I believe that our friends are our family by choice. And life is a vibrant cosmos of choices. Sometimes, we are not chosen. But always, may we choose those who choose us. Chosen well, our relationships are intangible dwelling spaces where we are welcomed and loved, fueled to flourish and fulfill our purpose, the very thing that makes life worth living. Let us pour from an unempty cup and receive graciously from others who pour generously, with whole hearts, from theirs.

This photo is from a lunch with old friends and new from the first Saturday of January. One friend could not make it, so our table for four had space for another. The staff asked if we might, and we chose to share our table with another diner, K. That lunch was a delight far more than I could have imagined. K chose to share about his life in Florence and as we all pitched in with our own stories, the conversation became a wellspring of inspiration and hope, a reminder that, though coming from different backgrounds, we all chose Florence to be the setting of our life’s meaningful pursuits. Strangers became friends because we all chose to share what we could. It was unplanned. Unscripted. Seemingly random. Yet I think to that lunch as an especially vibrant spot in the cosmos of choices we made that day.

If you are wondering about the food, the restaurant was packed and unsurprisingly so, because as Cameron said, “I can taste the love in this pasta!”

And who wouldn’t be up for love on a plate at a table with friends?

Thank you for the love, Dalla Lola! (Via della Chiesa 16r, 50125 Firenze)

Just before the New Year, i was asked about my writing practice, “what do you write about?”. I love this question for its directness and how it leads me to asking myself, “yes indeed, what do i write about? furthermore, why do i write? Why bother, what is it for?”

Easily, I do it for me.
Writing helps clear my thoughts, my experience of everything and anything.
It keeps me entertained because finding the best words to express myself gives me a thrill;
Writing also encourages me to question how my experiences are similar to others or different, and this helps me relate better; the world feels friendlier than it used to be.
When I write I somehow feel more connected to others, more human, most alive. Writing puts life in perspective, and not just any perspective, but meaningful perspective.

So this year, expect me to write more about the bits and bobs of my everyday experiences. I am a painter by vocation and my life is an expression of my creative spirit. My younger self confused this artistic spirit for the inconvenience and embarrassment that others made me feel for it —— too serious, too intense, too different, too much. Now that I have finally found my place in the sun, I am celebrating it all with curated words aimed at genuine expression and beautiful connection.

This is the epiphany I am grateful for on this Feast of the Epiphany.

My hope is that you enjoy my phrases and find a part of yourself and your experiences in any or all of them. May my practice be useful to you wherever you are in your precious life. There is a fountain of good amongst us all and i invite you to dip your cup and drink with me from this blessed wellspring.

#thepainterwhowrites #fromthelandofmaitri