Creativity is My Super Power!
Creativity is my super power and quite frankly I don’t know where I would be without it right now and in general. Often it seems to be one of the very few outlets, where I can express myself fully. Get it all out. Somehow. Transmute. Make art.
Dance, dance, dance! Draw and paint. Write. Make videos about subjects which are close to my heart. Wanting to change the narrative. Inspiring people think and feel deeper, differently. Engaging their imagination.
One of the biggest subjects, which has emerged for me lately and which I feel very passionate about, not just for myself but also for fellow creatives is the process of un-silencing ourselves. Learning to lean into the discomfort of making our voices heard, of sharing our art in all the way we create it. Sharing our opinions, feelings etc.
I call it from hiding to thriving. For many of us, who are afflicted with chronic health conditions on top, it often is the last resort, that’s still available to us; Our Creativity! While constantly being gaslit from the medical system, partly our own family or maybe even still having to deal with an emotionally abusive relationship while struggling with health issues.
We live in this rather emotionally suppressed society, that expects us to soldier on. Or that even might tell us, it’s all in our heads and the daily pain as well as agony we are dealing with 24/7 isn’t real.
‘Get a grip!’
‘What is it again you’re dealing with?’
Most of us are literally sick and tired of having to explain ourselves and the majority of us also doesn’t like to dwell on our symptoms and give others a history of all our afflictions. And quite frankly we would be hear for a long time, if I was giving you a list of all the pains, scary symptoms etc. I and countless others are dealing with right now. Trying to explain what it really means to have a flair up, which doesn’t seem to ease off anytime soon. No, I’m not up for it.
So, it’s a no win situation on many levels. If you don’t talk about it, everyone is assuming you’re doing great.
‘Look, at all the cool stuff she’s doing, she looks great.’
While on the other hand, when we talk about it, we have to explain ourselves over and over and over again. We are not the health condition we’re working to resolve or at least get better from in the future. We are still us.
Quirky, kind, funny, resilient like no one else. Otherwise most of us would have already given up on the will to live. And some actually do, unfortunately and due to the fact, that there is insufficient support out there for people affected with complex chronic health conditions.
Ren for example, who’s one genius of an artist, battling Lyme disease, as well as having been misdiagnosed for many years, portrays the pain we go through in the best possible way ever. No doubt, creativity is his super power too.
Transmuting his battles, pain and inner demons into very touching, brilliant music. Making many people, who have been marginalised, suffering invisibly, finally feel seen. Giving a much needed voice to the pain! I really advise you to check him out, start with ‘Hi Ren’ and then fall into the Ren rabbit hole, you won’t emerge anytime soon, if you’re similar to me:
‘Appreciating good, authentic, original art on all levels. It is and can be a life saver!’
And here we go again, creativity is a super power, because it gives voice to the unspeakable, to the invisible. It makes us feel things, it gets us through tough times. It’s our best ally, especially when we have been handed the ‘ticket to hell and back’, which we never signed up for.
Sometimes I wonder what’s more devastating, dealing with something like chronic disease for over a decade, which just doesn’t leave you alone and rears it’s ugly head in all its shapes, ways and forms, or being left utterly alone with it.
ALONE! DEAL WITH IT! GOOD LUCK!
I would say, it’s the second one and in my opinion, there could already be much remedied, if there was genuine support from health care professionals. Really trying to work together and looking at the whole human being, instead of just managing symptoms… Running from one specialist to the other and no one putting the puzzle pieces together. Really?
The other part is having friends, that are empathic and caring enough to reach out to us, let us know they care. Who ask, ‘what can I do for you’ and who are just willing to spend some fun, quality time with us, giving our souls a much needed nurture and break from it all.
Unfortunately many people are living their own busy lives, dealing with their own, unsurmountable struggles. Because guess what, we are living in taxing times. I get it!
Where does that leave people like me? And there’s millions of us. We need to double down on our creativity as much as possible. Having a soft place to land and express it all. We need to practice and learn self compassion and give ourselves the love and care, many of us so desperately are longing for from the outside. I assure you, it helps, it actually helps immensely and can make all the difference on the healing journey. Many of us need to learn to set appropriate boundaries, take no bullshit from no one anymore. And maybe the hardest as well as most important one, is to find a way to advocate for ourselves. Insist on the blood tests or whatever it might be. Because quite frankly, who else is gonna do it? No one!
Personally, August has been challenging for me… That’s putting it kindly. Having to cancel meetings with friends, because I wasn’t well enough on so many levels. I leave it at that.
Still, I am showing up! Dancing my way through everything. Creating videos on important topics. Sharing my drawings. For whomever, who wants or needs to see my content. Or who feels compelled to buy a print of my artwork. It’s all there to be enjoyed.
The reason I am doing this is because I want to do my tiny part in creating a better, more empathetic world. It’s just a drop in the vast ocean I know. But, values, like authenticity, honesty, integrity, creativity, as well as empathy, justice etc. are immensely important to me.
So, I am doing the best I can to inspire, to make people feel and think deeper and most importantly to come out of hiding and share their own unique, creative voices. We really don’t need more airtime for influencers, who don’t have anything of sustenance to share. That’s how I see it at least.
That’s why I will always encourage fellow artists to not only keep on creating, but to find the courage to share it for everyone else to see.
Art is soul nourishment!
Having said that, I am so happy to tell you how inspired I am feeling right now. Having come off my first informal, online Dreamy Cappuccino Gathering for a small group to guarantee a safe space. It’s been awesome, creating community with fellow, creative, quirky souls. Seeing snippets of an animated film, that’s nearly finished, as well as other exciting art work made from waste. Exchanging thoughts on creativity and whatever has been moving us in the moment. Thank you for everyone, who showed up! You made my day :-)
The next Dreamy Cappuccino Gathering, from hiding to thriving will be 6th of October and you’ll be able to sign up on my website very soon. It’s for free by the way.