Balance



by David Goodwin

Beautiful Words to Accompany the Painting:

"I haven't been at this long, and the balance painting was the first one I did totally with a paint knife, to give . . . an abstract look. I did an interview with the magazine called Health of America . . . and I didn't know it at the time, but they put a copy of the painting in the center of the page. So, number 1), I was proud to get to share my story and to talk about MS, and 2), I was honored that they chose to include my painting in the article.

" I run an MS Support Group in Huntsville, Alabama and also serve as an MS Ambassador for the Alabama Chapter of the MS Society. After having to quit work in July of last year, I found myself being kept busy by my two young sons, yet I felt like I was still lacking a way to express myself and my thoughts on MS, so in late November of '05 I decided to try picking up a paintbrush and try to teach myself to paint.

"I will be the first to stand up at any given opportunity to try and spread the word about MS, and if it means that I only connect with one person out of a crowd, then that's one more person in the world who knows a little more about the war we fight with MS everyday. Anyway, I decided that I wanted to do some motivational-type paintings that would hopefully bring to light the struggles I think we all suffer from, sometimes on a daily basis. so I'm sending you a picture of a painting I did called "Balance."

"The message behind balance goes:

A person living with MS oftentimes finds that each day offers different challenges. One might find that their mind is stumbling or racing. One might find that they are fatigued or full of energy. Emotions can run the gamut from the darkest side of depression, to the brighter side of happiness. Therefore, in order to cope, one must learn to find a happy medium between the two. And with a little practice, it is very likely you will be able to learn how to "Balance" your life, each and everyday.

"(The painting) can be read into in different ways, just as each person suffers from different symptoms and different ways of dealing with MS. The short and sweet, or simple explanation of the painting, is that the lower half of the painting represents the gloom and doom of depression, and the top half is a little brighter and cheery, and the small section in between is the median for which you draw from both sides and learn to balance your days as needed.

"My feeling has always been that, yes, MS can be a very debilitating disease, but in a lot of instances, the disease can oftentimes be only as bad as you let it be. You have to be POSITIVE and keep your chin up. After all, if your have a POOR attitude, guess what, your probably gonna have POOR health. . . I just thought it would be nice if you could share my thoughts with others. MS is only as bad as you make it! Keep positive and keep up the good work."


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