Distance changes meaning — Donna Hopkins

One of the most significant changes in my recovery from anxiety is recognizing just how hard I have been on myself. How often I have judged myself in negative ways and how little I appreciated the gifts I have. The whole process is a kind of reconciliation, and it feels good to be more nearly balanced.

Found Art - Oil Painting - Stream through the Meadow, 2026

I see this same pattern in my creative work as well. Pictures deemed unworthy now regularly make their to current projects. The old photographs find their place alongside the new and breathe fresh air into the process. I am happy that I did not delete those pictures—those I deemed “not good enough.” Many of them are truly exceptional in that they reveal something to me about myself that I was unaware of at the time, but can now see clearly. It feels as though the woman I look at in the mirror is now someone I’d like to know, someone I want to hold dearly, someone I have forgiven, and someone who has much to give.