This is phenomenal.

For the longest time I've been struggling with a crippling depression because of some recent events, and I could never really figure out why. I had accomplished so much with my artwork, so many people kept telling me how amazing and awesome it is how my art has advanced over the years, and I kept wanting to do more. But, things just...stopped, one day. I felt so out of it. I felt lost, directionless. I always kept raising the bar each time I felt I accomplished something new but it wasn't helping. It just made me feel like each time I had to raise that bar I was losing more of myself. But, as these illustrations explain, that is exactly what happens if you keep raising that bar.

It shouldn't be about reaching a certain goal or milestone after a while. Its good for early on, but after that, one needs to evolve beyond "setting a bar," beyond "reaching a destination," one needs to be more than that. The new destination has to come from within, from the heart.

So many artists, furry and non-furry alike, who aspire to be what they want end up hating themselves and hating their artwork as time passes on. For a moment, I was starting to hate myself and hate my art as well. But, this really opened me up to the realization that it doesn't have to be that way. We allow ourselves as individuals shaped by criticism and commentary to allow poison into our hearts to cause drama, to cause confrontation, because that's our nature: we thrive on action, drama, and suffering. But art doesn't -need- to be about that, LIFE doesn't need to be about that. There is still love; love from within, love from the true essence of who we are. We need to cherish that, and cherish the positive nature of those who encourage us. But at the same time, not allow it to chain us to rigid ideals of "setting bars" and "reaching destinations."

We can be better. Evolve beyond stiff and narrow concepts like that.

Thank you for your encouragement, advice, and positive thought, even if it might not have been directly meant for me. I still love it, and enjoy it.

Thank you.

I really appreciate you taking the time both to be honest and to give insight into your own struggles. I'm glad this work had some meaning for yourself and I really hope you will continue to grow and adapt both as an artist and as a person. What am I saying though? I know you will. Everything in our lives is a teacher that is reflected internally and externally. Sometimes we just lose a little sight of that when we begin to believe in antagonism and stiff concepts.

Again, I really appreciate you taking the time and I want you to know something. These words can be yours. The feelings can be yours because you can allow them to be. I'm actually about to upload something that talks about just that actually..so..you know.. if you're ever curious...a-anyway!

I hope you find what makes you happy and brings yourself peace. Believe me, you deserve it.