Over the past year, my life has become much lighter.
Last year I sold the home I owned in Florida. Since then, letting go of my possessions has been a slow and thoughtful process rather than something I rushed. Each time I returned, I found a few more things that no longer felt essential.
When I was back in Florida last month, I made another big decision. I sold my car before beginning this next chapter in Panama.
Today, almost everything I own fits into a couple of suitcases and a backpack. A very dear friend is holding onto a small collection of the things that matter most to me, but beyond that, I've released nearly everything else.
What has surprised me most is not what I've given up, but what I've gained.
During the six months I spent living in Mexico, I realized I hardly missed the things I had left behind. Instead, their absence created an openness inside me. Without the constant presence of possessions to organize, maintain, or think about, I found myself paying closer attention to what was happening around me.
I became more present.
I listened more carefully to the people I met. I noticed small moments that I might have overlooked before. Conversations became richer. My curiosity deepened. Those experiences became some of the greatest inspiration for the series of paintings I created during my residency.
I've had many of you ask when the gallery exhibition in Mexico will be.
At this point, I still haven't heard back from the owner of the gallery connected with the residency, so I don't yet know when that exhibition will happen. Rather than waiting, I've decided to keep moving forward.
That decision has brought me to Panama.
I'd heard so many wonderful things about the wildlife and the abundance of nature here that I wanted to experience it for myself. I've only been here a few days, but I can already tell this place has something to teach me.
Large stretches of untouched landscape surround where I'm staying. Every morning begins with an orchestra of birdsong. The sky is constantly changing, never looking quite the same twice.
From my window I watch local fishermen take their boats out for the day's catch while birds circle overhead, waiting for their own opportunity. Down the beach, families and friends gather each evening to laugh, swim, and play fútbol barefoot in the sand. There is a simple joy in watching them that reminds me how much beauty exists in everyday life.
Even the beach itself feels like a work of art.
The shoreline is a mixture of white and black sand. I learned that the darker sand comes from volcanic rock that has been broken down by the Pacific over countless years. The shifting patterns and textures left behind by each wave are endlessly fascinating. I find myself stopping often just to study them.
The people here have already left an impression on me as well.
I've taken several taxis since arriving, and each driver has insisted on helping with my luggage or groceries before I even have a chance to ask. My Spanish continues to improve, opening doors to conversations that would have once passed me by.
Just yesterday, the man repairing my mini-split air conditioner told me about a nearby waterfall that I should visit. Before he left, he proudly showed me photos of his daughter, his face lighting up as he talked about her.
Moments like these remind me that, despite our different languages, cultures, and life experiences, we share so much more than we often realize. Kindness needs very little translation.
One lesson Mexico taught me was that my best work comes when I stop trying to force it.
Here in Panama, I want to move more gently. I want to listen carefully to the landscape, to the wildlife, and to the people I meet along the way. I want to give each place enough time to reveal itself before I try to capture it with paint.
I still plan to return to Mexico in October. While I hope the residency exhibition comes together, I'm also excited to explore other opportunities to share this body of work.
For now, though, I'm exactly where I need to be.
With fewer possessions than I've ever owned, I somehow feel more full than ever.
Thank you for continuing to follow this journey. If you'd like to see behind-the-scenes glimpses of life in Panama and be the first to see the artwork inspired by this experience, I'd love to have you join my mailing list.