—don’t miss the pick me up at the end!
While Covid was shrinking our lives, keeping us close to home and away from places we congregated with others, my life unexpectedly expanded. Yes, my waistline as well, but that’s not what I’m talking about.
I’ve read that the pandemic was bliss for many introverts like me and it did have its perks. As an adult, home has been my nest, my haven, my sanctuary. I always spent a lot of time here reading, writing and playing with mixed media. Transforming furniture was a passion for a while, then stained glass and knitting. Over the years, I also researched my family’s genealogy and compiled a short family history. There were some wild old stories from the 1800s, like the one about a 7th son charming a snake and another with a woman who could turn into a cat.
I even worked largely alone. Most of my interests were solitary ones and I compartmentalized different projects and aspects of my life to boot. I even stashed compartments within my compartments. Before, my novel writing was in one, essays in another. Messing around with art had its own. My love of history took up one and my healing journey filled yet another. That one had a pretty heavy duty lock on it for a long time.
Keeping different parts of my life separate was a defense mechanism that helped me as a kid. So was being more comfortable in one on one relationships instead of in a group. Unfortunately, I didn’t realize how much those habits impeded finding and creating community for myself as an adult.
Until recently, my friendships were somewhat compartmentalized as well. Friends often shared a couple of my interests or I felt comfortable talking about certain subjects or events with one and others with another. It was difficult to explain the world of writing to people outside of it and of course they weren’t as interested as other writers.
The pandemic, amid all of the uncertainty, tragedy and fear, made me take an unusual leap of faith. Staying even closer to home than usual, I tried out a creative community of women online. For a self-described congenital non-joiner, that was an enormous step.
I’m still thankful for the low introductory cost, since I probably wouldn’t have taken the chance otherwise. My last successful leap of faith was when I called a man I’d met and he became my wonderful husband.
The same fairy dust must have been in the air when I joined this community for a month long trial. I found the most welcoming, accepted as you are, safe, honest space. Wonderful women of different ages and backgrounds sharing their personal and creative paths.
It seemed like almost every time we met on a video call, our conversations ranged wide and deep. One would share what she was feeling or an insight and it would resonate with so many of us. Comments sparked support, creative ideas and inspiration.
I couldn’t believe my good fortune in finding so many kindred spirits. We complement each other like
the colors in a gorgeous mosaic, each of equal brightness and worth, together a rich, harmonious pattern. When one of us shows courage, the rest of us are inspired to do the same.
We meet weekly to create silently in community, and then talk. There are also workshops, studio visits, and celebrations. We share our creative joys and struggles, as well as our personal ones. How we help each other make sense of our lives and paths is just as important.
Often, we cross pollinate. Some painters have taken up poetry and people who see themselves as primarily writers, discovered meditative stitching or are learning to draw.
I once read that all every human being wants is to feel seen, heard and understood. This community has given me that indescribable gift. I have individual friends who make me feel that way, but never a group.
We are all led by the curiosity, joy and soul deep fulfillment of expressing our innermost thoughts and feelings on paper or in visual form. That is my essence, my reason. That is how I figure out myself and the world.
Now, I’m often on a video call with six or eight other women who not just hold my creative spirit in a sacred space, but buoy it. My husband has difficulty picturing my vision for art projects and often greets them with a confused or worried look. My sister-friends understand and meet so many of my ideas with enthusiasm. They are interested! They have questions, suggestions for the best materials or methods.
My favorite may be how we brainstorm for each other. It’s like having a bunch of lovely sisters—whatever one of us is excited about or going through, someone and often more than one can relate.
I’ve been missing community like this my whole life without knowing it. People full of ideas like me, who want to make the world a better place through their unique contributions. Sisters who help each other with emotional support, practical suggestions and resources.
I no feel longer alone in such important aspects of my life.
Best of all, I can bring and be my whole self with these sister friends. Not just my creative sides and where I am with those projects, but my personal history, setbacks and triumphs, my healing, intellectual and spiritual journeys. It’s taken me a while to figure out, but that’s what I’d like to do with this site—bring and be my whole self.
What about you? Have you found an unexpected gift during this pandemic?
PICK ME UP—With so much to worry about in our world, this kindergarten class’s hotline of tips for when they feel angry or anxious is bound to bring a smile. https://www.npr.org/2022/03/06/1084800784/peptoc-hotline-kindergarteners