10/29/2026
Recently, I was truly honored to be a guest speaker at The Art Institute of Chicago. Thank you to everyone who helped make this such a memorable experience. Thank you CalumetI Park and Chicago Park District, I am grateful and truly appreciate the opportunity.
As a child, I didn’t understand why my mother and teachers made the annual trip to the art museum a priority. I saw paintings, sculptures, and beautiful exhibits, but I didn’t understand the deeper meaning behind them. In fact, as a child, I found the art museum to be my least favorite. It was boring. It was too quiet.
However, as an adult, I’ve come to appreciate that those experiences were teaching me to look beyond what I see, to think more deeply, and to find beauty in the perspectives that exist beyond the canvas. As an adult, I understand that it’s never about the painting. It’s always about the artist.
I realize this is also how I move through life and engage with people. I’ve learned to look beyond what’s immediately visible, to listen beyond the words being spoken, and to recognize the experiences that shape who we are. There is always more beneath the surface, and sometimes the most meaningful things are the ones that require us to slow down and truly see. I was there to pour into the audience but the experience poured into me. Grateful.
If you haven’t visited the Art Institute, I encourage you to make the time. The Mary Cassatt’ Exhibit, interactive stations, creative spaces, and tours will help you create lifelong memories. It truly, is more than art, I It’s connection, reflection, and grounding. It’s an invitation to look a little closer, think a little deeper, and discover what we might otherwise miss.
Plan your visit: https://www.artic.edu
I’ll be going back soon. Inbox if you are interested in attending with me.
