im better for it....kelly's story

Growing up girl some days just hurts

Until I hit the teens…..

my grandpa jim called me his “little irish”,  

he loved to tease me and I would gobble up his bait

Everytime.

I grew up on the football field, with my dad 

watching  him coach his boys,  and mom almost

always had a hot meal ready for us when we got home. 

My parents had a knack of making others

very welcome in our home. 

I was surrounded by my three siblings, melba and rebebecca  - my grandmothers, 

and many aunts , uncles and cousins. 

My parents would invite single teachers

to our house for Sunday dinners. 

There was always a huge summer garden, big family gatherings and family camp every summer.

 If you have ever seen the movie “hoosiers",

my house is in the opening scene. 

 Yeah…I am famous!

My parents expected us to be respectful,  finish a job and to be kind and welcoming to others. 

No  matter what.  I had a great childhood. 

growing up for me was somewhat painful. 

Like many others I am sure...it is uncomfortable.

I would say I was considered a pretty outgoing girl. 

I was involved in sports, student council, and

my senior year I was captain of my swim team. 

And I had quite a wit and sass about me. 

But deep inside I fought so much turmoil.

 I kinda hated myself.

growing up adult = pains…….

my lack of self confidence helped in the loser magnet status.  Sorry boys – it’s the truth.

I knew better, but it was almost as if I couldn’t help  myself.  I have been blessed with

three babies.  They are good athletes, smart, funnier than anything and very creative.

….i am better for it. 

this is also when I began to find my voice. After a bad divorce, I had it with allowing men to 

walk all over me. I went back for a degree in graphic design and met my husband (who by the

way is a jewel)  some like to refer to us as dharma and greg.  He is an athletic director and I am

a true creative.  it seems to work.  Of course we each do a lot of eye rolling to get us through.

when I was 40... (I can’t even BELIEVE that was 6 years ago.),  I found myself spinning my wheels.

I was over exhausted, my head hurt and I seemed to be sitting in the center of a pond – the water

at my chin.  I had been reading about adult A.D.D. so I talked to my dr. and he sent me off to a 

psycho-neurology center  for  testing.  It was such an interestingly  long-tiring process.  Deep down

I basically knew what they were going to tell me.   

In the end, I sat in front of the doctor as he told me

that I was basically dyslexic.  My reading comprehension is terribly low, I transpose letters and numbers,

bottom line is….it makes life miserable most days.  It is hard to follow conversation.  Sometimes, it just

makes my brain sleepy.   

So I left there with some tears. I am not sad that I had this learning disability,

the tears were for the little girl who needed more help, a little more understanding.  The girl hitting  her

teens who wanted to puke before every test, who felt inferior most of her life...but most of the tears were 

for the relief I felt in that instance when 

someone finally looked at me and said –

 its okay to be tired Kelly. 

Go home and rest now.  And I did.

“emancipate yourselves from mental slavery.  None but ourselves can free our minds”   -bob marley

growing up girl the artist……

2008 was a pivotal year for me.  I allowed myself to dream bigger than I ever had. I  gifted myself an

art retreat on a little lake in new Hampshire. …SQUAM. 

I hopped on a plane all by myself.  Met up 

with two chicks I didn’t  know and we drove to the woods. Where there were many smiles,  plenty 

of creative art classes with amazing teachers.  

I WAS IN HEAVEN.  

I also met my two girls sarah and tracey.

 We lived in the Hamilton cabin for 5 days. 

We drank a few beers, shared our dinner table and laughed until we were sick.  They are two of my dearest friends…bonus!  

I would have to say that SQUAM ART WORKSHOPS opened the creative world doors for me.  

So many that I met there the first year 

 have become part of my daily grind.

…….I am better for it

I also finally got to meet a chick I had talked to via emails and her blog – liz elayne. 

And through this

connection I was blessed in 2009 to work for her at the  UNEARTH retreat on the Oregon coast.  There

I had another 23 sisters thrown into my lap. 

……I am better for it.

since I hung out at both these retreats, each year I have found myself growing as an artist.  I see my

art moving  closer to where I want to be.  At unearth I also met up with Danielle.  I have to say it could

be trouble with the two of us.  She has fierce ideas and of course I am the little puppy lapping it up

as we go.  We are currently running an art challenge – artFOOlishness.  

here is where it is good...  

ahold of any one of my tribe

 and they will give me a quick cartoon slap and i can move forward.  

My art has moved forward because of 

the love and support I receive.   

This past fall, I attended squam by the sea.

I sat on different nights, with different friends who whipped me into shape… 

thank you Melissa and Tricia.

 Sometimes that little scared girl creeps up behind you.  I only wish I could name every single one

of you. I hate leaving anyone out. 

Because here is the thing…..

 It is the chicks that I have met along the way and I mean every single one of you – 

who I carry with me, as I paint.

 Every one of you I carry, each day – 

who make me want to do better.   

It is you – that makes me better for it.

there is room for each of us to shine. 

Never accept anything less than this.   

Our words, and our thoughts matter.

 This creative world can be so scary and overwhelming….but it is so worth it.   

My family has the biggest part of my heart.

But there is a little door in there that when you open it – you will find each of you who i have met along the way.

 I kinda dig that.....better for it.

p.s…..i met Kolleen at the unearth retreat. 

I was the official picker  upper.  So I pulled the van up 

to the beach cottage that she called home for a few days and immediately she said something very funny and very sassy.

I fell in love. …and I am better for it.

Thank you beautiful Kelly for sharing YOUR story.

  Kelly is an amazing artist and she is

full of love and sass...

go visit her here to see what her latest antics are!

  You can also hit up her etsy shop here.

I totally dig her and am so grateful to call her

my friend, my sistah!! 

if you would like to share your

"im better for it story"...please email me: 

kolleenharrison@mail.com

ox

kolleen