While most of us are squirreled away in our houses in some form of hibernation, trying to avoid contracting Covid, few of us are being creative. I read that 20 percent of the American people contemplated suicide in June 2020! That’s one out of five, if math isn’t your thing.
I’m not sure there are enough shrinks per capita to handle that amount of depression!
I know I’m struggling with it. I have tremendous wanderlust and easily can feel boxed in. Now my life is virtually in a virtual box, doing Zoom meetings from morning until night. The good news is painting is my escape. I’m painting a street in Paris at the moment because I can’t go to Paris.
All of us have to find a way to escape, at least in our own heads, or risk sinking into a hole we’ll never get of. We need to stop death scrolling, turn off the news and try and find some creative outlet. Buy a coloring book. Doodle. Listen to music. Better yet learn to play an instrument. You don’t have to become proficient at you. You just need to enjoy it.
I created a storytelling class because I love stories. It’s even reflected in my art. I already teach writing so I wanted to do something new. In my new Storytelling Lab we explore the MANY forms stories take. The classes have been fun and inspiring, which is why my students are enjoying it as much as I am.(www.storytellinglab.online)
We can’t allow Covid steal our joy!