Where ART Lives Magazine Volume 2 Number 4 | Page 6

Letter from the Editor
July 2016
Happy Summer and all that entails!!
I imagine some of you are reading this on your mobile device from some beautiful destination, as
summer vacation season is now in full swing. I recently returned from 12 days in Italy, and I must say
I’ve been having a little bit of reverse culture shock! The sites were breathtaking, the food was
incredible and the art was amazing. All of my senses were fully engaged and my “artist awareness”
could not of been more heightened, just as I expected! There’s a saying that travel is the only thing we
spend money on that makes us richer. I could not agree more!
I made some beautiful purchases while there, but the most valuable things I brought home were a
renewed spirit and a heart committed to more fully embracing the “little” moments in my life.
The Italian pace of life is much slower than ours. They seem to take their time and savor even the
common moments, and take pleasure in the ordinary practices that we tend to rush through without
much thought. I realized I am good at being present in the big moments, but it’s in embracing the
little moments that I will see change.
Upon my return I promised myself I would slow down and try to be completely present in every
moment of my life. So I have set out to alter even the smallest of things...like having morning
coffee on my patio or in my big leather chair, sipping slowly while conversing with my sweet little
furry friends, as opposed to pushing the button on the Keurig to be sure my coffee is ready by the
time I finish filling the dog food bowls, so that I can get to my desk as quickly as possible!
I know...such a silly thing really, but it has made all the difference since I committed to starting my
day this way.
Finding ways to take pleasure in the ordinary and mundane is even more important if you don’t get to
vacation much, (which is the case for me).
Isn’t that supposed to be the artist’s way? To find beauty in the ordinary?
-Kimberly Conrad
Editor-in-Chief
Owner, Where ART Lives Gallery & Magazine

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