Ballou High School ​Visual Arts Department
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Brokenness

11/17/2015

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    Today I woke up and thought about brokenness. I suppose that word came to  my mind this morning because I woke up feeling wonderful and happy, allow me to explain. I am in the midst of the "Blizzard of 2016" and I am snowed in and alone here in this apartment, and yet I feel an amazing sense of contentment; something that I have not felt in years. I woke up and thought to myself, "You have come a long way." 
   You see, there was a time when being alone and snowed in during a blizzard would have been terrible for me. I would have invited a friend over or gone to someone else's place just to escape being alone. The fact that I am content with myself makes me proud and happy. 
    As I pondered all these thoughts this morning, my mind went to the word, "brokenness". I did not get to this place easily, I had to be broken in order to find myself.
   I recalled a blog that I wrote back in July of 2014 about brokenness. I read what I wrote back then and I smiled to myself. This morning I will re-post that blog. I would not be who I am today if it were not for 'brokenness'.
There is beauty in brokenness. 

Blog Posted on July 20, 2014


Pictureclose up of my "New York" Sketch
Today, I woke up early to go to church. As I showered and dressed to get ready to go, I was thinking to myself about all the things that took place in my life that got me to the point  where I am today. Some of the things are good, but many are bad. Why do bad things happen to good people? Why do some people have it easy and others struggle? Why are some kids rich, privileged, come from great families, great neighborhoods and others are born into poverty and broken homes?

I am sure that you have asked yourself this many times, that's because it is an age old question that many people have asked for centuries. It's philosophical in nature and too deep to get into on a daily blog, but allow me to just touch upon a thought I had this morning as I prepared to leave my apartment for the day. 

Because I am a thinker, it is the little things in my daily life that sparks or inspires intrinsic thoughts to me. For example, this morning I opened up a new bottle of perfume that I had purchased a few days ago. It is a designer fragrance that comes in a stylish, elegant bottle. As I opened the box to pull out the bottle of perfume, I admired the chic design of the packaging. When my hands touched the bottle, I appreciated its beauty and elegance. I anticipated how delightful the scent would be. Then I broke open the seal and there it was....the delectable scent that I love so much. I just stood there for a moment taking in the aroma and enjoying the beautiful fragrance.

As I spray the perfume on, a thought occurred to me. Yes, it is beautiful and elegant, but I had to break the seal of the bottle before I was able to enjoy the fragrance.

It is the same in my life. Sometimes, it takes those times when we feel 'broken' when in actuality we are just being form to be the best that we can be. I could not enjoy the perfume until I broke the seal.

At times, life breaks us. We have disappointments and heartaches. Parents let you down, loved ones, society, teachers, siblings, all let you down.You feel broken. You can stay in that state of brokenness and accept the hand that was dealt you (some do forever) or, you can take your brokenness and use it to your advantage. Allow it to strengthen you. Let it teach you contrast in life. Remember in an earlier blog that I said to you, it is the dark times, the hard times that teach us what we don't want. We would never know what we want in life unless we experienced what we don't want. They are life lessons. Being broken can be the best thing that ever happens to you, it has been for me and many others. It makes you stronger, trust me, I know first hand. Read about the lives below & allow the stories  to encourage you along your path of life.

*Beethoven lost his hearing but continued to compose music.

*J.R Rowling was on welfare but continued to write Harry Potter and she now is wealthy and famous

*Malala Yousafzai survived being shot in the head by the Taliban and has become a global advocate for human rights, women's rights and the right to education.

*Scientists such as Galileo, Louis Pasteur, Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, and Alexander Graham Bell all had severe learning disabilities. Einstein couldn't get a job. He was passed over repeatedly in life. He went on to do great things including winning the Nobel Prize.

*Steven Spielberg was denied by USC’s prestigious film school not once, but twice.

*As a sophomore, Michael Jordan was rejected from his high school’s varsity basketball team.

*Dr. Seuss’ first children’s book, And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street, was refused by 27 publishers.

The list goes on and on....trust me!

Sometimes it is out of the tragedy that great art is created. Listen to music...if it wasn't for heartache and pain we would not have beautiful songs, poems, dance, art, movies, theatre, operas etc...

I have been broken more than once in my life and because I do not give into failure I take my brokenness and I turn it into a sweet fragrance of peace, happiness and contentedness. It  has taught me independence, worthiness and raised my self-esteem.  Never let your outward circumstances dictate your future. Overcome, your circumstances...many before you have. I love you guys, have a blessed day. Ms. B. 

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Watercolor by Nabila: Senior 2014
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    Donna Bonavia

    I am an art educator and  a professional artist. I write this blog to guide my students in  (SEL) social, emotional, and academic development. S.E.L. is the District of Columbia Public School's priority because we believe that we must educate the whole child.


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    This work by Donna Bonavia is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
    Based on a work at www.msbonavia.com.
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