Introduction: Creative Therapy and The Wounds It Can Heal.
Yesterday, Trump left the White House and our country gained a new administration, led by President Biden + Vice President Harris. As I watched the inauguration events play out on the screen, I couldn’t help but think of everything that has taken place these last 4+ years and how this transition of power doesn’t necessarily change anything. We still have a long and challenging road ahead of us, but I know we are all capable of doing hard, but great, things to change this world.
I cried a lot yesterday — I must also mention that I’m a crier. In my recruiting role by day, musician and artist by night, I tend to consistently mention to folks I meet that I cry with every emotion. Whether I’m below a 3 or above a 7 with happiness, sadness, anger, frustration, or excitement (just to name a few), I’m crying. Yesterday’s cries were different than most I encounter, though. They were both cathartic + healing, wrapped in nervousness + anxiety, and also at times stemming from frustration that there’s still a lack of unity (anyone else notice that Fox News was the only channel not playing the events for their network? 👀).
I couldn’t help but to sit and think of where I was 4 years ago — en route from San Francisco, leaving a very comfortable job, and moving to Austin, TX so I could live a more creative, authentic life as a musician. So much has happened since then, and it would be impossible to detail it all in one blog post. High level: getting involved with a new (to me) music community, cofounding (and later stepping away from) a startup, getting to know the city by way of a record store + the non-profit arts, working in HR + Recruiting for one of the best startups (I’m biased… but it is the best), and being able to play my own music countless times to countless people. How incredible is life + the journeys it can take you down?
I think about how much I’ve changed — mostly for the better, but sometimes not — and how I’m a better person because of my failures and imperfections. I think about how often I put my friends, family, and people that needed support to the side for my work. I feel for all the times I performed in ways that was so unbelievably inauthentic to myself, my values, and who I really was just to have social validation or to be well liked. Those are the only “regrets” I have — although, they’re not regrets. I’m thankful to have the lessons each of my experiences have served, especially earlier in my life rather than later.
So with this chapter sort of now behind us, let us never forget what we allowed to happen to others, our country + communities, and strangers who deserve both love + respect always. Let us reflect on what we learned about ourselves when we let others dictate our path, put our phone down, listen to our own needs, take a break from work to spend time with family, and find moments that bring us joy + excitement. Let these experiences — whether political or professional or personal — strengthen us, knowing that we’re strong and capable of great things; that we are inherently whole + wonderful just as we are.
No day should pass without seeing life as a precious gift; we all need to tell our stories, however it works best for us. We need to build from our collective trauma, together.
Creativity can bind and connect us, help us heal, build bridges, and relinquish the heavy burden our experiences represent.
Throughout the next few months, I’ll be using creative therapy (writing words, playing music, and/or reading poetry) to tell my stories. Maybe you’ll follow my journey or maybe you won’t. Maybe this will inspire you to tell your own story or maybe it won’t (I hope you do though!).
Remember, we don’t have to suffer quietly alone; there’s a community out there waiting to meet you ❤️
Enjoy some of my music that helped me heal over the years —
