Facing The Unknown With Bravery
This painting has deep meaning for me. If you haven’t heard about the Anglerfish, here is the short version. A nature videographer captured an anglerfish (normally only found in the deepest, darkest parts of the ocean) swimming straight up to the surface. They actually can’t survive this far up and she was likely in pain as she approached the surface but she did it anyway. She later died from the depressurization.
So my internet feed has been full of people crying over this fish 🤣. Including me… like, I know why I’m crying but why is everyone else crying? It’s such a moving scene… was this anglerfish already dying? Did she know going to the surface would kill her?
For me, as an autistic individual, I relate with a desire to stay in the darkness, to avoid the surface world. It’s safe in the depths. It’s safe in the darkness with only the light you produce yourself. But everyday I take deep breaths and begin my journey to the surface. Every social gathering feels like a journey to the surface. But even thought the experience is painful sometimes - the joy of the surface is unmatched.
When I look at this anglerfish, I think that she is brave. I think she wanted adventure. I think she wanted to do something none of her friends understood. I think she wanted to see the light of the sun for the first time. I think she popped her head out of the water momentarily, looked around, and saw how beautiful it really was. And then she died.
30×30
This painting has deep meaning for me. If you haven’t heard about the Anglerfish, here is the short version. A nature videographer captured an anglerfish (normally only found in the deepest, darkest parts of the ocean) swimming straight up to the surface. They actually can’t survive this far up and she was likely in pain as she approached the surface but she did it anyway. She later died from the depressurization.
So my internet feed has been full of people crying over this fish 🤣. Including me… like, I know why I’m crying but why is everyone else crying? It’s such a moving scene… was this anglerfish already dying? Did she know going to the surface would kill her?
For me, as an autistic individual, I relate with a desire to stay in the darkness, to avoid the surface world. It’s safe in the depths. It’s safe in the darkness with only the light you produce yourself. But everyday I take deep breaths and begin my journey to the surface. Every social gathering feels like a journey to the surface. But even thought the experience is painful sometimes - the joy of the surface is unmatched.
When I look at this anglerfish, I think that she is brave. I think she wanted adventure. I think she wanted to do something none of her friends understood. I think she wanted to see the light of the sun for the first time. I think she popped her head out of the water momentarily, looked around, and saw how beautiful it really was. And then she died.
30×30
This painting has deep meaning for me. If you haven’t heard about the Anglerfish, here is the short version. A nature videographer captured an anglerfish (normally only found in the deepest, darkest parts of the ocean) swimming straight up to the surface. They actually can’t survive this far up and she was likely in pain as she approached the surface but she did it anyway. She later died from the depressurization.
So my internet feed has been full of people crying over this fish 🤣. Including me… like, I know why I’m crying but why is everyone else crying? It’s such a moving scene… was this anglerfish already dying? Did she know going to the surface would kill her?
For me, as an autistic individual, I relate with a desire to stay in the darkness, to avoid the surface world. It’s safe in the depths. It’s safe in the darkness with only the light you produce yourself. But everyday I take deep breaths and begin my journey to the surface. Every social gathering feels like a journey to the surface. But even thought the experience is painful sometimes - the joy of the surface is unmatched.
When I look at this anglerfish, I think that she is brave. I think she wanted adventure. I think she wanted to do something none of her friends understood. I think she wanted to see the light of the sun for the first time. I think she popped her head out of the water momentarily, looked around, and saw how beautiful it really was. And then she died.
30×30