Welcome to the art/life trail. I’m so happy that you are here.
In our own lives we have the opportunity…and we might even admit, the responsibility…to be HERE now.
Not beside ourselves
Not ‘over there’ somewhere
BE HERE
NOW
This week I had the joy of sharing a Visual Journal seminar with a small group of care givers…Hidden Heroes.
My program ‘From Overwhelm to Self Expression: a Visual Journal Workshop’ was my fourth part in the Tidewater Arts Outreach year long series.
‘Arts Aid for Hidden Heroes’ is funded by a grant from the Elizabeth Dole Foundation. The monthly program hosted by a different artist each month provides a brief respite for those in the trenches tending and ministering to loved ones who have been injured and in the throes of trauma having served in our military.
Each month an artist from TAO, Tidewater Arts Outreach, presents a 2 hour program allowing care givers to be surrounded by nurturing support. As a result the care givers experience direct contact with the arts and the potential that self-expression offers for moving the burden of their days into the atmosphere of healing through drumming, mask making, music & song, painting, beautiful writing and, from my program, creating a track of thoughts, ideas and feelings through a visual journal practice.
I have had the pleasure to present programs for Tidewater Arts Outreach regularly since the organization was formed in 2004.
Singer/songwriter/musician, MaryAnn Toboz, realized a dream.
She knew
She felt
She was inspired to create a service to bring the arts to individuals who were separated from the mainstream through illness, the isolation of long term care facilities, and /or hospitalization.
MaryAnn invited like minded artists to join her brainchild, TAO: Tidewater Arts Outreach. With a teaming roster of talent she and her small but mighty team have made amazing connections between people in need and the uplift of the arts.
Last evening I listened to the stories shared regarding stress and overwhelm that is part and parcel of a care givers day to day lived experience. I heard the story of the young mother whose daughter is feeling invisible because the attention of mom is “mostly on dad”. At 11 this young girl is old enough to understand yet still in a place in her life where she needs to feel supported by the adults in her life. Mom is in a tug of war between husband war wounds and daughters emotional scars.
I listened to the agony of mother tending son and his damage so deep that he can no longer be with people, certain sounds, smells that trigger horrific memories and the toll is takes on her heart, soul, and resources.
We all have wounds. We all require support.
Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter’s testimony before congress teaches each of us in turn:
There are only four kinds of people in the world
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Those who have been caregivers
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Those who currently are caregivers
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Those who will be caregivers
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And those who will need caregivers
I’m grateful beyond measure for the power of the arts to heal and repeal the memories that can often hold us hostage to past pain and trauma. I know from my personal experience the potential within to make choices each day to give best care to self.
I urge you to consider the ways that your own creative voice and action can add to the well being of those with whom you come into contact.
Are you curious and interested in finding a more natural relationship with time? Join our 8-Day ‘It’s About Time’ Challenge…it’s not to late to hop on and enjoy PWP: ‘Progress without Pressure.’
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