty, when you don't feel like showing up but you do anyway with your raw, uninspired, afraid self.

Genuine, authentic, open. Open to every emotion you feel and some you don't want to deal with. 

Genuine. Beautiful you, bare faced or covered in glitter, emanating whatever makes you, YOU.

Art can be honest. It can speak to the soul even if you're not listening. It can reach out and try to grab you, pull you inside and tell you something. That happens because there is something real in there, something that fell out of the artists self and onto the canvas. Art is sometimes quiet. Sometimes it is in your face. When you FEEL it, it always comes from the heart.

Eileen said "I know that creativity should always come from the heart. But when you have children every moment is creativity and from the heart.... genuine."

Such true words, being a mother makes you creative in ways you didn't think possible. Broccoli becomes trees and words take on new meanings. Love feels like this infinite warmth that is often doused with the cold water of reality. Motherhood is rough, it's soft, it's strong feelings in weak moments, it's ugly and gorgeous and a million contradictions. It's real.

Thanks to everyone who suggested words for my first contest. I appreciate you all! xoxo