The Opposite of Depression is Expression

This quote has been stuck in my head since I first read it.

“The opposite of depression is expression because what comes out of our body doesn’t make us ill, what stays in there does“
Dr. Edith Eger. University of Houston + University of Texas at Austin

After I had both of our boys, I found myself stuck…. I felt unable to just BE. I didn’t know how to express myself anymore. Scratch that, I actually didn’t know who I was anymore. It seemed as though anything I attached my identity to slowly dissolved over the past few years, and I was left with a version of myself I didn’t know. Literally, who is this person!?

Let’s just say… I came to understand why our ancestors wore “dusters” 24/7

Motherhood has a way of turning our lives upside down- this is no secret. But the inward change in me was something I did not prepare for. (Modern motherhood is no joke!!!)

Too busy caring for everyone else in my life, I lost myself. And I fell into a deep depression.

When I was younger, I used to say I was creative, an artist able to express myself freely. This was one of my favourite things about my inner ‘me’. My mind constantly flowed with creative ideas and throughout my life, it filled me with joy to share them through writing, photography, painting, blogging, dancing, singing (sorry for those who had to hear that).

Somehow… I forgot all of this. Or, at least, I had convinced myself that the creativity was something I had to “leave in the past”. (All-or-nothing thinking had me in a chokehold.)

My journey back to myself has been the hardest, but most rewarding journey. It came with a realization that this journey doesn’t have a destination. It’s a daily walk with myself, with both my deepest fears and wildest dreams streaming in my head. It’s just a matter of which one I’ll listen to.

I learned an important lesson:

DO NOT STOP YOUR HOBBIES. They are the key to maintaining balance – and thus, happiness. I promise you, it’s not hustling more or working harder. It’s making time to freely express yourself – whatever that may look like for you.

For me, my creative hobbies have been like drinking water again after being in the dessert. I have been having so much fun experimenting and trying new ways to create. I’ve been writing (!!!), painting, candle-making, etc….. so I thought, why not go for my ultimate hobby?

Ta-da, this blog is born.

One last thing

Comments are open below for the first 48 hours after every new post. I’d love to know what your current hobbies are!! I say current, because I am notorious for “collecting hobbies”. I’ll go first – right now, I’m very into writing, blogging and taking photos. I happen to think it is beautiful that 20 years ago, I would have the exact same list!!!! (Thank you for being here!)