Discovered you on YouTube, Landscape Artists by accident? Don't think so...your journey then and now resonates with me, I enjoy your art, I don't know what Jen painted here, but I see where I am on my journey now, 2 legs awkwardly positioned, a brain on the top..no trunk in-between, and when I zoomed in I see postured hands inside the brain: holding, supporting, cupping...most extraordinary, exactly where I am now as a semi retired Physio who cannot cross the line from the most important identity in my life (so it feels) to just be me (unstructured, tried, failed, every time). I am clinging onto the discipline, routine and structure, craving to embrace the 'chaotic' me at the same time. I cannot cross yet, but this piece of writing.gave me a new perpective on my current stuckness...I am 57 and also feel I am racing against time...so painfully exhausting, and here we are still...
Love reading this Marna. Keep going - new identity doesn’t appear in a linear way. I keep being dragged back to OT for many reasons and constantly have to check who I am and what I am becoming. Keep well
Thank you for your openness in this piece. My therapist once told me "normal is just a setting on a laundry machine" and that's always stuck with me. Keep being "Jen" and let that guide your creativity and artwork. Enjoy this ongoing journey. Here's to not fitting in and to continuing to move through the "obstacles" 🥂
Thank you SO much for this affirming piece, Jen. As a late (self-discovered) neurodivergent, who has tried and failed to 'fit-in' all my life, but has also tried and failed to be a success at not fitting in, I really appreciate your authenticity, and am in awe of what you have achieved in the art world.
I shall give further thoughts to your thinking about barriers.
Coincidentally, @RuthAllen here on Substack wrote this morning about a novel called The Wall, which may be relevant, and I have just ordered from our local library
Discovered you on YouTube, Landscape Artists by accident? Don't think so...your journey then and now resonates with me, I enjoy your art, I don't know what Jen painted here, but I see where I am on my journey now, 2 legs awkwardly positioned, a brain on the top..no trunk in-between, and when I zoomed in I see postured hands inside the brain: holding, supporting, cupping...most extraordinary, exactly where I am now as a semi retired Physio who cannot cross the line from the most important identity in my life (so it feels) to just be me (unstructured, tried, failed, every time). I am clinging onto the discipline, routine and structure, craving to embrace the 'chaotic' me at the same time. I cannot cross yet, but this piece of writing.gave me a new perpective on my current stuckness...I am 57 and also feel I am racing against time...so painfully exhausting, and here we are still...
Love reading this Marna. Keep going - new identity doesn’t appear in a linear way. I keep being dragged back to OT for many reasons and constantly have to check who I am and what I am becoming. Keep well
Thank you for your openness in this piece. My therapist once told me "normal is just a setting on a laundry machine" and that's always stuck with me. Keep being "Jen" and let that guide your creativity and artwork. Enjoy this ongoing journey. Here's to not fitting in and to continuing to move through the "obstacles" 🥂
Thank you SO much for this affirming piece, Jen. As a late (self-discovered) neurodivergent, who has tried and failed to 'fit-in' all my life, but has also tried and failed to be a success at not fitting in, I really appreciate your authenticity, and am in awe of what you have achieved in the art world.
I shall give further thoughts to your thinking about barriers.
Coincidentally, @RuthAllen here on Substack wrote this morning about a novel called The Wall, which may be relevant, and I have just ordered from our local library