Being creative is a superpower. But, it comes with its own set of challenges like everything else. Creativity can be an outlet for those with issues as well as sometimes their creativity is a result of their mental health struggles.
Recently the United States has launched a new three digit number to access mental health support in this country. It’s as easy as dialing 988 and you will be connected to a live, trained operator who will listen and guide you through your needs. It actually links you to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800 number which is 1-800-273-8255 We all can agree a 3 digit number is much easier to remember and dial when in crisis. Just like 911 is. So it’s about time…
What is a visual journal you ask? Some of the earliest forms of art like cave drawings, called Petroglyphs, are, in fact, visual journals. They depict daily life, struggles, battles, the fight to live, hunting etc… Compare that today and if you look at my social media feeds you see images of my daily life, my struggles, food I like to eat and other daily documentation. My personal journal looks quite the same. And it wouldn’t be my journal if it didn’t have some bling or other artistic additions to it.
Being resilient is something I wasn’t so familiar with. I was taking some professional development classes and had this amazing speaker, Dr. Katherina Gilboa. Her book was called from Stressed to Resilient. I listened. I took voracious notes. I was DETERMINED to become resilient! I bought her book before the course was even over. I was going to improve myself!
When you think of “the journal” you may be instantly bored by the idea of keeping one, but a visual journal is a regular journal upgraded, it’s the 2.0 version! Visual journals use a mixture of words and art; like drawings, magazine cut outs, or paintings even. They are like a diary with artistic flair. Typically a visual journal still outlines the day ro day musings of the author but might add drawings of ideas or sketches for an upcoming piece of art. Many famous artists had visual journals and used them to do initial sketches of ideas or drafts of an image they were looking at at the moment.
I currently have the most spectacular ESA (Emotional Support Animal). He is a border collie/ papillon mix named Biz. Aka the Notorious B.I.Z. AKA getting down to BIZness. He’s amazing and awesome and very popular at my school. I got him during covid and at first it was a challenging friendship. I’ve never had a dog that came to me as a puppy. And we both realized we needed to learn about navigating the ins-and-outs of a very energetic, very charismatic dog in my house. He also never lived in a house before so this was also a new territory.