A few days after I sent out my last newsletter, when I was in the middle of a vulnerability hangover because of it, I came across the following post on Instagram.
While I’m not a mental/emotional health professional, this post reminded me to focus on the many thank you messages I receive whenever I talk about my own mental health.
I prefer to work with people who accept their humanness and recognize that they aren’t perfect. And who also don’t use their imperfections to excuse their shitty behaviour.
So it was a good reminder that me sharing my humanness with you can be beneficial. For both of us. Especially if it has the potential of saving someone’s life.
When I began talking about suicide a few years ago in my newsletter, one of the first responses I received was from a subscriber marking that email as spam and writing “THIS IS SPAM!!! THIS IS SPAM!!! DO NOT CONTACT ME!!!” as their reason for unsubscribing. Yep, they wrote it in all caps.
Had it not come from a person who was an active participant in several of my yoga classes, and had often written me lovely notes after reading past newsletters, it probably wouldn’t have stung as much. But their reaction hit me hard. And it totally made me be quieter in sharing how I was really feeling mentally and emotionally. Even with loved ones who really wanted to know.
It can fucking suck to be hurting in ways that people can’t see (or choose not to see) and you don’t feel you can/should share what’s really going on.
This is my long-winded way of saying thank you for your notes. Just like you, I appreciate knowing that I’m not alone.
And as a thank you, I want to share the following in case they’re of interest to you and make you feel a little less alone too.
Number one
I had so much fun at the GCLS Writing Academy After Dark presents “Small Bites: Flash Fiction” panel! While it may have been my first writer’s panel, I really hope it’s not my last. The audience was engaged and asked fantastic questions. I loved that I learned something new from each member of the panel too. And it was a delight to see some familiar names popping up in the Zoom chat (thank you, again!). Catch the replay here if you missed it.
Number two
Phoenix Helix is having a giveaway to celebrate 2 million downloads of their podcast and my course, Exploring Creative Connection Through Visual Journaling, is one of the prizes!
I stumbled upon this podcast and website, created by Eileen Laird when I was first diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. It focuses on reclaiming your life while living with an autoimmune disease. You can listen to me and Eileen discuss how journaling is a powerful way to manage your stress, express yourself creatively and have some fun when I was a guest on her podcast. We talk about the very practice that has helped me with my mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical health. You can even try out three journal prompts that I share in the recording.
Click here to learn more about the giveaway and to enter. Eileen will choose winners on January 28th.
Number three
Speaking of podcasts and people who aren’t afraid of their humanness, have you listened to How to be Human? It’s one of my favourite podcasts co-hosted by one of my favourite people, Anna Toonk.
If you don’t laugh at least once (or feel anything at all) while Anna and her business partner, Nina Endrst, discuss everything from emotions, vulnerability, intuition, judgement, personal power, insecurities and more… well, you should know that we probably won’t be friends. Kidding, not kidding.
Their discussions are serious, candid, informative and will make you thoughtfully consider how you want to be a human on this floating rock we share.
Number four
I know this is part of the giveaway I mentioned above, but I’ve gotta remind you that Exploring Creative Connection Through Visual Journaling is open for registration and you can claim your spot now!
I’ll be meeting with participants weekly in February (on Sundays from 1 - 2 pm EST) because having scheduled weekly sessions can help some people engage, or reengage, with their journaling practice.
This allows us to have closer contact so I can personally guide you to continue in ways that work best for your energy and capacity.
Here’s what a recent participant had to share about their experience with the course:
“I love the difference that the term visual journalling brought to me - art journaling was something for people more talented than me - this helped me realize that expression is everything and this practice is available to everyone regardless of skill level…[It] renewed [my] understanding of the importance of creativity to soul connection.” - S. B.
Please know that February is the only time this year that I’ll be meeting with participants weekly. There will only be two other times for us to visual journal together live (but virtual) this year: once in June and again in October.
(Also, I just added two more hours of music to the course’s playlist. So now you’ll have access to almost eight hours of music that I’ve used in my live workshops to help people get out of their heads and get lost in the joy of creating.)
Click here to reserve your spot around my virtual table.
This year began with a huge creative surge for me. New people joined my visual journaling course (this will never stop being a joy for me!). I’ve wiggled down deeper into my writing practice by being on a panel, registering in a few writing courses and joining another writing group. My first submission of the year was longlisted in a competition (unfortunately, it didn’t make the shortlist, but I’m still proud of a longlist placement!), and I’m in the early stages of a few new creative endeavours that I’m not able to share just yet.
It’s also been exhausting AF. I know way too many people who are soul and bone-tired because answers aren’t available (or put into action) for so many questions being asked. Answers that are needed for life or death questions that I wish no one should ever have to ask!
So please, be gentle with yourself and those you can be around safely.
Enjoy the rest of your day.
PS.
Miss Violet’s been dealing with some health issues which have turned her into an even bigger snuggle bug. She’ll be alright. She’s got a mama who’s used to dealing with her own ailments and a vet who cares. And I’m not complaining. I know there are worse ways to welcome a new year than to be forced to cuddle a cute cat. But I am ever so grateful that I’ve got easy access to the smallest, but cutest weighted blanket that keeps me company as I re-watch Downton Abbey. The biting barbs the Dowager Countess of Grantham tosses about still bring me so much joy.
PPS. Have you watched Yellowjackets (Showtime) yet? OMG, OMG, OMG! What was with that finale! The series! I can’t wait for season two!
And the series finale of After Life (Netflix) made me both laugh and cry. Each season has. I love it.
PPPS. Wordle is life! It hooked me quickly.