Painting was only part of the healing during "Breathe and Paint". If you remember part of my hesitation to walk through Gilda's Clubs' front door was being with all of the people who had or have had cancer. So I want to tell you about the kind people I met in class.

Let me start by saying that I met and painted with some of the most amazing people there. As we all sat around the table each with our paper and paint and various painting accourtements, I began to realize there was so much more happening than just pretty colors on paper. Each and every person brought in so much positive energy, it just wrapped around us. I'm thinking now that when people are commited to their own healing, as everybody there was, it can only happen with positive energy.

We all had our not so good days, tough days, days of hard news, or just not feeling well and if that were the case, there was always someone who would reach out with heart felt words to help lift low spirits. Of course there were mostly times of sharing the good and the funny. Often it was funny only to those of us who had been there, and what a release to have those with whom we could share what we could not share with anyone else.

Being with all of these people, all ages and in various stages of their cancer journey brought a gift. A declaration of the beauty of life and the honor of being able to live it.