This December brings with it the final sessions of my two current Calmly Create groups. I find December, the end of the year, a reflective time and this week, I have been reflecting on the ending of these two groups.
Organising and running the groups has been a joy. I have enjoyed researching and planning the activities but most of all I have enjoyed seeing all the members of Calmly Create take some time out of their day to come along and fully embrace the sense of wellbeing that being creative can offer. Both groups have embraced all the activities and supported each other in doing so. They have also listened to each other’s worries and stresses, comforted each other when needed, laughed together and some have formed friendships that will go on long after the groups have folded. All this has happened through the means of creativity.
I believe strongly in the power of the arts when it comes to wellbeing. My experience in running the groups has made me even more certain of the benefits on the self that can come about through being creative. Doing creative activities can help us to relax, calm us, help to ground us, refocus our thoughts, help us to gain perspective in a stressful time, unite us, help us to communicate thoughts and feelings, it can make socialising easier and can provide us with a sense of achievement.
I hope both groups have enjoyed the sessions as much as me. I also hope that when life feels stressful or overwhelming they now feel more equipped to think up their own creative activities to do at home to help them to feel better.
I would like to thank both groups for their commitment to coming along every month, their enthusiasm, their kindness and their support in making the Calmly Create venture a success. An idea that was born from a question at my interview to be a Listener. At the end of the interview I was asked if I had any questions. I asked: “Is there any way I could incorporate my interest in the arts into the role?” At that point I don’t think I could have imagined how great that would turn out to be.
Happy Creating!
Ruth x x x
Below, one participant shares how taking part in Calmly Create has supported their wellbeing:
“I have looked forward to the art sessions every month. I can’t fully put into words how much it has helped my mental health.”
