Rebecca recently had to get her vehicle registered in Arizona.  She’d postponed going to the DMV because of dreaded long lines, complicated forms, burnt-out government employees, and the fear that she would not be able to complete the process despite all of her efforts to have her ducks in a row.  When she got there, just as she predicted, she had to shuffle through a long line (actually two) only to discover that she did not have all of the paperwork.

When we first started writing this newsletter 5 years ago, Hurricane Sandy had just devastated New York and New Jersey.  In the span between then and now, we’ve seen many global tragedies–the Pulse shootings, Manchester, Charlottesville, Paris, Harvey, the refugee crisis, threats of nuclear war, violent political extremism, wildfires and earthquakes.  And we in the aftermath of the Las Vegas Massacre while Puerto Rico is still reeling from Hurricane Irma and the ongoing rains that continue to hit the island.

We were recently asked to do a presentation on “Digital Detox”.  When we researched this phenomenon, we found that there was a tacit presumption that frequent exposure to digital devices interferes with our ability to connect with others and reduces the quality of what little contact we do have.  The recommended solutions usually involved some sort of restriction or withdrawal from digital engagement.

We, Gioia and Rebecca, have recently written a textbook on the way we combine art therapy and positive psychology.  Thankfully, it’s in the last stages of publication and all we have to do is go over the final proofs and pick a cover.

Earlier this month, Rebecca’s mother, Lee, visited Miraval, the Arizona resort where Rebecca is an art therapy specialist and wellness counselor.  After a day of rest, Lee decided to “stretch” herself by trying out some activities that were outside of her “box”.  For the next couple of days, she participated in a ceremony using gently sounding brass Tibetan bowls, then a gratitude meditation, a lecture on mindfulness, a rigorous fitness training, etc..

Rebecca’s Aunt Joan–whose blog Joan’s Stones was the topic of our newsletter in March as well as many other newsletters on creativity and aging gracefully–passed away last month.  Although it may sound odd, she died what we would describe as a “good death”.

When Rebecca’s brother, T (short for Theodore), was in his teens he decided he was going to be a millionaire by the time he was at 25.  He left the east coast for California with long straggly hair and not much of a plan, just the mindset that he wanted to be wealthy.  He tried his hand at photography, house-painting, race car driving, and even ballet.

Rebecca’s 95 year-old aunt Joan’s tenacious creativity has inspired yet another newsletter.  A couple of years ago, we wrote about her blog, Joan’s Stones, which she started at the age of 90 to keep her creativity alive when she was becoming less mobile (to see that newsletter click here).  Joan’s “stones” were posts in which she responded with a poem to photographs she’d take on her daily walks.

Instead of making resolutions at the end of the year, we decided to do a review of what we had accomplished in 2016.  When we “interviewed” our family members (they are always the guinea pigs for the exercises we suggest to you here), we got responses such as “I didn’t really accomplish much” or “Can’t we just forget last year, it was so difficult!”.

When you’re single everybody and their mother tells you how to find a mate.  They’ll tell you what you should do: follow your interests and you’ll meet people with similar interests, do something different so you’ll broaden your options, join a gym, be yourself, be authentic, step outside of your comfort zone, play the game, be honest, lower your expectations, believe that you deserve love, etc.  They’ll also tell you what you shouldn’t do: don’t try too hard, don’t be too eager, don’t show how much you care, don’t date someone who is older, younger, too much like you, too different, etc.

We wish all of you–our family, friends, colleagues, clients, and collaborators–a peaceful transition into the new year.  For those of you who like to color, we send you a little present, a download of one of the Coloring Creates Wellbeing: The Desert Mandalas Coloring Book Rebecca illustrated.  Here is a link to the coloring book. 

During this time of year many of us are moved to find ways to give back to our communities but, apart from donating food, money or time if we have them to give, we’re not sure how else we can contribute. And then once the holiday season is over, we’re not sure how we might keep giving in ways that are congruent with our interests and who we are.  Maybe for those of us who are therapists, our work itself fulfills that need, but even therapists often want to find more ways to positively impact the people they encounter in their lives–both strangers, co-workers, clients, and friends.

An old friend of Rebecca’s, David Moyer, who has been an artist for over 50 years, has just now decided he’s going to teach himself how to draw.  Even though he went to Pratt Institute (one of the premier art schools in the US) back in the 80’s, he spent most of his time there developing a style of painting–farbelism–that involved a complex pattern of design and color (click to here learn more about farbelism).

Here at Creative Wellbeing Workshops we often get asked how to be more positive, but it’s not always easy to just “think positive!”  We sometimes need gentle reminders to shift negative trains of thought. Affirmations are short positive sayings or phrases that can serve that purpose.