“The greatest failure is the failure to try.”
— William Ward
I
never thought a cow would help guide me to my happy place, but
it did and here’s how it happened.
I am the youngest of three girls—Irish triplets (each about a year
apart)—and each with our very own unique style and creative spirit.
I once saw a painting of a cow in a
magazine which I saved and repeatedly
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asked my middle sister (a talented
artist) to paint it for me. I kept asking
and asking like only a little sister can
until she eventually bought me a
canvas and instructed me to paint it
myself!
There were so many things I
discovered during my journey of
painting the cow. What I thought
would be an impossible and
stressful task turned out to be
rewarding and quite calming.
Working on the painting became
my escape—helping me to unplug. Isn’t it funny how often our escape is
something so far from what we love to do day to day? When I would get frustrated with
it, my sister would encourage me to take a break, sit back and look at it differently. See
it from a different angle. She also encouraged me to throw away the original picture of
the cow. “Now make it your own,” she said.
When my painting was completed, I felt a sweet sense of accomplishment. It was
exactly the painting I had wanted, in fact, it was even better. I love it and believe it only
What makes your pets
adorable and how do
you spoil them?
“They are long-haired,
hippy dogs. They are
whimsical and playful. As
their names suggest,
Jackson Hole and Teton
Spirit are ‘national
treasures.’ We spoil them by
taking them to doggy
daycare once a week. We
also make their own treats
by dehydrating chicken
strips, and showering them
with kisses.”
turned out well, because I had such a good (and patient) teacher.
How do you unplug? I can now add painting to my list, which includes mowing the
grass, knitting, gardening, cooking, and another new favorite, thanks to a special
Christmas gift, adult coloring books.
Carve out the time and make unplugging a priority. Go ahead—paint that cow!
—LYNNE McNEES, ISPA PRESIDENT
72
PULSE
■
May 2016
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Lynne Walker McNees