• SALK Day 130: Art by Kerry Mitchell

    I met Kerry Mitchell last year at Podcamp AZ when he attended my session on copyright basics.  He sponsored a day to promote his artwork.  I thought he might be a painter or a photographer.  Nothing prepared me for the experience that is his artwork on his website.

    At first, I was captivated by the vibrant colors he often uses – electric pinks, blues, reds, purples, and golds.  As I looked closer at his pieces, I noticed the beautiful intricacies of his designs.  I do not know how he creates these gorgeous works, but I love them.  Mitchell has created hundreds of works of digital art.  These are some of my favorites.

    Ascension:  This was the first piece that caught my eye.  At first it reminded me as a seashell but it drew me in when I saw the detailed repeating swirl patterns.  Every time I look at it I see another aspect of his art that I did not notice previously.

    Blues in the Night:  This piece reminds me of the night sky in the darkest of night as it is seen in rural areas where the city lights do not drown out the dimmer stars.  I think this is one of the most majestic pieces he’s done.  It has a lovely balance of power and peace within it.

    Compared to What?:  Mitchell said this piece was inspired by the song “Compared to What” as performed by Les McCann and Eddie Harris.  It’s a delightful song and Mitchell turns it into a beautiful mix if purple, gold, and pink.  I would happily turn an entire wall of my future office into this piece.

    Mitchell’s prints are available for purchase in sizes ranging from 8”x10” to 24”x30”.  Larger prints are available upon request.  Many of his works deserve to be displayed in larger form so you can take in all the dynamic elements that make his work so remarkable.

    Sponsor A Law Kid is my endeavor to pay for my last semester of law school. Today’s sponsor is Kerry Mitchell.  For more information about Sponsor A Law Kid or to see what days are still available for sponsorship, visit my Sponsor A Law Kid page.

  • SALK Day 129: The Miracle of Recovery

    Today’s sponsor is my dear friend who is celebrating 22 years of sobriety this week.  He asked me to write about recovery from addiction.  I’ve had the privilege of knowing a handful of incredible people who are recovering from addictions to various substances.  It is amazing to hear their stories about how their lives used to be and to see them now as functional and successful people.  Most of my friends who have done this needed help from a recovery program like Alcoholics Anonymous.

    AA Big Book
    Image via Wikipedia

    The transformation that people in recovery can experience is incredible.  One of my friends used to be a prostitute when she was using, and now she’s a nanny for a family with a special needs child.  Another one of my friends used to be a misanthropic drug dealer who sold drugs to college kids to support his habit, and now he’s close to finishing his college degree and has aspirations of going to graduate school.  He’s also one of the most thoughtful and gentle people I’ve ever met.

    A few years ago, I invited one of my friends who is in recovery to dinner with my parents.  He is one of the kindest and warm-hearted people you will ever meet and he does not hide the fact that he’s in recovery.  Afterwards, as Mom and I were washing the dishes, she turned to me and asked, “Did he used to be really messed up?”  She couldn’t believe that this wonderful intelligent person that I’m proud to call my friend used to be drunk and/or high on a daily basis.

    These are only a handful of the stories of recovery.  Dozens of AA Speaker Tapes of people’s stories of recovery are available for free on iTunes.  These are people who were so full of pain and shame, who had no self-esteem, and were so uncomfortable in their skin that they had a compulsion to medicate their feelings with drugs and alcohol, regardless of the consequences.  It’s amazing that the found the help they needed and stuck with the program to get sober.

    And it’s hard work.  I’ve heard that programs like Alcoholics Anonymous are simple, but not easy.  They require a willingness to be uncomfortable and to learn to live in a new way where people don’t have the option of self-medicating to escape their discomfort.  It requires being willing to walk through fear and not self-sabotage their potential for success.  The work is worth it, because recovery comes with hope, freedom, and the ability to dream again.

    Tonight, I asked my friend who, if all goes according to plan, will be celebrating 22 years of sobriety this week what advice he would give to someone who is contemplating recovery or who is new to the program.  He said, “You’re worth it.  You’re worth giving it a try.  You have nothing else to lose.  Give yourself permission not to self-sabotage.”

    Sponsor A Law Kid is my endeavor to pay for my last semester of law school. Today’s sponsor is Anonymous.  For more information about Sponsor A Law Kid or to see what days are still available for sponsorship, visit my Sponsor A Law Kid page.

  • SALK Day 117: Happy Birthday John!!

    My classmate, Linda, sponsored a day to give special tribute to her husband, John.

    John is a retired attorney and the patriarch of a family of attorneys, and thus, he has put his birthday celebration “on hold” every year for the last fifteen years because it would interfere with someone’s law school finals.  His three children and two son-in-laws are attorneys, and now his beautiful wife will soon join the ranks of the legal community.  John’s passion for the legal profession and for helping people has inspired everyone around him to follow in his footsteps.

    Happy birthday to a remarkable and genuine man who his deeply loved by his entire family.  May your day be filled with joy.

    Photo courtesy of Linda Day

    Sponsor A Law Kid is my endeavor to pay for my last semester of law school. Today’s sponsor is Linda Day.  For more information about Sponsor A Law Kid or to see what days are still available for sponsorship, visit my Sponsor A Law Kid page.