The ability to breathe in and out means you are alive but to use your life to impact others is the life of a Warrior. All of the children, men, and women in my project have been challenged with different life-changing or life-altering illness, painful experiences, and syndromes that require daily attention. Our Warriors learned their diagnosis and were challenged with a fight for their lives; some are fighting right now.
When I started this project all I wanted to do was give a gift to each person; a painting of their favorite things. I would ask questions about a symbol or item, animal, or place, would get them through each day, or a n animal they loved, their favorite colors, or places they would love to see. The answers are always very vague, which gives me creative freedom. I read their Warrior;s Bio, over and over, and look through their pages, and website or links, looking for ways I can incorporate their life into this painting. I also have very personal symbols of my own like the owl, my symbol of protection, and the lotus, my symbol for childhood cancer remission. I also like to hide a feather into the paintings, my symbol for heaven and that angels are nearby.
Sometimes the painting takes only a few hours, sometimes it takes months; I paint until the 'feeling' it's done comes over me. I then turn the painting over, write all the names of every person who has ever donated to my project. I write the names of the 'Fallen Warriors' in a special spot and place it on my wall until it's ready to ship.
When I breathe in and out- it's to breathe life into this project, to gift the people who teach me what Life is all about. Thank you for your Warrior Ways.
Aubre'