April. To say that “it’s already here” doesn’t feel right. It arrived in time. Not too hot, not too cold. Just right.
And a lot wrong too. If you’re not in Florida, check out some news articles from down here. Our elected officials are trying to kill nearly everyone with some form of legislation or another. Pregnant people. Trans people. Many of our electeds just voted to pass a permitless concealed carry law, while gun violence is the #1 killer of children. They’re trying to erase Black folks. They want to criminalize immigration. And a cherry on top is book bans across the state.
*whew* It’s a lot.
My paid work deals with organizing and advocating around some of this. And yet it’s not enough to make a difference right now. The folks elected to office literally do not care if we’re protesting, calling, writing, crying while telling our stories from the dais at the state Capitol.
And yet, life is going on. Tonight I was called to write, finally, after three months, to share how I keep myself from falling into a pit of despair. Or pull myself out when I start to slip.
If you read the title, you can probably guess. Creating. In a lot of forms.
- By writing. I have a (mostly) daily journaling practice.
- Sometimes by sketching. Allowing my mind to focus only on what I’m drawing for awhile.
- By creating mixed-media journal entries. I haven’t done this in awhile, but I sometimes use this to get my emotions out about what’s happening in the world.
- By creating larger mixed-media pieces. Sometimes addressing social justice themes. Other times creating the world I wish to see by focusing on nature, music, and love
Florida Congress wants to pass a 6-week abortion ban. Very nearly a total ban on this incredibly important healthcare. I created a mixed-media journal entry (left image below) soon after Roe v Wade was overturned last year. I later turned a big piece (on the right) for a call to artists. It’s seen field time at a local reproductive freedom rally.
It feels appropriate to share them again now.
And for all of the people being harmed right now, the spark is growing. More people are waking to what the elite are doing. They are trying to divide us, to pit us against each other, so they can exploit us and and continue stealing our labor and resources meant for our communities. The fires of change are coming.
I created the sketch and poem on the left during a wonderful, healing workshop led by Radici Studios. Jen, the facilitator and founder of Radici Studios, asked us to draw how we were feeling. I then took those images and put words to them. And the poem stuck with me, so not long after, I took a canvas that I’d been struggling with. I painted over some of it, and collaged, and stamped … I created something new from the thing I didn’t like. A piece filled with love, and music, and a reminder of the power in humans working together.
So, I’m struggling with the shit. And, I’m trying to find the healing and joy through creating.
Thank you for being a part of my journey. Thank you for your support.
And I’m wondering … how do you heal and find joy in these troubling times?
I create, play music, walk in nature daily, and constantly imagine how good life could be, how I want it to be. I know there is so much shite, and just how small I am (invisible?), so I just try to do no harm, and bring smiles where I can and do tiny good deeds.
Breathe…
Not invisible, for sure! It’s amazing that, small though we are, we send ripples out from us that can have great impact that we might never see. Thank you so much for sharing your perspective, and it sounds like a pretty good one to me!!
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