I am so grateful to have had your article on "jealousy" as part of my morning devotional today. I feel like you were interviewing me when you wrote it and I thank you for sharing your honesty and the depth of how this comes about. I don't like this feeling, and know that I am not about that arena, usually, but I have been plagued with such in the last months. Most of it is born our of my need to belong,not even approval, but to be a part of the group. Lately I feel that I can't catch up or keep up. I found myself needing to go back to work after the loss of a family business and I work for myself as a professional Interior Designer which takes a lot of energy to hustle business. I guess my "jealousy" is also born out of the resentment that I can't paint full time: So now that this confession is out, I do have gifts: I am studying in a group with Daniel J. Keys, and I am setting goals to paint each day even if it is 1/2hour. I only really want God's approval, His direction, my desires to learn and paint,and the friendship of you and the art community. Without Daniel I would not have been introduced to this site, My American Artist, my blog, web sites, etc. Someday, I want to feel confident enough to teach, too. www.karlenekayryan.com: www.karleneryan.com; www.karlenekayryan.blogspot.com