What inspired you to transition from your career as a registered massage therapist to becoming an author of poetry?
I still work full time as a massage therapist. The poetry became an extension of my healing journey and a way for me to journal through my pain.
How did your background in massage therapy and medical acupuncture influence your writing process and the themes explored in your book?
I can identify that patients have holding patterns for pain. Stress shows up in jaws, shoulders, hips and calves. Anxiety in the abdomen. And depression seems to be all consuming. Some of my poems relate to experiences I’ve had with specific people and pain.
Can you share a bit about the healing journey you embarked on while writing your book? How did the process of writing poetry contribute to your personal growth and healing?
This book began as a journal. I wrote these poems from the deepest part of my heart. The voice of the soul. I was in such a low place personally that a lot of that emotion was released with the writing of these poems. A social worker friend explained to me a way to retrieve my lost inner child, in that search I wrote a series of poems. I was able to communicate the betrayal of alcoholism to the one who hurt me. So many aspects of my life grew with the release these poems gave me.
How do you balance the demands of your active lifestyle with your writing practice?
I have had to stop what I’m doing and write a poem quick. If I don’t capture it as soon as it comes they are often lost. With the exception of a few. When I’m active I’m most inspired. Out in nature poems will come, clarity and wisdom are released. Recently my friend lost his battle with cancer. Lay With Me is written for him. After he died I was walking my dog in nature and the clearest message came “if you want to truly see something, at any given time, focus solely on what is right in front of your face. “ no distractions, no past, no future, no phone.
Your hobbies include playing the French horn, curling, trivia, and kayaking. How do these activities influence your creativity and inspire your writing?
To me music is its own version of poetry. When we play a piece we don’t just read notes. There are dynamics and tempo changes to follow as well. Working as a team to let stars shine. Being authentically true to who you are will open up your world to the people who will just fit with you. All of these activities take planning and talent and strategy. They can all be done alone or with a group.
Were there any specific experiences or moments during your activities that directly influenced or found their way into your poetry, “Get Your Footprints Out Of My Garden”?
Hmmm. If I kayak alone it’s almost meditative and I do remember last year I went camping alone because I thought I had a fear of being alone. I actually don’t fear being alone, I learned I have a fear of rejection. However, while on that trip I went kayaking and the most profound thing happened. I grieved the loss of my grandfather who died before I was born. My dad was only 5 when his dad drown. And another beautiful poem came from that experience.
What advice would you give to aspiring writers who are also juggling demanding careers and active lifestyles?
I think it’s possible to do both. I needed an editor to help me as didn’t know all the rules and corrections. If you need a team to help you, get one. If you have a message to share, let it out. I try to do everything in my life as a balance. It doesn’t alway work. But I try.
How do you approach the authenticity of expression in your poetry, especially considering your background in healthcare and alternative medicine?
If we don’t express ourselves authentically the pain and grief can be stored in our bodies. Eventually this can cause more chronic issues. It’s best to let it all out. I approach it as my truth. The truth as I know it to be right now. It’s far easier to go through life telling your truth, than wearing a mask to fit where you don’t belong.
Can you discuss any particular poems in your book, “Get Your Footprints Out Of My Garden: A Poetry Collection” that were particularly challenging or rewarding to write, and why?
Oh yeah. “Lay With Me” was such a rewarding poem. Shaun sadly passed away a few weeks ago. He battled cancer for over 2 years. Always cementing his feet into the future. It’s hard for me to read that one now. I think “Breadcrumbs” was the most shocking poem. I didn’t realize I was experiencing that at the time. “Messy” is another poem that I find rewarding. It really speaks to how life can take over and create chaos in our minds. I “Talk To You” I feel like this poem is so freeing from ancestral trauma. This is my way of grieving my grandfather that I never met. He died when my dad was 5.
How do you see poetry as a form of healing or therapeutic expression, both for yourself and for your readers?
Poetry is much like music, the expression is the identity of the artist. The experience is taken differently by each persons own experiences. I think as life changes for us we change. I can express very clearly what I’m feeling with the words that come out in these poems.
Do you find any parallels between the process of massage therapy or acupuncture and the act of writing poetry?
I am a very intuitive healer. It’s almost like I get a picture of what is going on in someone’s body by the information that they share. A persons body tells a story about the experiences they’ve had. My poems tell stories too. They are just a little less vague than a body!
How do you navigate vulnerability and self-expression in your writing, especially when sharing personal experiences or emotions?
There was so much personal growth and healing that came from writing this book. I didn’t expect the responses to the poems that came up. Several people told me they cried through the first 2 sections. Some said they never cry but my poems made them cry. One friend from the band told me he wanted to meet up to discuss the book and how it moved him. I had no idea what to expect. It was pretty awesome when he shared his experience with an alcoholic partner to me. I have gained so many good people from my vulnerability. And I have started to shed most of the toxic ones from my life.
What role does nature play in your poetry, considering your love for kayaking and spending time on the river?
I find trees and water to be very powerful healers. If I’m sad I try to sit in nature. Or at least listen to a nature meditation. I’m a softly for baby animals. On a hike in waskesiu a few years ago I was startled by an adorable baby porcupine. On my trip to Cuba last year I spent a few hours watching birds by the sea. Spending time in nature shows us vulnerability.
How has your community band experience influenced your creative process and your approach to writing poetry?
The support from a community band is amazing. You take every age of adult. Sit them in a small room. And then watch them bring a bunch of black dots on a page to life! You listen to their individual self expression. Some are bold. Some quiet. Everyone is there for the love of it. When you can expand your energy beyond yourself, you can absorb the experiences of those around you, and what you write becomes magic!
What do you think of AllAuthor and would you recommend it to your other author friends?
I have not taken the time to explore all that All author has to offer, I would recommend it to other authors though, yes.
