Creating visual and literary art helps me make sense of our world. So much of the world is out of my control and incomprehensible that I look toward introspective practices to understand what I experience. Paying attention to my environs, from the earthworm at risk of drowning in a bike path puddle to my schizophrenic neighbors, is like studying a puzzle piece to know where it fits into the puzzle. I believe the better we know ourselves, then the better we can function in the world. Being outside is an important part of my practice. Often just a neighborhood walk or time in the garden will attune my senses to details and put my mind at rest by peeling back protective and societal constraints that so often hinder creativity.