"Ballerina"

(mixed media painting on canvas, 16X20, 2005)

"Almost nobody dances sober, unless they happen to be insane."
H. P. Lovecraft

"Ballet: Men wearing pants so tight that you can tell what religion they are."
Robin Williams

Just like most females, as a child, I briefly had dreams of becoming a ballerina. In America every child can take up any activity they please, no matter if they have a talent for it or not. However, in the then-Soviet Ukraine children could not continue on participating in activities that they were not good at. Although, I did get an opportunity to start dancing lessons as a little girl, I was asked to leave shortly thereafter. Apparently I danced to my own tune and didn’t fit the stereotype of an obedient Soviet mini-ballerina.

Looking back, I'm actually glad that it happened, because I would've wasted a lot of time trying to be something that I wasn't meant to be. Instead I ended up having more time to develop my artistic skills. This experience made me think about all the kids whose parents allow them to spread their talents thin, while attempting to do everything that their kids’ little hearts desire. I know that people are not meant to be good at everything. All of us have different talents and that's what makes our interaction with each other so interesting. Sometimes it is hard to recognize that one extra-special talent that you have and to figure out who you were actually meant to become in this life. It also takes a lot of effort to develop one’s talent, but the effort is always worth it. I know it’s unfashionable, but I still believe that people need to work hard to get somewhere instead of waiting for fame and fortune to find them.