What about this?

No Friday’s Fresh Five! today, but a few thoughts to share while riding in the car.

“I have big doubt that he’ll ever be successful.” Those hurtful words uttered by a relative years ago replay in my mind as I think about the upcoming weekend. I think about how someone, who should be in a position of love and support, could declare such discouraging and dismissive words about someone still so young. At the heart of the matter is my son’s chosen life path – art. In defense of my son, I try to reason with this relative. I explain that my son has not chosen art, but it has chosen him. I am told that I should have forced my son to become a doctor. There is no reasoning with this person. If my son ignores his gift, he would deny his authentic self and would be unable to truly share himself with the world.

This weekend my oldest son will graduate from a prestigious art and design college and will start a position with one of the top advertising agencies in the country. Filled with zigs and zags, his path has not been an easy one, but with perseverance, belief in himself, and supportive parents, he’s on his way to living his dream. So bravo! Hip-hip-hooray! Congrats to you, son, for staying true to yourself and not listening to the naysayers.

“An artist cannot fail; it is a success to be one.”
Charles Horton Cooley