Whenever I need a pick-me-up to remind myself of m...

Whenever I need a pick-me-up to remind myself of my core values, a visit to an art gallery always serves its purpose. Particularly the National Portrait Gallery. A stroll through this gallery takes me on a journey into the past and helps me wake myself in the present. The true value of visiting the NPG is this. By the time you have viewed portraits through the ages to the modern day, when you get home and view your own portrait in the mirror, certain aspirations for yourself reveal themselves and you realize this: I, too am a person of value like every other person in the universe; what will be my contribution to society and what I am doing about it? The NPG is invariably presents a wo derful location to re-set and re-focus one's own life and purpose! It offered me last week, for instance, an opportunity to review the masters of great art in painting and to view new images of modern photographers. As an aspiring artitist myself, I gained much from each portrait. As a human being I realize my life is my own and my presence in the universe is unique like my DNA and my face. The NPG reminds me I, too, have a life, a purpose, and a role to play however small as a mother of sons grown up and flown the nest, therefore how vital it is now to redefine my own purpose and direction in society as well as my own life. The people in the portraits featured at the NPG made/make a difference and a valuable contribution in their lifetimes and some still do. I think we all desire that opportunity and privledge: how is the question! By coming to know the ways of others, through Art, for example, it can help inspire our own way forward. Portraits offer excellent insight and opportunity for contemplation. And, hopefully sometime later positive action for the good!