A few years ago, one weekend when I had both energy and craft supplies that needing using, I decided to cover the sides of the drawers in my bedroom dresser. (The results are pictured, above). Absolutely no one sees these, except me, and even I don’t really see them, as I don’t often crane my neck to look at the side of my drawers when I’m pulling them open to grab a sweater or socks. But, on the rare occasion I do catch a glimpse of this hidden detail, I smile.

This project is a great analogy for my life right now. I’m working on parts of myself that aren’t readily apparent (sometimes, not even to me), but I’m putting in the work nonetheless. There are days I wish the progress was more visible or blog post worthy, but I know that’s not the point of the work. The point is: my efforts are adding color and beauty to corners of my life that were previously ignored. And there’s not an inch of my proverbial “dresser” that doesn’t deserve that kind of attention, because every drawer holds something valuable.

Art is not only what ends up on a wall or otherwise on display. Sometimes the greater challenge is to turn our attention inward, to embellish the hardworking, less appreciated parts of ourselves. There’s beauty there, too.