Healing Through Creativity

Creative Mind Therapy

By Gina Quarles

“The truly creative mind [feels] the overpowering necessity to create, create, create — so that without the creating of music or poetry or books or buildings or something of meaning, their very breath is cut off… By some strange, unknown, inward urgency they are not really alive unless they are creating.” — Pearl Buck, Winner of 1938 Nobel Prize in Literature

As most of you who know my story, I was rendered helpless after my very near-death accident from last year. I came home after almost three months of being continually cared for in the hospital. I returned home with my heavy halo screwed into my head and a broken leg. I could not do a thing for myself unassisted. The only thing I could really do on my own and without assistance was write. I am a big reader and used to write poetry before my accident back in 2000s. Life got busy and writing was swept under the rug for years.

When I did come home, writing was something I could do for my own which helped with my self esteem and sense of independence. Now, I know much of what I had written back in the early days and upon returning home were not the best of pieces. It was a starting point of much healing. It was something just for me. It was one thing I could claim as my own without anyone else's help. It gave me a certain confidence that I was lacking. I now believe that sense of confidence and boost of self esteem, sped up my healing. It nurtured my lonely soul and allowed to me express feelings and thoughts privately. I will cherish those early pieces from when I came home forever. It was though writing, that my creativity came shinning though once again. I could feel it trying with a fierce force to burst out of me. I had so much to say! When you go through something as tragic as a near-death accident, you have plenty of emotions to work through.

I often questioned all of the many "why?" and "why me" and "what nows?" I could put all of my emotions on paper. Each aspect I was questioning was on that paper and through my writing, I viewed it as a sort of reference sheet. In my medicated condition, I found my writing became very helpful in keeping me in touch with my feelings while processing of all that had happened to me. My life was truly turned upside down. I had to create a new identity for myself. I had to have something to look forward to each day that was just mine. Writing gave that gift and lost sense of self back to me.

Pearl Buck (winner of a Nobel Prize in Literature in 1938) also commented on this idea, writing: “The truly creative mind [feels] the overpowering necessity to create, create, create — so that without the creating of music or poetry or books or buildings or something of meaning, their very breath is cut off… By some strange, unknown, inward urgency they are not really alive unless they are creating.”

The reference above truly can describe how I felt. If it were not for my writing, I would not have progressed. Nor would I have felt a sense of purpose while recovering. I could feel what was described above as a relentless urge to want to create and write. I created through my writing. I dabble in drawing, but writing is my rocket fuel. It reminds of where I am headed or wish to be be moving towards. It grounds me and calms my mind after I write it all out on paper. I was beginning to feel alive again as I wrote more and more.

Due to being forced to slow down, I went back to one of my passions. My passion for writing has given me many new and exciting opportunities. I began submitting articles online. After all, why not I was doing it for fun? People were noticing me. Unknowingly, I created a platform for my writing and now it has lead me to publishing my first book. Writing has opened so many doors for me. My passion for writing still fuels today and is a big part of who I am. It fits into my life where I believe it should have been all along. So, whatever your passion is, keep at it and do not let it go dormant. It must be expressed. When your passion is there and is for what you love, it will always be a treasured piece of art. It is for others benefit as well you share an artistic side of yourself.

This passion I speak of need not be only writing. You can be creative in drawing, painting, cooking, gardening, interior decorating, photography, music, the list of art goes on forever. I view life as one huge canvas waiting for all of us to add to. Let's all create a masterpiece together by using our gifts known or unknown. Go explore, go dabble in different things that allow you to express yourself. You will find art can be one of the best therapists out there! •

© 2013 Gina Quarles. All rights reserved.

Gina Quarles is a mom, wife and a creative soul who is passionate about the art of writing. More

3/15/13