You know that specific, heavy silence when you finally come home after a crisis? Maybe you’re sitting in a room that feels like it belongs to a stranger, staring at a blank wall and wondering how your life shifted so drastically.
Whether it’s the exhaustion after a life-threatening illness or the sheer shock of a sudden loss, you’re in that “what now?” space.
You feel the frustration, the anger, and that daunting sense of being utterly lost. I’ve been there. I’ve sat in that same silence, coming back from the brink of illness, only to face the devastation of losing over R400,000 (approximately $22,000 USD) worth of my professional art materials.
I know the feeling of wanting to scream at the horizon because the path forward seems invisible.
Finding the Tools
Right now, I’m starting over again. While I’m working in the background to recover what was taken from me after being lied to by a moving company, I realised I had a choice: focus on the loss, or focus on the light.
I didn’t have my oils or my canvases, and I’m the first to admit I’m no “Photoshop pro.” But I have my phone, some hard-earned skills, and a sunset outside Tsitsikamma that refused to be ignored.
These photos are my way of fighting back. I created them because when you’ve been in a hospital room for too long, or when you’re too tired to even think about going outside, you need the beauty to come to you.
I’m using these rudimentary tools and the skills I have to remind us both that there is still a world worth seeing beyond the depression and the heartache.
Taking Back Your Power
Let’s face it—right now, you are your own hero. By doing something small but powerful, you’re taking back some form of power, even if you feel like you’ve lost that ability or you’re in the deepest depths of despair over what has happened.
You don’t have to fix your whole life today; you just need one small win to reclaim your space. When you’re adjusting to devastation, a small positive change can be the anchor you need.
Maybe that means:
Bringing the outside in: If going for a walk feels impossible, let these sunsets be the window you aren’t ready to open yet.
One simple frame: Place a reminder on your wall that even when the day ends, the transition itself is beautiful.
Choosing yourself: Whether it’s a printable for your home or just a nice top to make you feel human again—do it because you deserve to feel worthy.
You don’t have to support my shop; you can support someone else’s. But please, do something kind for yourself today.
Despite what has happened to you, you are still amazing, you are still deserving, and you deserve to be heard.
I’m starting over. You’re starting over. Let’s do it toward the light.
If you’d like to support me on my journey and you really love these photos, please go to my Etsy shop. They’re prints, you can have them printed professionally and framed. Or you can use them as background images on your phone or laptop.
https://marykeblomart.etsy.com/listing/4500003511