We all believe in it in some form or another. Many, if not all, of us have even been labeled as such by someone close to us, whether it be a family member, a friend, or perhaps even by a complete stranger passing us by on the street. These labels, often carried with a sense of weight, can shape how we view ourselves and how we interact with the world around us. Perhaps a teacher once labeled you, igniting a spark of anger or sadness. Perhaps even your boss is a culprit of such labeling. Maybe some bosses embody this phenomenon exactly—these figures of authority, wielding their power, perhaps they are part of the design. In this intricate dance of human connection, these labels can serve as both mirrors reflecting our true selves and as masks that we wear in different aspects of our lives, complicating our identities and experiences in ways we often fail to acknowledge.

Maybe I’m using too big of words with deep meaning in my title that can simply be put into words we all heard once or more times in our everyday life, or even from a quote in a movie or two. Wording the title in simpler terms, it could read: “Evil doesn’t die. It just changes shape.” This idea resonates deeply with many of us, as we all have the capacity to change the shape of evil that lies within us. It’s a universal theme that touches on the complexity of human nature and the struggles we face internally.

Now, before you stop reading and go any further into my blog, thinking I’m writing a nonfiction horror story of today or a fictional horror tale reminiscent of a bad B-rated movie, let me clarify—I am writing about myself. This is my true life skeleton in the closet story. It’s a narrative that explores the darker parts of my existence, the moments when I’ve grappled with my own demons, and how they’ve altered my perception of the world and myself.

Instead of portraying a clichéd horror story filled with monsters and gore, I’m delving into the more subtle and often overlooked horrors of real life—those that lurk in the shadows of our minds and hearts. It’s about reflecting on the choices I made, the circumstances that shaped me, and how acknowledging these elements has allowed me to transform my understanding of evil—not as an external force, but as something very personal and ever-evolving within me.

Through sharing my journey, I hope to create a connection with readers who may have faced their own battles. These experiences, though deeply personal, can resonate universally—illustrating our shared struggles and the inevitable changes we undergo over time. So, I invite you to join me in this exploration, to confront the complexities of life that aren’t always easy to face but are essential for growth and healing.

If I sparked your interest, I invite you to read the next chapter of my journey on the very next blog. This exploration into my creative process is more than just a tale; it is a reflection of the profound experiences that have shaped my identity as an artist. Because this story I’m writing defines me as the artist I am today, it needs to be in chapters, each one unveiling a layer of my growth, my struggles, and my darkness. Yes, an artist was born from what you have read above, nurtured by darkness life has carried me into and perseverance. I will share more details, revelations, and the battles fought in Chapter two, where the journey deepens and the path ahead becomes darker, inviting you to walk alongside me as I navigate the twists and turns of artistic expression and my life of fight or flight.

I invite you to continue to the next chapter.

Sincerely,

David L

Healing with art

0hi0artist@healing-with-art.com