Love, Presence, and a Bright New Day
This story feels more personal than what I usually share, but it carries a truth close to my heart. I hope it finds resonance with you.
This artwork has been hanging beside my desk for a long time, quietly keeping me company as I work. But this morning, I paused and really looked at it — and a thought arose: Why haven’t I shared the story behind this piece? Although the Chuu.Land collection was born last year, this illustration still feels so alive to me, as if it’s speaking directly to my heart. At first glance, it may look simple: a bright, sunny girl with hair that radiates like the sun itself, surrounded by playful dots, arms open in joy. But for me, it carries layers of meaning. Her golden hair, glowing like sunlight, symbolizes warmth and renewal, while her presence embodies pure happiness and lighthearted energy. Each time I look at her, I feel recharged, as though her joy is contagious.
The inspiration behind this piece, and the whole Chuu.Land collection, comes from my mother. She has been living with dementia for over a decade. In the early days, it began with small things: forgetting to turn off the water tap, asking the same question again. Then one summer, she started repeating the same question within such a short span of time that we finally realized something was truly wrong. That was what triggered us to take her to the doctor for tests. At the time, my sisters and I were overwhelmed, caught up in our own sadness and fears, the endless what ifs: What if one day she couldn’t remember us? What if she forgot my name? What if she got lost? Looking back, I realize that while we were grieving the changes we saw, we overlooked the feelings she carried inside. She hid her emotions well, but deep down she must have been the saddest of all, afraid of forgetting the people she loved most. Long before any doctor confirmed it, she already knew. In her own quiet way, she tried to hold on, even buying me an unusually big birthday gift, as if she wanted to leave me with something precious while she still could. Remembering this now, I see her strength and love shining through even in those hidden moments.
Looking back now, I can see things differently. Yes, there has been sadness and grief, but blessings have quietly accompanied us all along the way. When my father passed away in 2023, it was a tower moment for our whole family, including my mother. Yet the very next day, she had already let go of the memory of the funeral. At first it was painful to witness, but later I realized it was also a gift. She was spared from carrying the heaviest grief of her life. In her own way, she was protected. For me, the grief took much longer to process, and it became a deep part of my healing journey. Walking through it alongside her, I learned that even in painful times, there can be hidden blessings, and light still finds a way through.
One of the greatest lessons for me has been how to love without conditions, to give care and affection without expecting anything in return. It’s something many of us spend our whole lives learning, especially when we are used to seeking approval from our parents or shaping our lives around what they ask of us. In this journey, I came to understand a different way: a kind of love that doesn’t need to be earned, proven, or mirrored back. It is love that simply gives, freely and purely.
Another profound lesson my mother has given me is how to live fully in the present moment. Today, she is very much like the girl in this artwork: bright, carefree, and full of laughter. She doesn’t dwell on the past or worry about the future. She simply laughs, plays games, chats with us, and enjoys the love around her. Watching her, I realize that presence itself is a form of wisdom, a quiet surrender that trusts life as it is. In this way, she has become my greatest teacher. Her energy is like the sun, radiating joy and warmth, reminding me each day to shift from fear into trust, from narrow worries into a wider perspective.
That is why this artwork was born, and why the Chuu.Land collection exists. It is my way of honoring her spirit and keeping her light alive through art. For me, this piece is a reminder that every day truly is a bright new day — and that joy, gratitude, and wonder can always be found in the present moment. If you’d like to explore more pieces from the Chuu.Land collection, you can find them here.
Please also visit my external blog ARTY GROW N GLOW.