Inspired by a dream, Unmasked Memories combines my paintings and haikus to capture my creative journey over the last 30 years. Recently, I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea, and I was afraid of getting a CPAP, thinking it would restrict my sleep. But once I faced that fear and started using the CPAP, I realized that the very thing I had dreaded was giving me the oxygen I needed to lift years of brain fog. I took a self-portrait photograph of myself with the mask and painted over it with oil sticks. This led me to search through my archives of self-portrait photographs, which I then painted on in the style of my recent floral pieces. This blending of eras in my visual language reflects a hopeful message: that courage and kindness toward our younger selves can transform how we see our past and help us imagine a more hopeful future.