giving me permission to talk about the icons and how I made them

When you get a little older you won't need that permission. I mostly say what's on my mind - or not. People can take it or leave it. It's a bit like the evangelists who knock on your door, you don't have to listen to them, you can politely or not ask them to leave but some days those folk are going to knock on someone's door who needs to listen and maybe grab hold. For those people, the rest of us can quietly spend a few polite minutes listening before getting back to our lives. One day it could be us in need.

being two years old and slamming my brothers finger

I have so few childhood memories but for a long time the few that cropped up seemed to be bad things. I had to really think, to reminisce with siblings or friends to bring up happy ones. Guilt is such a drain on us all. Unless you have no empathy - than you're kind of a monster. :D Grant me the medium please, someone. :D