On perspective and color: a study worth a lifetime

This sketch had been in my folder since last week. I was sort of waiting to see what it had to express. And today, the start of the last month of the year, felt appropriate. I woke up with a slight shift of mindset. Regardless of how hard these last days have been, today I wanted a change of perspective. A bit of color.

First thing in the morning, I took a nice, long shower. The best kind. Of course, all while listening to some soul-wrenching music. The warm, timid rays of sunlight entered through the window and touched my skin, as a promise of good weather and better times ahead. I sang out loud, syncing the movement of my vocal cords to the emotions in the songs. The water was just the right temperature, and it washed away many of my worries.

Afterward, I nourished my body with a good breakfast. Note to self: I must buy more fruits, so the next one is even better. I've been craving nature, in all its forms. Later, I sat in silence, in a good posture, and made an effort to feel grounded. I took pleasure in the simple act of breathing. I delighted in the sensation of the clothing on the skin. I tuned in with my true self.

That simple act, changing my perspective, helped me get through the day in a good mood. I'll try to put to good use my ability to hyper-focus so that I can live with more joy. The artwork I show you today portrays exactly that: me, being able to look at things from outside the frame.

Color is another magical subject around today's experience. You see, colors denote the presence of light, an element without which we cannot truly live. When I'm able to notice colors more intensely, I'm happier. In the artwork I show you today, I included some key tones to send a message to whoever's willing to listen.

Yellow dominates the scene. It represents energy, which can be transformed into whatever impulses we want, good or bad. Energy can be warm or overwhelming. When I'm in the manic phase of my disorder, I'd want to funnel the excess energy into activities that benefit me overall. Blue and purple, on the other hand, balance the scale with soothing, cold vibes. It represents both the devastating sadness and the serenity that comes after.

There's a window and a mirror. As you can see, outside the room the ambiance appears somewhat bleak and haunting. Weirdly enough, there's still light and brightness inside. I wish it could be that way in my mind, no matter what happens in the outer world.

The wooden floor epitomizes nature, the ground we need, the connections we cannot sever. The wooden floor holds a bathtub. The blood, pooling inside of it, represents my heritage, my burden, my pain. I can see it all outside of my body, and I can act on it. Then, the little details: the bottles, the towel, the flowers; they embody the elements that keep me grounded and remind me that life is worth living.

Tomorrow, I'll go outside. I'll walk for a long time, I'll delight in yet another day alive.