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Today I got to work with children, making art out of recycled materials.  I’ve done this every year for 4 years now.  It’ll be my last year doing it, as I’m moving back to Memphis in May.  My life at Bridge Meadows has taught me so much.  Almost all the kids I work with have been in the foster care system but now are adopted.  To see how creative they can be, how playful and inventive — it’s been such a gift.

It felt good to be fully present in the workshop.  I was aware at how muted my feelings have been during the past few months.  Today the veil of depression was lifted, I was able to feel true delight as I watched children turn boxes into art.

I’m drawing daily to help manage depression.  If you’d like to see the beginning of this project, you can see it here.  You can also follow me through WordPress or on Facebook.

Your thoughts and comments are appreciated.

This is the 3rd day of my commitment to draw my way out of depression.  You can read about the start of this project here:

Day 1

Day 2

Thanks for you comments and insights.

I was delighted and humbled by the response to my post on doing a daily drawing as a way of coping with depression.  I’ve decided to try to post a drawing a day, with permission to skip a day if it becomes too challenging.  I’m posting 4 days.  I skipped Valentine’s day. Otherwise, this gets me up to date.  Hope to see you tomorrow.

I have transverse myelitis, a neurological disorder similar to multiple sclerosis.  I can still walk, but have to use a wheelchair when I’m going long distances.

I mentor children at Bridge Meadows in Portland, Oregon.  It’s an inter-generational community that supports families adopting children out of the foster care system.  I’ve lived here for 5 years, but will be moving back to my home town of Memphis at the end of April.  Until then, I continue to work with kids ages 5 to 12.

 

Thanks for reading my post.

If you missed my post about starting this project, you can read it here.

I’ve struggled with depression since my early teens.  I have a form of bi-polar disorder that leans toward the depressive side.  I have manias that get me into trouble and I take unnecessary risks, but my biggest challenge is depression.

I’ve been self-managing it for the past 8 or 9 years, but in the past few weeks, months, I’ve felt myself sinking.  I finally got to a point where I didn’t want to get out of bed.  In healthier times, I made a checklist of when to seek help, and I’d filled that checklist right on up.  I saw a doctor a few weeks ago and got back on anti-depressants.

But I know from experience, medication isn’t enough.  All through my life, art and literature has saved me over and over.

I keep a visual journal and since February 4, I’ve re-committed  myself to a daily draw.  And to help me stay on task, I’ve decided to post my progress.

Several friends have urged me to share my journals more widely, but I have this nagging feeling that they’re too self-indulgent.  Is that those negative voices (you know the itty-bitty-shitty-committee) stopping me from acting on good ideas?  Well, I guess if what I post is too trite, you can look away.

It always helps me, though, to see how other people cope with mental conditions and health.

I haven’t decided whether to post daily or weekly, so I thought I’d start with weekly.

Let me know what you think.