In the 20th century, at the Royal Academy of San Fernando in Madrid, a young student funded by his uncle Salvador suddenly fell in love with skipping class. He was deeply captivated by the Prado Museum, where he immersed himself in the feast of art. Later, his obsession grew so intense that he took to sketching on the streets, with his footprints covering every corner of Madrid. Eventually, his uncle learned about his truancy and, in disappointment, cut off his financial support.
Scarlet fever forced the boy to return to Barcelona. His father, Don Jose, was both disappointed and angry, gradually becoming distant. Only his mother, Lopez, patted him on the shoulder and said, "Child, I believe in you. If you join the army, you can become a general; if you become a priest, you can become the Pope."
The boy was deeply moved by his mother's words and regained his courage. From that day on, he officially changed his signature on all his works to his mother's surname—Picasso.
It must be admitted that sometimes a single sentence has the power to turn the world upside down. It is enough to shake a person who has not yet set out, reversing the direction initially set for them. Do you remember when Theo said to Van Gogh, "You must stick to yourself!" At that time, Van Gogh was obsessed with Impressionism, frantically copying the works of Gauguin and Seurat, intoxicated and losing himself. Only Theo firmly told him, "You are Van Gogh!"
The drive of genius comes from appreciation, even if it is just from one person.
Life Lesson: Appreciation is the praise of the hearth in the cold night. People need the support of appreciation in their most confused times and the encouragement of appreciation in their most discouraging moments. Without appreciation, one loses direction due to the dark night of failure; without appreciation, one falls into despair due to low self-esteem. Enjoy the sunshine of appreciation, sow the seeds of appreciation, and let the song of appreciation resound in every corner of life, and the flowers of success will bloom everywhere.
