In this episode, podcaster Tracy Crow, an author, writing coach, and Marine Corps veteran, talks with friend Susan Gray about how creativity is helping her overcome enormous trauma. "Sewing makes sense to me...when nothing else about the world makes sense," she explains. After discovering that her husband of nearly thirty years had been molesting their son and others, and was facing criminal charges that included witness tampering, Susan filed for divorce -- a move that, sadly, alienated her from her children. "They blamed me for making their dad's life even harder," she says. On the first day of the trial, she shares that her ex-husband abruptly left the courthouse after looking over the lengthy witness list that included the name of their son who was prepared to tell the whole truth. Susan says her ex-husband -- father of her four children -- committed suicide in the courthouse parking lot. As a mother, she longed to comfort her grieving children, but they blamed her for their father's suicide. Susan reveals how creativity through sewing has kept her "sane" throughout the trauma, and how sewing has served as a healing bridge of communication between her and the children. These days, she's also creating a complex quilt from a design requiring 37 types of fabric. One day while cutting strips of fabric to re-create a new pattern alongside strips of other fabrics, she had an epiphany: "This quilt is actually a metaphor of my life." Just like the quilt design, she, too, is re-purposing the less-than-beautiful strips of her past into new patterns. "I can't go back to my old life," she says, "but I can create something beautiful from the pieces of it."
EP #34: Navy veteran, author shares excerpts from new novel, No Salvation
EP #33: Who's fired up for (stained) glass?
EP #32: How to inspire creativity at the 9-to-5!
EP #31: Fear of gardening? What could possibly go wrong?
EP #30: Part 2 -- "Train's Comin'"! Military wife reads excerpt from PTSD memoir
EP #29: Part 1 -- Military wife uses writing as a pathway through PTSD
EP #28: Portrait artist redefines self-expression through abstract painting
EP #27: A celebration of poets and their poetry -- part 2!
EP #26: DISCLAIMER -- These poems may change you!
EP #25: Pulling paintings out of the fire -- nurse practioner finds meaning in the journey
EP #24: Part 1 -- Pediatric psychiatric nurse practioner blends science and art to refill her well
EP #23: Part 2 -- Novelist, Navy vet Jeffery Hess discusses value of writing workshops, personal process
EP #22: Part 1 -- Novelist, Navy vet crafts newest book from historic events
EP #21: Part 2: Discovering stillness, gifts through life-changing Vision Quest
EP #20: Part 1-- No phone, food, or shelter...she's answering the call for a Vision Quest in the NC wilderness
EPISODE 19: Part 2 -- How viewing life through the lens of a storyteller reveals truths & the true Self
EPISODE 18: Part 1-- Going viral...writer discovers surprising gifts amid storm of negativity
EPISODE 17: Part 2 -- Army veteran reads excerpt of compelling PTSD memoir
EPISODE 16: Part 1 -- Writing journey transforms Army vet from PTSD agoraphobia to "new normal-BIG life"
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