Woman vs Wild

When you let people see you at your worst, you don’t have to wear the mask so much. Sad people often look exactly like happy people. The most exhausting activity is pretending to be what you know you aren’t.
We are so tangled up in a world of toxic positivity that I think many are ashamed to actually feel anything else.
I don’t know if I can count how many times
I was sad
But I told everyone
I was tired.

This collection of mask portraits is probably the most dangerous and revealing work I have done to date. It started with a portrait my sister had taken of herself. It was a mood, there was feeling but it was only telling half the story of this woman. There was something missing.

Every body has a little bit of goodness and a little bit of brokenness. Lightness and darkness. Ignorance and knowledge. Human and savage.  Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Hyde.

The dual nature of humanity is something that has been explored by mankind for thousands of years.

“Some days
I am more wolf
than woman
and I am still learning how to stop apologizing
for my wild.” -N.Gill

There’s a Cherokee story where a grandfather teaches his grandson an important lesson:
“There is a battle going on inside all of us. It is a battle between two wolves that live inside us.
One is evil: anger, fear, envy, sorrow, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, ego
The other is good: joy, courage, peace, love, hope, stillness, compassion, love.
Which wolf wins?
...The one you feed."

Whatever wolf you choose there will always be someone to tell you that you are wrong. Fear and self doubt will eat you alive. Don’t give your power away. Stay aware of how you allow your thoughts to affect you. You always have a choice.

Feed the good wolf.