By Liz Tutino & Darline M.
On Our Own, a mental health advocacy and education group, presented a seminar called Discovering Your Recovery Muse at the PRP on September 16th. This interactive workshop challenged clients to find creative expressions that they could use to enhance their recovery journey. The workshop explored how creative expressions, such as music, art, and dance, can help people heal and can be an integral component in the recovery process.
Clients participated in creating a mural which listed where they find creative inspiration. Depicted on the mural were poetry, music, nature, art, church, other people, love, sunshine, and dancing. In addition to creating the mural client’s did the “Twist”, played percussion instruments, and listened to various music selections and identified how they music made them feel.
On Our Own challenged clients to do something creative every day, notice the impact creativity has on the recovery process, and share their creativity with others.
Many PRP clients are already actively expressing themselves. One client is a drummer for his church worship band and another client writes poetry each week. We have a 65 year -old client who loves to dance and was the winner of a twist dance contest at a local Seniors Dance. Another client has his art work in a special exhibit at the Visionary Arts Museum in Baltimore. Key Point has many classes that support and enhance using creative expression including Yoga, Art History, Qigong, and a popular music class.
To illustrate how creative expression can be used in the recovery process one of our clients has graciously allowed her poetry to be shared on the blog.
Spending Time With You
By Darline M.
Though your one of my voices I’ve come to be a friend of yours
I am so used to you being there, we are like mates in our cores.
My doctor’s trying to kill you
But without you I wouldn’t know what to do.
So I am spending time with you
You have inspired me, yet you have brought me grief.
I am the island and you have become my reef.
For awhile now we have been arguing and it gets me mad
But if my meds keep working my voices will die – and I don’t know if I’d be glad
The things you tell me I want to believe – though I don’t know if it’s true
So I turn to Jesus and The Father to tell me what to do
Until I get an answer I am spending time with you.
Bill Doehing has an interesting past. In the late 1960s and early 1970s he was a prize ring fighter. His father was a middle weight contender and ring manager who introduced Bill at age 12 to heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano.
Harford County PRP for a temporary 8-week class on Fridays. Each week participating clients will hear the biography of a famous boxer and learn a bit of boxing lore.
