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Grace Under Pressure

©2011 Bill Werle
Acrylic 11 x 14

There is something so graceful about a Swan floating along. Whether it's the pond at your local park or the wild rivers of Yellowstone they always maintain a certain regalness about them. Nothing seems to phase them. Not the kids throwing bread in their face or the 50 jackass tourists chasing them down the river bank. They maintain. 

Some of you may or may not know that I work with a charity called Cancer Patient Care. I donate paintings and 10% of sales to them. Another group that I really like is the BadAss Project (disclaimer: I am not affiliated with them). If you think life is tough then you need to read a few stories here.

The Badass Project - Get Inspired, Make a Difference

If nothing else it will put life in perspective. The worse times in my life were from 16-20. Too much partying, too much self-pity, my family disintegrated, I survived a serious violent crime committed against me and overall I became someone I hated. It took a good 10-15 yrs to wrap my head around all that and move on. Wah f-ing wah.... You read stuff like the Badass Project and it's like, "Seriously Bill, put your big boy pants on and get your ass in gear!" We need these reminders that life could be SO much more difficult.

I lived with and helped a friend that had Muscular Dystrophy. He was Jerry's poster child in 1973 or 74. MD essentially makes your muscles weak and eventually immobilizes you. My friend was never supposed to live past a week when he was born, then it became five. He's now 47.... I had to help him out of his chair sometimes, help him out of his car and god help him if he fell because he couldn't break his fall. That friend lived his life fully though. We went to concerts, Vikings games, to the lake, etc... life with him was fun. He lived because he understood the alternative.

The beauty of the BadAss project is that they highlight and emphasize these individuals because, like my friend, they rose above their situation and thrived. Now that's kick ass inspiration from serious Badasses!

Who or what has inspired you in your life?