This isn’t merely a metaphor about practicing what you preach. Instead, it signifies my journey of granting myself therapy on an intensely profound level, surpassing the act of merely preaching about art and the remarkable powers of healing it offers. I used to create art primarily to share with others, believing that by giving, I could facilitate healing for them. However, I’ve come to realize that I must also prioritize my own healing journey. Now, I find myself on the opposite side, where I am not just a giver but also a recipient of art’s healing effects. I embrace the experience of engaging with artwork not only to create but also to absorb its essence for my own well-being. This duality allows me to take in the beauty and meaning of art in a way that nurtures my mental and physical health. As I give myself permission to appreciate art, I am discovering the myriad ways it can help mend my spirit, inspire creativity, and simply bring joy to my life. Through this process, I am now committed to offering myself the art to heal, with a renewed understanding that healing can come from both creation and appreciation, allowing me to flourish in a world where art serves as both a gift to others and a source of solace for myself.

I am also using another healing apparatus as I write this. I am using music as another form of healing, which has an incredible ability to elevate my mood and create a serene atmosphere. I barely, if ever, write without listening to music, as it serves as my creative muse and emotional balm. Before I even begin to tap the keys on my laptop, I grab my padded headphones that comfortably submerge my ears into their cuffs, enveloping me in sound, and click on my playlist on my television music app. This ritual allows me to immerse myself into a symphony of 80’s and 90’s vocals, where each note resonates deeply, evoking memories and emotions that fuel my writing. As I let my fingers flow across my keyboard, I strive to bring you the healing power of words, words that make you feel you’re not alone—a comforting hug for your soul—or offer a glimpse into someone else’s life through relatable nonfiction narratives that they may find solace in. This connection, built through shared experiences, enriches my writing process, making it not just an act of creation, but also a shared journey that resonates with others.

All that I have written I take with me on a daily basis because I need that healing that I give others. I need to feel what others are feeling through my words and through my artwork. When I would write or paint the pages from my personal journal, I would do it all with the drive of hoping to help others and hope that they would find healing in my creations, whether it be from my words or vision through my paintings. My desire has always been to connect deeply with those who engage with my art, sharing in their joys, sorrows, and struggles. This connection is not just beneficial for them; it nourishes my soul as well. Now, as I continue this journey, I need to feel what you have felt or are feeling through the works of art from the artist of Healingwithart, allowing each brushstroke and each word to resonate with the experiences we all share, creating a tapestry of healing that wraps around us, reminding us that we are not alone in our fight against pain and searching for peace.

Now I must need to feel the healing each stroke of my brush or line my pencil draws or word I read from my blog gives to me that you would feel from me, the artist of Healingwithart. I need to see myself in a third person view when I create a painting or write a blog, as if I were stepping outside of my own being to observe the transformation taking place on the canvas or within the text. I need for this artist to speak to me as if I’m just another soul on the outside, humbly taking in the healing process of my own creations, not just as myself creating with the mindset of my art helping others and not myself. In this space, I want to merge the worlds of creator and observer, simultaneously drawing in the vibrant colors of inspiration while also surrendering to the vulnerability of my own emotions. I need to be both the artist that creates art to heal and the lost person with mixed emotions overwhelmed by their weight, feeling as if they will explode soon, and yet staring into that piece of art I created, hoping to find solace. I want to let the waterfalls flow down my cheeks, allowing each tear to release the pent-up feelings that I have kept buried for so long. As I look upon my pieces, my vision becomes tangled and unable to grasp the context of a written word because my eyes are obstructed by rising levels of salty tides—each droplet a testament to my journey, my struggles, and the unspoken stories that lie beneath the surface.

Sincerely,

David L

Healingwithart