I have been a longtime follower of Melanie on Instagram. When she posted an image of one of her latest original works at the time, I reached out to her and made arrangements to purchase the painting. Her paintings are gorgeous, and this piece just called to me. She shipped it all the way across the country to me in Florida, and it arrived in perfect condition as it had been packed with great care. The painting hangs in a prominent spot in my living room and it remains one of my favorite purchases for my home.
Child psychiatrist. Cardiologist. Oncologist. Dentist. Surgeon. Nurse practitioner. Therapist.
These are just some of the healing professionals that have my art in their homes or offices.
I really can’t explain how much this means to me, given my own professional interests and background. I studied psychology in college. My initial plan was to get a PhD in clinical psychology and go into private practice. After my Masters, I felt impatient with being in school, so I didn’t continue. After a couple of jobs in my field, I was glad I hadn’t. I didn’t yet know what an empath was, but I felt the energy of every client I saw and kid I helped. I took my work home inside of me and dreamed of them each night. I wasn’t emotionally built for this work.
Eventually, after pharmaceutical research in Atlanta, clinical research in Seattle, market research in Redmond, and movie marketing in Hollywood, I became a painter. (I also became a wife – twice –, a mother, a writer, a photographer, a graphic designer…but those are other stories.)
There have been times that I’ve questioned if painting is “enough.” You know, with everything going on in the world all of the time. Then I realized that my art helps the helpers.
MY ART HELPS THE HELPERS!
And that’s when I knew…I KNEW FOR SURE…that painting is “enough.” And needed. Art is necessary.
Today I’m chatting with one of the healers who brought my art into her home in Florida. Meet Merry Jennifer Markham, Oncologist and Travel Advisor at MMarkham Travel.
When I realized that my art seems to be especially appealing to those who are helping to heal other people, that made such a strong impact on me. Will you tell us a little bit about yourself and your work?
I live in Florida with my husband – my high school sweetheart – and our two teenagers. I work as a medical oncologist in an academic medical center, and my practice is focused on caring for women with gynecologic cancers. I initially studied psychology in college, but after working in an oncologist’s office before attending medical school, I knew that I had to work with people with cancer in my career. I love my work, and caring for women with cancer from the time of their diagnosis throughout their entire cancer journey has been an amazing privilege.
In addition to your career in medicine, you’re also healing people in a different way through your travel agency, MMarkham Travel. What led you on this journey?
Like many oncologists, I have a clear appreciation for the uncertainty that life brings and a strong need to live each day as if it were one of my last. I’ve approached our family vacations with this in mind, never hesitating to make memories through travel whenever possible.
One common theme among many of my patients who are dealing with a cancer diagnosis is regret about things not done during their life, and so many regret not having made time to travel and spend time with their families. When all possibility of travel went away during the first part of the pandemic, I felt grief over this loss and I realized that for many of my patients, their chance of traveling was over, for many reasons.
I started MMarkham Travel out of this desire to help others find joy and meaning through the experience of travel. The memories made through travel are priceless, and it’s even more clear to me — especially after so much loss due to the pandemic — that we must prioritize spending time in places and with people we love.
Oh, exactly that. Travel rarely goes exactly as planned, especially lately. It’s often hard for people to not feel frustrated when a tour is cancelled or a restaurant they had their heart set on is closed. I encourage a shift in mindset. These hiccups can often be opportunities to explore a new area, try a great local restaurant, and just relish being in a different location surrounded by different sights and sounds. This takes practice and isn’t always easy, but oh, it makes travel so much more rewarding. I traveled to Paris before the pandemic and there were city-wide strikes impacting the metro. I took it as an opportunity to walk more and see things I would have normally missed in my hurry to get from one place to another.
When you first posted the image of Clearing on Instagram, something about it just got my attention immediately. I stopped scrolling and kept returning to your post later on that day. I think I messaged you the same day (or very soon after) you posted it. I can’t say exactly what it was about the painting that drew me in, but I recall having feelings of hopefulness and optimism when I saw it. The painting is even more beautiful in person, and I still feel those emotions when I look at it. I won’t ever part with it.
Thank you so much for your time, Merry Jennifer!
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