Doodling designs. Mucking about with paint. Smooshing clay. Belting out a tune. Sure they're fun pastimes, but they're also excellent therapies that soothe your soul and rejuvenate your spirit, and the good news is that you can easily explore them at home without a huge hourly bill or formal lessons. Here are four women who did it on their own.
Suzanne Stewart, collage artist
"Art makes me feel alive," says 37-year-old Suzanne Stewart of Winnipeg. For Suzanne, making collages is soothing yet invigorating -- the perfect antidote after a long day at work. She heads down to her cosy little art room in her basement, opens the drawers at her worktable, and a flurry of activity ensues -- colourful papers fly, scissors snip, paints smoosh and splatter, markers glide smoothly, glitter glue sticks and sparkles. Within minutes, Suzanne's tension melts away as the joy of creativity envelops her.
Being creative is cathartic, says Suzanne. "It brings up any feelings that I need to let wash over me, and then I feel clearer and more able to fill up again. It lets me empty out whatever I am carrying around in my pockets, take a look at it and create something beautiful to inspire me or something ugly that I need to let go of."
Debra Joy Eklove, lover of song
Debra Joy Eklove lets her spirit soar through group singing. The 55-year-old Toronto resident sings with other men and women at community centres, workshop studios, performing centres and in one another's homes. As Debra Joy explains, the vibrations created in her body through singing refresh and renew her. "Harmonious sounds create harmonious vibrations, and when we are in this flow, we are brighter," she says.
"Often after singing, the songs stay in my head and body for a few days. I'll be driving somewhere and the words or music just pop into my head, so I smile and sing again and feel good." At a recent workshop, Debra Joy chose to sing "When You Wish Upon a Star," a much-loved staple from her childhood. Singing the song made her feel inspired and dreamy, and within moments the five other women in the group had joined in, and they all spontaneously began dancing together. "It was great fun. The feeling of belonging and togetherness was wonderful."
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