People’s Journeys: K.B. I’m ready to move on

Arty-Folks has helped me discover more about myself and supported me to embrace these things. It’s given me the safe space to try new activities and reminded me that it’s OK to fail.

The activities became a bit like a mirror for me – showing me how much some of my habits and ways of thinking were holding me back. This brought up a lot of emotions for me and was really challenging. But they also made me aware how much I was actually struggling, and how much my perfectionism, and in particular people-pleasing, were really impacting on my self-esteem and my life (which was actually way more than I thought!).

For me, it’s not an exaggeration to say that being part of Arty-Folks journey has been life changing. It may sounds dramatic, but when you feel like your life is over and there’s no place in this world for you, and you’ve been drowning in the dark for so long – it is dramatic. It’s impact on me has been dramatic.

Having the kind, gentle support of Arty-Folks’ staff has brought me back to life. Throughout, they’ve all been encouraging, inspiring and fun whilst also challenging me to be honest with myself, to ask myself what needs to shift for change to happen. I’ve found that difficult at times but they knew exactly what I needed at exactly the right time.

The art projects have been comforting, challenging and revealing. And when I’ve felt bad about myself because I was comparing myself to others, the art and the group became a place to explore these feelings and share them with other people who had felt the same. That was a real comfort, the other members of the group became a really important part of it all for me too. It showed me that support can come from very different people, but because you’re all navigating a challenging time, that support really gives you a boost.

My time at the group (approx. 9 months) has brought me a long way from where I started when I tentatively went along to the first of the intro sessions. The art exploration, the discussions it provoked and the unwavering support at staff as well as my peers had cleared a space in me for real healing (which is just the very beginning really), making me feel like I want to step out into the world and experience new things.

Because of my time at Arty-folks I have found some joy, some excitement and a real feeling of possibility. Its cracked me wide open, and made me realise that their could be a time when I fully accept myself and find my way back into the light. The possibilities feel endless. I am able to say that I am courageous, I am brave, I am strong and I have control over what happens next. And that is the greatest gift anyone could have given, when everything had felt so impossible. I would not be in the place l am now without Arty-Folks and that’s just a fact. So that’s why I feel I can say, with hope, courage and such gratitude, that now is the right time to move on.

New Opportunities

How do I know it’s time to move on?

I have new opportunities on the horizon.

And I was only able to find them, and be in the position to feel able/excited to try these new things, because of the guidance and support I’ve found here.

I had been attending around 9 months when I had a real in-depth discussion with my Wellbeing Mentor Lorella. She asked me what needed to shift in me to move forward and we went through some exercises together around my self-esteem and setting boundaries. This really helped me to break through a mental block and I decided to try adding another activity into my week. After that discussion I felt emotionally drained but it also lit a spark in me!

The following week I made myself go along to a group I had attended just once before and I hadn’t liked it then. But now, Wow, how that shifted everything! They were so welcoming and I felt so free being there. I felt like I’d found something really special, where I could carry on working on everything I’ve started with Arty-Folks. And this has spurned more shifts in other areas: I’m volunteering, I have made new friends, I’ve started swimming again, and I’m rediscovering/exploring my love of photography.

So, thank you, wholeheartedly to everyone at Arty-Folks, from Lorella and Liz to all my wonderful Peers. You’ve help bring me home to myself and increased my love for art and trying new things.

Forever grateful, K.B. x