ginnie, it is a sad day when you have to give up your job especially if it is your calling. I loved teaching and coaching football and it took me several years to accept not working any more. I worked several years longer than I should have so it has caused me more limitations now. I can imagine the impact it would have on an artist to lose that ability. Not only have you lost your job but also your interest as art takes up even your time off in many cases.

If you haven't come to terms with it yet know that it will come. I didn't think I would ever not miss coaching but I find that I don't even think about it now the way I did. We go through the same steps of grief that others do when they lose someone important to them. Losing our jobs also means we have lost our lives as the people we had associated with and saw every work day are no longer in our life on a regular basis. It isn't easy accepting becoming disabled and I feel from the grief you feel.