2017 has been a year of self reflection, renewal, and personal growth for me. After saying goodbye to my life in Miami and the people there and starting a new one in Aruba with my husband, I dipped my toes back into creating again. In my last blog post, I mentioned how healing it was for me and slowly, I let myself open up to the root of what I was going through in secret.

If you haven't read my last post, I give insight into how and why "Heal Yourself" came to be. "Relinquish" would be the second chapter to that.

When you heal yourself, you also have to let go of what was hurting you. This piece represents letting go. I chose to draw two figures, both resembling two parts of just one person. The figure in the background resembles the inner consciousness or inner self. The figure in the foreground holds an open box, releasing what she has been holding onto which are three butterflies tied down with string. She looks reluctantly away while the inner self cuts them free.

Butterflies have many symbolic interpretations, one of that being the soul and the other being life struggles that people have endured to emerge as a better person. I had been holding onto the family that decided to no longer be in my life. I still kept hoping it was just a test and I was hurting myself in the process. To be free and move on with my life, I had to cut them loose. This whole year has been built up to that moment and is fitting that this is the last piece of the year.

I am excited for the new year and what it will bring. I have learned a lot about myself and am becoming the person I have always wanted to be.

I hope to see you next year too.