#FridayPainting: Vincent van Gogh “Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear”

“A great fire burns within me, but no one stops to warm themselves at it, and passers-by only see a wisp of smoke”

Today, I met up with my sister, Sarah, and mother, Frances, via Zoom to discuss solitude vs loneliness. My #FridayPainting that features Vincent Van Gogh added profound understanding of how we belong to ourselves as well as a community.

Over the past year, we have experienced both solitude and loneliness. As we enter a weekend, I am sharing with you my favorite Vincent Van Gogh quotes that have inspired me during this past year of COVID-19.

“Normality is a paved road: It’s comfortable to walk, but no flowers grow on it.”

“Close friends are truly life’s treasures. Sometimes they know us better than we know ourselves. With gentle honesty, they are there to guide and support us, to share our laughter and our tears. Their presence reminds us that we are never really alone.”

“In the end we shall have had enough of cynicism, skepticism and humbug, and we shall want to live more musically.”

“It is good to love many things, for therein lies the true strength, and whosoever loves much performs much, and can accomplish much, and what is done in love is well done.”

“There is peace even in the storm”