🎭 12/11/24: Who knew that scribbles on a page can tell such a specific story. It’s safe to take off the mask. I’m allowed to share the feelings that are spilling from my subconscious.
Context: Art therapy assignment.
Taking Off the Mask
Tag: Mental Health
NAMI-NYC Virtual Expressive Arts Workshop Event: Final Thoughts
So very excited to announce the NAMI-NYC Expressive Arts workshop event I will be hosting this Saturday! This event will be via Zoom and on the NAMI-NYC website. You can find the link here. Click the Expressive Arts Zoom link for November 30, 2024.
IMPORTANT: This Expressive Arts workshop and the ones following this one are from 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm!
If you have any questions or concerns feel free to send me a DM or email 💟. The time of the event is in Eastern Standard Time.
*I will share any updates or changes and keep everyone posted.
Here are some details for the event:
Title:
Final Thoughts
Description:
“Final Thoughts” is a creative and reflective event where we will draw and write about the past year. We will begin with an icebreaker: sketching an image and listing five words we would use to describe 2024.
The main activity will then be choosing one of three options:
1. Draw a series of holiday ornaments, and next to each ornament, write an intention or message you want to carry forward.
2. Write an acrostic poem that spells “Thank You.” In each line, share something that inspired, motivated, or impacted you this year.
3. Write a farewell letter to what you want to leave behind in 2024.
We will conclude by sharing our creations.
Materials:
Paper, writing utensils (pen, pencil, markers, or crayons).
Schedule
2:00 – 2:20: Introductions and Ice breaker
2:20 – 3:00: Main Activity
3:00 – 3:30: Sharing and Closing
Hope to see you there!
Pencil Case Prompts and Writing Workshops
What motivates and inspires your creativity?
Hi Pencil Case fam! ❤️
Over the past few weeks I’ve been trying my best to find inspiration and motivation to start writing and creating again, especially since October was really tough on my creativity. So far, I’ve found that connecting more with myself, resting, taking long walks, and exploring different art spaces in stores have helped me feel a little better and inspired new ideas. I even attended a storytelling workshop that I really loved with NAMI-NYC recently!
I’m curious to know what inspires and motivates you. What helps you work on your projects or start new ones?
Feel free to share your insights in the comments! 🥰
You can also find this prompt in The Pencil on The Mighty here.
NAMI-NYC Virtual Expressive Arts Workshop Event: Falling Away
So very excited to announce the NAMI-NYC Expressive Arts workshop event I will be hosting this Saturday! This event will be via Zoom and on the NAMI-NYC website. You can find the link here. Click the Expressive Arts Zoom link for October 26, 2024.
IMPORTANT: This Expressive Arts workshop and the ones following this one are from 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm!
If you have any questions or concerns feel free to send me an email 💟. The time of the event is in Eastern Standard Time.
*I will share any updates or changes and keep everyone posted.
Here are some details for the event:
Title:
Falling Away
Description:
“Falling Away” is a creative, reflective, and fun event where we will draw and write about how we’re doing this fall season. We will begin with an icebreaker, sketching an image and completing the sentence: “I’m learning how to better ______.”
The main activity will then be choosing one of three options:
1. Draw a collection of fall leaves, writing a habit or behavior you want to change, adjust, or improve on each leaf.
2. Write a brain dump journal entry or poem titled “This Year in Review.”
3. Create a word cloud that includes words describing you and how you’re feeling this fall.
We will close by sharing our works of art.
Materials:
Paper, writing utensils (pen, pencil, markers, or crayons).
Schedule
2:00 – 2:20: Introductions and Ice breaker
2:20 – 3:00: Main Activity
3:00 – 3:30: Sharing and Closing
Hope to see you there!
I Shared My Pearls of Wisdom on Taboo Talk Podcast!
I’m excited to share that my friend and fellow NAMI-NYC Ending the Silence and In Our Own Voice co-presenter, Lady Charmaine Day, asked me to be on her podcast, Taboo Talk! In this episode I share my 21 pearls of wisdom on how to live a good life as well as my journey living in recovery. Feel free to check it out here or in the video below!
NAMI-NYC Virtual Expressive Arts Workshop Event: Shimmers and Glimmers
So very excited to announce the NAMI-NYC Expressive Arts workshop event I will be hosting this Saturday! This event will be via Zoom and on the NAMI-NYC website. You can find the link here. Click the Expressive Arts Zoom link for August 31, 2024.
