Creative Expression Connection:

Today I return after taking a break for my studies. My husband, Kurt, has not been feeling well due to a stomach bug, so there are no new adventures in Cuenca to report this week. But I am excited to share a new initiative I have started: Creative Expression Connection. I have a Facebook page you can follow (https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AyVqyuF2j/). I will share tips for engaging in creative expression to connect more deeply with yourself and the world.

Creative expression, whether it is visual arts, music, dance/movement, or writing and poetry, is not about being a professional artist or producing a perfect product; it’s about allowing yourself to create without judging yourself. Remember being a kid and dancing like no one was watching or singing at the top of your lungs? That’s the joy of creating without judging yourself.

How does this relate to caregiving? I hope you will continue reading to find out!

1. Creative expression helps you connect deeply with yourself. We all know that as caregivers, our primary concern is our loved one. For most of us, our whole lives revolve around their needs. This is, of course, the hallmark of a devoted caregiver, but what happens when we begin to break down because of a lack of self-care? Taking just a few minutes a day to doodle, draw, or color in a coloring book can have a significant impact on your mental and emotional health.

I remember taking care of my first husband’s grandmother. She would nap or watch soap operas, and that was when I pulled out my colored pencils and began to doodle. The doodle turned into an abstract picture for me to color. It was therapeutic and helped me unwind a bit. It was a mini-break from the sometimes-grueling caregiving schedule, a time when I could just allow myself to feel without having to think or perform. It’s “me” time that makes you a better caregiver in the long run.

Top: A colored-pencil drawing representing different areas of my life in the form of a mandala. Bottom: A watercolor representing my emotions. I created these in a creative expression and transformation class at Sofia University this year.

2. Creative expression connects us with the feelings we might be bypassing amid the busyness of caregiving. In this way, it can reveal which needs are being met and what is missing in our lives. It may signal a need for a therapist or spiritual guidance for a bit of extra support. If we never stop until “we drop,” we won’t have time to listen to our inner voice. Also, taking care of yourself is ultimately best for you and your loved ones, as many of us are engaged in years-long caregiving rather than short-term stints. We have to be ready for the long haul, which requires taking care of our mental and emotional health, in addition to our physical health.

Spirit of Cypress. A colored pencil drawing.

3. Creative expression is the pause we need to evaluate our inner lives. Caregivers are unbelievably busy, and creative expression gives us room to breathe and to ask ourselves: “When did you stop singing?” “When did you stop dancing?” These questions, mentioned in Angeles Arrien’s The Four-Fold Way: Walking the Path of Warrior, Teacher, Healer, and Visionary (2013), are often asked by “indigenous people” to assess whether we have experienced what is called “loss of spirit” (pp. 48-49).

Dedication is a wonderful characteristic for a caregiver, but has that focus on getting things done for your loved one made you stop singing and dancing? Do you feel sadness or a loss of who you once were? Creative expression can help you tap back into your core.

Awareness is key

Action, the doorway to peace

Awakening Light

A Haiku I wrote using the 3 principles on which my Creative Expression Connection Initiative is based

When was the last time you colored, painted, sculpted, wrote poetry, journaled, sang, danced, or moved your body in rhythm with the wind? Take a minute to do something you once did with complete abandon. Reclaim your inner creative expression for just a moment. You’ll be glad you did!

If you feel at a loss for ideas, I will share them regularly on my Facebook page. Please consider following and joining our community. Creative Expression Connection is a place for everyone because we are all creative; we just need to remember to express it. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AyVqyuF2j/

And remember, take care of yourself, you deserve it!!!

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