Gratitude Series~ Dwight Grissom

This post is part of an ongoing gratitude series
celebrating people who've given me a huge creative boost.

Today, and everyday I am grateful for Dwight Grissom.

I've not blogged much about my husband Dwight.
He's a quiet man; a beautiful soul with a brilliant wit, and he prefers to stay in the background.

I warned him that that he would be the focus of today's gratitude series post. I told him it was time I "outed" him.

His grinned and asked, "May I rebut?"

I think not.

I am truly blessed. So many creatives complain about their significant others who do not support, and even thwart their creative ventures.

Dwight has always been supportive of anything I wanted to create. (Heck, he even made me my first easel.) And though Dwight couldn't always see where I was going, he always respected that I needed to take the journey. He has always given me the space, both spiritual and physical, in which to create.

When the art market took a nose dive after 911, Dwight suggested we find a smaller house so that I could continue to create art. Thankfully, I rebounded, and we didn't have to move.

He's usually the first person with whom I share my work. Every day I drag him in the studio to get his feedback. He doesn't coddle me. His criticism is kind and constructive. I may not always like what he has to say but I always appreciate it. OK well most of the time.

In May of last year, Dwight was in a terrible accident and it really knocked the wind out of both of us. Fortunately, he's made a remarkable recovery. Dwight's gone from being completely bedridden to walking again. As of this post, he's still not able to return to work, and it looks like he will be deemed permanently disabled.

But Dwight's not giving up. His attitude has been exceptional. He's just truly grateful to still be alive and is taking an active role in regaining full mobility.

Around the same time the economy tanked. Financially, most people were understandably more concerned with basic survival purchases than buying art. So we were hit with a double whammy. I'm thinking it might be time for me to return to the corporate world. But Dwight says, "You've come this far, you can't give up now."

He's right.

And so I continue the journey, inspired by Dwight and profoundly grateful for his generous support.

I am truly blessed.