I’ve never tried charcoal on wood before, until yesterday. I found a piece of wood from an old bureau that was cut apart and in the scrap pile. I sanded it down. Gave a coat of acrylic white, just for a base, and then drew with the charcoal. It went on so smoothly. It was as if the wood wanted it. It welcomed and held the charcoal and the rub of my fingers, like no other material I had used before. It was new and familiar at the same time.

It’s amazing what you can do, what you can learn, just by adding two words to your vocabulary — “until today.” I have never made brioche, until today. I have never seen the sun rise in those colors, until today. I have never dared to ask for it, until today. I never thought I could survive that, until today. I never thought myself capable of letting go, of becoming, until today. I never believed it was possible, until today.

Today is a day to try something new — or even again, for the first time — like love! It just might be strangely brand new and gloriously familiar, all at the same time. Today!