My Healing Journey
I’m fascinated by all animals! Cat’s and dogs especially can teach us a lot about letting go, loving others, and simply enjoying life.
I grew up as the only artist in a family of brilliant, highly successful doctors and engineers. After experiencing domestic violence I internalized a painful sense of inadequacy and worthlessness. The shame and insecurity I carried showed up in every relationship, challenged every job, and led to unhealthy coping mechanisms.
Addiction defined me for years until after college I finally decided to seek help from the church. The nondenominational church I found had free group therapy which I attended consistently. I also made one friend who not only became my accountability partner, but a lifelong sister!
Soon after that I felt inspired to create animal art again for the first time in nearly a decade. I added drawing and painting animal art into my daily routine for a few minutes each morning and night while listening to sermons, painting tutorials, and meditating on God’s word.
When I didn’t have the words to communicate how I felt I’d release it into my animal art and cast it onto the Lord in prayer. When I felt triggered and tempted to fall back into my old habits I’d recall scripture, pull out my sketchbook, or go for a walk and explore nature. On days when I felt completely discouraged and overwhelmed I’d reach out for strength and encouragement from my small community at church.
Seeking the Lord through this hard battle really did transform my thinking, which in turn changed my behavior. As I began seeing myself as a loved, valuable, equipped child of God with a calling in animal art, my mind began to heal.
Today my life feels so much brighter and I give God all the glory! I’m not only addiction free, but also the mama of 2-humans, 5-pets, the wife of an amazing husband, and an Independent Animal Artist/Art Therapy Practitioner. The Lord transformed me (and still is) from the inside out.