IMPORTANT: This Expressive Arts workshop and the ones following this one are from 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm!
If you have any questions or concerns feel free to send me an email 💟. The time of the event is in Eastern Standard Time.
*I will share any updates or changes and keep everyone posted.
Here are some details for the event:
Title:
Shimmers and Glimmers
Description:
“Shimmers and Glimmers” is a creative, reflective, and fun event where we will draw, write, and share about positive moments that make us feel calm and secure. We will start with an icebreaker, where we sketch an image and write about three things that have made us smile recently. The main activity will then be choosing one of three options:
1. Draw a night sky full of stars, and in each star write something that brings you a sense of calm, connection, peace, or relief.
2. Write a thank-you letter to the last person, place, thing, or idea that has given you clarity, opened your perspective, or validated your feelings.
3. Create a list poem about activities you can do more often that would be beneficial to you.
We will close by sharing our works of art.
Materials
Paper, writing utensils (pen, pencil, markers, or crayons).
Schedule
2:00 – 2:20: Introductions and Ice breaker
2:20 – 3:00: Main Activity
3:00 – 3:30: Sharing and Closing
Hope to see you there!
Pencil Case Prompts: Moments of Relief
Share a moment where you experienced relief.
I’ll be honest 😔, I haven’t been feeling the greatest. Navigating life has been weighing on me and I would really like to catch a break. I haven’t written anything in a long time, so I’d like to reflect with my sparkly fam today 🩷.
For our reflection, let’s explore the moments where we’ve experienced relief (even if only temporarily). What does relief feel like to you? What makes those moments important?
For me, I’ve experienced relief when I don’t have as many responsibilities and I can sit in my room and relax. Knowing I can prioritize my self-care helps me to feel more free in myself.
Share your moments below 💌!
You can also find this prompt in The Pencil Case on The Mighty here.
NAMI-NYC Virtual Expressive Arts Workshop Event: Back In My Day
So very excited to announce the NAMI-NYC Expressive Arts workshop event I will be hosting this Saturday! This event will be via Zoom and on the NAMI-NYC website. You can find the link here. Click the Expressive Arts Zoom link for May 25th on the day of the workshop.
IMPORTANT: This Expressive Arts workshop and the ones following this one are from 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm!
If you have any questions or concerns feel free to send me an email 💟. The time of the event is in Eastern Standard Time.
*I will share any updates or changes and keep everyone posted.
Here are some details for the event:
Title:
Back In My Day
Description:
“Back In My Day” is a creative, reflective, and fun event where we will draw, write, and reflect about what we enjoyed growing up and how we think about it today. Starting with an ice breaker, we will sketch an image and introduce ourselves to the group. The main activity will then be to pick one of three activities. The first activity will be to draw or write a favorites list of what you enjoyed or were interested in when you were growing up, the second activity will be to write a descriptive poem about an item or accessory you couldn’t live without or you were excited to have as a child or teen, and the third activity will be to write a how-to guide to your younger self showing them how to navigate a hardship or challenge you overcame. Lastly, we will close by sharing our works of art.
Materials:
Paper, writing utensils (pen, pencil, markers, or crayons).
Schedule:
2:00 – 2:20: Introductions and Ice breaker
2:20 – 3:00: Main Activity
3:00 – 3:30: Sharing and Closing
Hope to see you there!
NAMI-NYC Virtual Story Hour!
I’ve been sharing my mental health story with middle school and high school students with NAMI-NYC through their Ending the Silence program for almost 5 years now, and late last year I trained to become an In Our Own Voice presenter as well! It’s been an overwhelmingly gratifying experience to not only open up spaces to have conversations about mental health, but to meet new people that inspire me to continue my journey.
This Thursday April 4th at 6 pm EST you can hear me share my recovery story with Kristen in NAMI- NYC’s virtual story hour!
🌟 If you’re interested and would like to attend click here to reserve your spot 🌟
Pencil Case Prompts: Your Health and Seasonal Changes
How do seasonal changes affect your health?
Whether it’s the transition from fall to winter, winter to spring, or spring to summer, the changes in seasons seem to always affect me in different ways 🤔. I definitely notice a change in my mood, thoughts, and motivation for sure. I even notice sometimes I have a persistent low mood in the hotter months sometimes too, but I’m more inclined to go outside for a walk.
What are your thoughts and experiences? How do the seasons affect you and your mental and/or physical health?
You can also find this prompt in The Pencil Case on The Mighty here!
SparklyWarTanks 