I found Emily S.’s article “Brush Strokes” extremely effective because it reflects on what life leaves upon our skin and what it means. She writes, “Birth is the canvas” and our “death, the frame.” In other words, a painting happens throughout our life and is completed when we die. It is then “framed and put on a wall,” as if it’s a new masterpiece. Additionally, it may seem as if there’s nothing to every mark on our body, but each is “a proof of life” that we went through, with conflicts that turned into unforgettable moments. Yes, some scars are reminders of a horrific event, but that just makes us a stronger person. It’s also evidence that we took the pain and didn’t give up.

Reading this article changed the way I thought about life and reminded me that it isn’t supposed to be easy.