Things we do when we can’t talk it through: getting creative in the name of self discovery
#veryhumanthings #expressivearts #selfdiscovery
water soluble graphite on paper
It‘s rare that we post the super raw and rough stuff. But I think we need to more often because this is the “stuff” of the deepest part of our journey.
And sometimes it looks like a child drew it or its so chaotic or oozing so much pain we can barely look at it ourselves. But this is where the “stuff” of our story is “written”.
And creating it feels like a voice. But looking at it once more feels like suffocation. Making it feels freeing. Seeing it feels trapped.
But that is our stuff too. How we seem to walk this trail. One moment free and full of hope and ready to fly. The next trapped somewhere so deep in our past trauma we are scared to wiggle our toes.
We call it our “stuff”. What happened to us. Because to name it feels at once too hard and all too insignificant.
But did you hear what we just said? “What happened TO us”. Not what we made happen or deserved.
Simple phrase. Might not seem a big deal to you.
Obvious even?
That‘s THREE YEARS of intensive therapy right there. It took 3 years of work before we could say that. The “stuff” happened to us. We did not create it.
small phrase
GIANT reframe.
and an early step towards healing.
today? fighting the impact of the “A” word [abuse] feels hard and harder. It’s a daily fight. beyond struggle.
It’s FIGHT
because if we can’t fight, we take flight. Out. we freeze our lives until we drain to a collapse. these are some words easily bantered about
flight - fright - freeze - collapse
easy to say
ah yeah. heard that before
Easy to say
but not easy to live
today and every day, we fight this stuff.
and it’s hard, harder and hardest.
but it’s the stuff of our making
our stuffing
is it?
oh stuff it. Smile
text by Kendall and Max
art by Chloe
How Are You Doing?
Can't talk it out? Can you draw it? Squiggle it? Dig holes into the couch? Burn something (safely!). Blow a dandelion and watch it scatter?
anything and everything matters
If it comes from you, it is IMPORTANT
We are in this together
The Very Human Beings
Come Along: What is this and how to join in?
Sometimes words just don't express, do they? Or sometimes they do but not as conversation or talk. We often get very lost trying to articulate in everyday sentences. So we turn to art, music, film, sound, metaphor, creative dialogue, prose, you name it. Whatever will help us take "it" from "that" to "this".
You know what is the most amazing thing about humans? Every single one of us is a creative being. Every single one of us has the ability to express ourselves creatively. If you haven't already tried, give it a go and experience the freedom it brings. It's breathtaking, we promise!
What's that? You are not an artist? You can't? Who told you that? For me it was my grade 1 classroom teacher and my grade 5 music teacher. Who was it for you?
Here – throw egg in their face!
Come on, we have even garnished it for you!
CAN'T. CAN'T. CAN'T. CAN'T. CAN'T. CAN
Grab whatever you have at your fingertips and dig deep into your pockets of all you can and let's help each other say what some days we just can't.
As always, feel free to riff off ours if you are stuck. In fact, we would LOVE that.
If you're feeling brave, post your versions in our comment feed so others can be inspired too. Or upload to your own social media (be sure to use our hashtags - #veryhumanthings - so we can find each other). Either way, make sure to comment on posts by others and encourage one another as we find new voices.
The only rules are: RESPECT!
See you in there!
Kendall et al