Memories, experiences, and even old habits can cling to us like the weight of a heavy tide, pulling us back into familiar waters. While there’s comfort in revisiting the past, dwelling there can prevent us from fully embracing the future. At a certain point, we need to step forward—to turn our backs on those familiar tides and move toward what lies ahead.

Extraneous Pathways considers one of the hardest parts of leaving the tides behind is releasing old narratives. We often cling to stories about ourselves that keep us locked in certain patterns—stories about who we are, what we deserve, and what we’re capable of. These stories might have been shaped by past experiences, but they don’t have to define the future. Letting go of these narratives allows us to step into new roles and possibilities. It’s an act of reclaiming our agency and recognizing that the future is ours to shape.

The process of stepping forward also involves forgiving ourselves and others. Sometimes the tides of the past are filled with regret, disappointment, or pain. We may find ourselves revisiting old wounds, replaying moments we wish had gone differently. But staying in that space only deepens the hurt. By choosing to step forward, we’re choosing to heal. We acknowledge the past without letting it control us. We allow ourselves the freedom to move into a future that’s not weighed down by old burdens.

We all face situations or relationships that weigh us down, yet breaking free from them often requires immense strength and self-awareness. Sovereign Resistance explores this struggle in a deeply symbolic way, depicting a lone figure pulling a burlap sack, from which thick smoke pours out. The sack represents the emotional baggage of toxic situations, while the smoke embodies the harmful effects that can linger long after we've encountered negativity.

At its core, this piece speaks to the process of letting go—of shedding the burdens that no longer serve us. The act of pulling the sack is not passive; it requires intention and effort, a metaphor for the determination needed to reclaim our lives from the toxicity we often allow to take hold. The viewer is invited to reflect on their own struggles and moments of resistance, when they, too, may have had to exert their strength to remove destructive influences.

The use of a burlap sack, rough and humble in texture, contrasts with the intangible nature of the smoke, further emphasizing the tension between what we physically carry and the emotional or psychological weight we often bear. As the smoke swirls out of the sack, it symbolizes the release of what no longer serves, but also the uncertainty that accompanies change—smoke dissipates, but its presence is initially thick and overwhelming.