"This painting came about as I was rendering service in a way that I was finding particularly draining. I alone shouldered the burden of serving so much that I dreaded having to help. I couldn’t understand why something that should make me feel good was actually making me feel worse.
I came to the conclusion that by making myself boundlessly available, my own needs were not being met. I imagined that in a perfect world we would all take care of each other’s needs, so that we in turn can help someone else. Regrettably we aren’t there yet. Periodically we need to take stock of our own situation and recharge ourselves, so that we can serve more effectively. Service is, in effect, a way to learn the balance between giving and taking. Just as we shouldn’t be forever taking, we also shouldn’t be giving until the tank is empty. It’s okay to have boundaries. It’s okay to acknowledge one’s limits. We can serve best when we have something in reserve from which to draw."
