I have a studied at a typical
Soviet school where was no place to religious or superstitious thought.
As a teenager I was interested
in spiritual things, healing with hands, etc (like many other teenagers). I
had many friends with similar interests, and some people felt that I can help
them with hands - I practiced it quite often with good results, and I loved
the idea of being a grand-grand-childe of a woman with magic powers, and the
same name and the same father's name. Every teenager loves to be special, and
also rebel against official faith (atheism).
Later I "grew up" and
started a normal grown-up life with not much thinking about spirituality, God,
power of thought, etc.
But after the birth of my first
daughter I felt some traits of my grandmother in myself again. Even though I
have been painting for all my life, it always has been just a hobby. And wise
people separate the hobbies and work, don't they? I have a degree in languages
and a diploma in gymnastics and dance, and I work in both of those fields. It
satisfies very well some of my creative and communicative needs, but then I
clearly understood that I have more to share.
I felt that I can paint and I love to do it and I would like to do
it much more than any other job I have done.