Tag Archives: self-care

Soul & Solace: Cruel Summer

Creativity/Spirituality, , , , , , , , ,

Have you heard Bananarama’s song, “Cruel Summer?” The plaintive melody accompanies lyrics that describe a sweltering season make crueler by circumstance. 2024 was, for us, a cruel summer: due to a perfect storm of hardship and heartache. Hardships global and national; heartbreak in vocation and for our family. Then, days before our creativity camp’s start date—with materials and food purchased and prepped, our house transformed into a space station, parents counting on us for childcare and children jazzed about launching their imaginations into space, we got grounded.

Mere weeks before the CDC approved a new vaccine for recent strains of the virus, COVID swept through our family. We had to cancel camp. We’ve never done that before: even during the worst of the pandemic, we went online, delivering art supplies to participants’ doors and guiding learning via the Internet.

In its eighteen years of service, A Spacious Place has made its way through a more than our share of hardships and heartbreaks. We’ve always picked ourselves up, dusted ourselves off, and got back to it. This time was different. This time I saw no way forward. Felt no hope.

When the virus was done with me, the communities we serve awaited. I waded through preparation and packing for the simple reason that I couldn’t stand to be around myself if I let these people down. It helped that my family was there for me.

Classes got easier each time we went, each time we watched creativity unfold and faces find grins. Each day had its bright spots. For our August Young Artists Club, we provided Messy Art Day activities we’d planned for camp. The afternoon was messy, noisy, laugh-filled, wet, and wonderful.

I suspect someone reading this piece knows about cruel seasons. My hope for you is

1. That you be especially kind to yourself; wounds require rest and care;

2. That you take a step forward in hope, even if it’s a baby step; and

3. That you stay connected with someone who loves you unconditionally. We need connection, especially when times are cruel.

Today, I’m grateful for cooler temperatures and the promise of fall leaves. For the people we serve and for those who serve alongside us. And hope. I’m grateful always for hope.

What helps you hope? What do you do for self-care? Do you have a song that names a life experience for you? Share your thoughts at contact@aspaciousplace.com.

Soul & Solace: Winded

Creativity/Spirituality, , , , , , , ,

We walk a neighborhood hill that, I swear, gets steeper as the temperatures climb. I powered up it one morning and, at its crest, found myself winded.
 
Winded. A word I come across in books, but rarely in conversation.
 
Yet the word shot into my mind as I paused at the crest, bent over, hands on thighs, hauling in breath. And it named more than my lung fatigue.
 
We live on a planet stained by pandemic and, despite our efforts to scrub it out, a faint tinge remains. Every cough is suspect; we face a lifetime of annual shots in the arm. More than that, the after effects stare at us through empty business windows, empty (or overpriced) store shelves, empty chairs. Leaves us winded.
 
Across the globe, war drags on: civilians taking up arms, hundreds of thousands killed, citizens tortured, children kidnapped. All for a hunk of land. Leaves us winded.
 
Yet another school shooting. Yet another community horrified and grieving. Parents of slain children comforting the most recent parents of slain children. How do we describe the tragedy? Vile? Obscene? The new normal? Leaves us winded.
 
Great art banned or labeled pornographic. Winded.
 
Add to that a spate of natural disasters, stress at work or school and/or home, personal loss. Definitely winded.
  
With all that taxing our air supply, how can we draw breath?  These practices can send good O2 coursing through our souls. Choose what suits you. 

  • Sing! Singing literally helps us draw breath. It also lessens depression and enables us to express our emotions. Who cares if we’re pitch perfect or know all the words? Let’s just crank up the music and belt it out!
  • Journal: Whether we journal in words, illustrations, or items glued onto a page, a journal is our breathing space. We find clarity and cleansing between the covers of our journal.
  • Good Growing: Whether we plant a garden, take a wildflower road trip, or tend a succulent, attending to the health and hope of living things helps us breathe deep.
  • Advocate/Volunteer: We can do something to alleviate a hardship or wrong that has us winded. Send a get-well card, foster or adopt a rescue animal, sign a petition, attend our Banned Book Speakeasy…. Whatever action we take, however small, for the good, is a breath of fresh air. At the same time, we need also to…
  • …Care for Self: Be it a daily rest time, a good book, a walk in nature, or a creative project, caring for ourselves is vital when we’re winded.
  • Savor Surprise: Like a resurrection, fresh starts can come as a surprise. Let’s gather breath and hope for great amazement in days to come. When it comes, however unexpected, let’s savor it!

Spring is here, with its promise of fresh air and fresh starts. We, at A Spacious Place, hope for you experiences that fill and thrill your soul with bracing, fresh air.  
 
How does “winded” feel to you? How do you find soul breath in hard times? Share your thoughts with us at contact@aspaciousplace.com.