Dancing Eye’s - Full Circle

Adding to my list of creativity I’ve begun to sketch, draw and experiment with Visual Arts, a lot of thought going into the first time of holding a piece of charcoal in my hand to feeling free and excited about a blank sheet of paper in front of me.

Everyday ableism has been a subtle but constant deterrent of my self-confidence, so a thick skin is necessary to push past low societal expectations and attitudes, I know I’m not alone by any means with my experience. Dedication to caring for myself took on a whole new level at the first look in a mirror after my stroke. The ache, panic and connection to a photo of my dancing eye’s from long ago put a fire in my heart at that time to continue despite the odds. So I am thrilled to share my sketch of that photo and the poem written to keep me connected to a feeling I wanted to reclaim. The sketch is like another full circle in my life and thinking about that photo at times throughout years kept me going when so many interactions directed at my failures by the health system left me hollow. I found little evidence of how the back flips outside the box I was doing - trying to stay well was recognised.

I’ll share my full circle of Dancing Eye’s with a very warm heart.

DANCING EYES.

Reflection.

Seeking familiarity.

Aware of hollow pain.

Far away pools of nothingness return my gaze.

Where did they go?

My dancing eyes.

Reassuring me of goodness in life during times of uncertainty.

Stabbing feelings in my heart and head.

Constricting breath.

Distress over their absence.

My dancing eyes.

Where are they?

Recovery, discovery, healing.

I see my dancing eyes.

I see me!

Keep dancing and keep smiling :-)

Photo taken approximately 1977 - Papua New Guinea (7 years old)

Artwork by self 16/2/2024