Gwen Tuinman

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A Reflection: If We Saw Souls Instead of Bodies

IF WE SAW SOULS INSTEAD OF BODIES is the title of an essay by author Brianna Wiest and appears in her book 101 Essays That Will Change the Way You Think. I quickly noted that the entire piece consisted of questions. Before reading further, I stared into the pine trees outside my window. Would my questions look much different from hers? Don’t we humans yearn for the same emotional comforts? I pulled a chair snug to my desk, closed my eyes and started typing. The following is my reflection.

If we saw souls instead of bodies, wouldn’t we see flares of colour—yellow for loneliness, orange for traumatized, blue for discouragement—as signs that we’re among people who understand our own isolation, wounds and hopelessness and mightn’t we reach out a hand to help and be helped? Are we so different from one another? If our souls were on our outsides shining the full spectrum of colour, couldn’t we lose sight of differences and love each other better?

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Writing Through Tough Days

A dear friend presented me with a copy of The Right to Write by Julia Cameron. This morning, I read a passage in which Cameron talks about using emotion as fuel for writing. I know just what she means.

Every day can’t be a great writing day. We’re only human and easily derailed. A song triggers the memory of a traumatic event and upsetting images flood our minds. Muscle tension from overworking makes our heads ache. Someone we love suffers hard times and our mind repeatedly veers towards worry like a shopping cart with a wonky wheel. The harder we try to put these thoughts from our minds, the deeper they entrench themselves. Why fight it when we can harness those emotion in a productive way?

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More Than Enough

I’m an author and also the creator of a womxn’s-creative collective called The Wild Nellies. We perform and exhibit our work to awareness and funds for charities that support women fleeing domestic violence. The mission is dear to my heart, having experienced twelve years of domestic abuse in my own past.

My heart is touched when someone says my writing resonates with them. So when singer songwriter, The Rockin Krolik, shared that my memoir essay, We Are Enough: A Story of Vanquishing Self Doubt, inspired to him write new music and lyrics, I was deeply honoured. Please enjoy his song, More Than Enough.

At a Wild Nellies Celebration of Women event, The Rockin Krolik heard my reading of We Are Enough.

“At that event, she read (…) to the audience; her voice, her own words, her story and courage just drew everyone in and I was deeply moved by it. We Are Enough is raw and real. And, it brought me back to days of my life that were not so bright. Most importantly it had me thinking about my mom and her experience.”

THE ROCKIN KROLIK

Stories connect us with each other. Domestic abuse is a story as old as time, but can be difficult for victims and survivors to tell. Many thanks to The Rockin Krolik for so artfully carrying our story forward on behalf of those who have not yet reclaimed their voice.

The Rockin Krolik
FB IG

During this period of social distancing due to COVID-19 pandemic, it is more difficult for those at risk— to domestic abuse and violence— to safely access help. Below is the signal for help that can on a video call to safely show that help is needed. If you see the signal for help, please seek guidance from counsellors at the nearest women’s shelter.

Courtesy of The Denise House/Sedna Women’s Shelter & Support Services Inc.
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Belonging to the Journey

“When you plan a journey, it belongs to you. When you begin a journey, you belong to it.” After reading this African proverb in a friend’s Facebook post, I drew a quick breath and my heart opened up. Words that resonate carry such power.

So often, we engineer plans to orchestrate a project or life event according to our vision how things should go. Sometimes the universe has bigger ideas. Our creation expands beyond what we imagined, and unexpectedly carries us forward on its own energy. We cling, wide-eyed and uncertain, to its sweeping tail. The horizon is obscured by fog and around every corner is a new corner we can’t see around. Continue reading “Belonging to the Journey” →

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Walking the Forest with Whitman

 

I recently pushed away from my desk in favour of a walk in the forest with Whitman. The deadline to finish my novel looms, but a part of me called out the restorative time in nature. The October air was cool against my cheek that day and the earthy smell of fallen leaves ever present. The sumacs had turned blood red and the poplar leaves became shimmering coins against the sky.

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Frida Kahlo: Part 2

nickolas-murray-frida-kahlo-2079041643

In Frida Kahlo: Part I, I set out to build a picture of her life before her artistic success. I wondered how nature and nurture worked together to form this determined artist. Her first years were undoubtedly tumultuous, coping with her mother’s of affection, her sisters being sent away, and the affects of polio in her right leg. Continue reading “Frida Kahlo: Part 2” →

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Curating Wonder — A Kiss Before You Go

A Kiss Before You Leave 1 Continue reading “Curating Wonder — A Kiss Before You Go” →

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Seeking Inspiration — Writer’s Brain + Gym = Creative Solutions

Exercise-in-Bloomers-21 source Cornell University Libary

A writer’s brain is a tornado of thoughts. Some scenes and stories remain trapped in the vortex, while other bits of dialogue and character details fling out at unpredictable times.

When I first began writing, I devoured article after article recommending  strategies to summon the writing fairies. The little winged wonders would only hover above the page, dropping words there if I graphed, plotted, and performed any other myriad of detailed steps. These time prescribed strategies didn’t fit me. I don’t think in a straight line. I think in a combination of frolicking sideways leaps, forward bounds, and pirouettes. Continue reading “Seeking Inspiration — Writer’s Brain + Gym = Creative Solutions” →

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