Our Current Mental State, March 2022

Getting back in the art studio has been a much welcome change of scene. 

I haven’t always thought of myself as a creative person. That has evolved probably in the last 10 years. Maybe even more so in the last 4. The art studio is comprised of jack-of-all-trades artists. Their lives are interesting and their stories make me smile. Good music is played and often on vinyl. Delicious bakery items from Magnol are devoured. The wonderful part of going to the studio is that we can laugh, tell stories, and connect, all while we are painting, printing, drawing, etc. The heaviness of life seems to be forgotten during our hours there.

My reasons for not attending the past few months have been a compilation of things. Trips to see my daughter in NYC where she attends college, the emotional toll and time spent with my mother during diagnosis/surgery/treatment of Glioblastoma, the anxiety of my son on deployment, Omicron. Simply, the heaviness of life.

Reality is all our lives have been changed the past 24 months.

Our interactions with friends, family, colleagues, neighbors, have evolved into something quite different as of late. How we work has changed. Who we spend time with has definitely changed. Every person, throughout the entire world, has felt the heaviness of the pandemic and for many, mental health has really taken a toll. Besides the current number of deaths from COVID (an estimated 6 million), all the data on domestic violence, homicide, death by overdose, and suicide, have been off the charts these past 2 years. No one has gone unscathed.

Going to the art studio today, I wondered how my mental state has been affecting my art. I brought in 2 unfinished canvas projects. Essentially, I scribbled charcoal and chalk on painted canvases. Probably took me 5 minutes to draw and have looked at them on my home easel every day for the last 100 days. My fearless instructor…also known as maestro… sat with me. He knows me well and knows how to push me a bit. He shared his interpretation of my current art projects. “Too shy. Too cautious. Not bold enough.” Me?! 

As I’m painting/doodling/smudging, I am cognizant of the sessions I’ve had the last few weeks in my office and on Zoom. I’ve met with individuals who’ve rarely had major conflict in their relationships and now are experiencing emotionally charged arguments. People are struggling with anxiety of going back to the office. Alcohol consumption is at an all-time high. It has been difficult to grasp our usual coping mechanisms that worked before. 

The heaviness of life is present for a lot of us.

Here are some ideas on how to press the RESET button on your current mental state:

·      Reach out to someone. We all need connection. By phone, text, an outing

·      Do that hobby/activity you have put off

·      Take a nap

·      Journal

·      Get back into therapy for a “booster” session to talk about your stressors 

As maestro said, maybe I am being too cautious and not bold enough. Life happenings have definitely changed how I experience the world today. Including my art. I know that I’m not the same person I was back in 2020. Who is? Regardless of the changes in life, I’m grateful. Hopefully my art will evolve into something I never allowed myself to express.

You too are changed.  You too are a different person. 

Giving myself grace and acknowledgement for the heaviness life brought these last 24 months is a start. 

I hope you can do the same for yourself.

 **Art projects featured are a work in progress. Check out Instagram for how the project is evolving.