Steps ForwardRocking gently back and forth in an old wooden rocking chair, I take a break from my journal. As I listen to the creaking hum of the tired oak tree singing a blue song, I think about the art of writing, painting with my words, and wondering what gets in the way of my creative practice. An unsettling sense of unworthiness floats into my consciousness and I wonder why I feel this way. Searching through my thoughts a fog envelops me like a blanket not to comfort me but rather to protect feelings of inadequacy. I take a deep breath and inhale the comforting sage scent of our living room. I continue in this process of self-discovery; an old black and white photo on a shelf catches my attention. I see an image of myself as a smiling, confident little girl, which stirs anxiety within me. Following the confusing whispers in my mind, I return to the day in the snapshot and consider what happens. In the photo, a straw hat sits atop my light, curly hair. I see marching boots on my little feet worn from childhood fun days. In one hand I hold ac...