Creativity, Connection and Healing
Or how to love your life
Dear Friend,
It’s easy when we’re in the middle of an illness or a challenging situation to feel as though we are the only one going through it. Our society - especially social media - is designed to show the highlights, the “best moments” of life so of course, it can leave you feeling like everyone is off living their best life except you - even if you know logically that is not true. You may ponder questions like - “Why me?” Or “Why can’t my life be as (you insert the adjective here) as everyone else’s?” And yes, we all have great moments but we all face challenges too.
Over the course of the last few days, I’ve been in conversation with people I know as well as those I don’t and all of them have had one thing in common - they’ve been through truly tough situations and even now, they have things weighing on their hearts. As I shared some of the things making my heart ache, I’ve been quite humbled to hear stories I would never have imagined. It’s honestly a reminder that everyone is dealing with something. Behind beautiful smiles and gorgeous laughter, there may be tremendous pain so it’s best to try to lead with kindness.
While talking with others often helps to find connection and comfort, sometimes - before doing that - it’s important to take some quiet time to be with our own thoughts and feelings. As you know, I seek out color in the world but I’ve found that in grabbing some paint or colored pencils, pastels or crayons and simply laying color down on a blank page, I find peace. Sometimes just the act of moving my hands, my arms, my body as I paint is a way to get my thoughts to move through my head and heart before letting them go. Often, when I paint my heart works to heal a wound or my mind explores solutions to problems and as that happens, I slowly find my way back to the present moment and the gift of quiet within.
That is what happened with the painting above. I was beginning to move from a challenging space into one of healing and I needed to help my thoughts and emotions to travel along that road. So I began to move the paint around. I did not have a goal other than to see what I would find on the paper and in my heart. I have to tell you I felt better, lighter and more in tune with where I wanted to be when I was done.
In the face of opposition, I could spend my time hiding away from life. I could build walls, line them with complaints and find the negative in everything as a way to shield myself from being hurt. In fact, I’ve done those things but in this season of my life - even as I face unexpected challenges - I’m working to explore emotions in a creative way and use what I find to connect with myself first and then others. I’m looking to get a bit better at asking for help, to lean in when others share their vulnerable truths and use my creativity for connection and healing as that is often fertile ground for growing in love.
So today, if you find yourself feeling alone in what you are going through - good or bad - try picking up a pen, paintbrush, anything and just put color on a page, draw lines, allow your mind to relax. Give yourself that gift of love. Then, when you are finished notice how you feel and, if inclined, allow yourself to reach out to another. Your intention may be to share but I invite you to be open to what you might hear as well. Lastly, extend kindness when you can. It’s true that we never know what another might be going through and your little bit of kindness could make all the difference in the world. If you feel moved to do so, share your art too. You never know how that one act of creation might inspire, save or change a life for the better.
All my love, always,
Natasha