Musician, artist and creative, Sarina Leah reflects on the last year, resilience, leaning into yourself and truly being more yourself.
2020 was quite a year. A part of my illustrative work is centred on wellbeing however I noticed how challenging it was to maintain my own mental wellbeing whilst still creating art and dealing with Covid-19, BLM & Brexit. I found my art became my own form of therapy. I was also grateful that my self-care colouring book Women + Patterns + Plants reached a larger audience and became a useful tool for wellbeing during difficult times.
I’ve noticed a shift towards more art and creativity centred around wellbeing & mental health, underrepresented people having more opportunity for visibility in different spaces. There is a deeper sense of un–comfortability and the unknown which I believe is transformative on culture and defines a turning point in history for mankind, there has to be transparency and change, because these times call for it on all levels.
The last 12 months have pushed me to learn resilience as a creative business owner, adapting resourcefully, creating opportunity where there isn’t. I had to re-evaluate what and who is important to me and spent a lot more healing, regenerative time in nature in my allotment. I feel time will tell what the impact of 2020 has had organically on my experience over the past 12 months. I do believe it will show up in my art work.
“This insight shaped my awareness in realising time isn’t guaranteed in life and to aim to live a life of purpose, passion, vision & legacy, excited me on a personal level.”
I’ve always looked at life from an observational place in my imagined future and wondered what it might feel like if I didn’t follow my joy. Would it be a place of regret? This insight shaped my awareness in realising time isn’t guaranteed in life and to aim to live a life of purpose, passion, vision & legacy, excited me on a personal level. If I was to give advice to others making their way in this sector, I would say, “explore your talent, practice obsessively, flourish in what lights you up. Allow for change and obstacles. It’s a part of exploring who you are.”
I’m curious about energy, vibration and things you might not see visibly effecting you on a physical level. So nurturing your higher intuition, the power of thoughts – words and gratitude journaling, as a self-care practice, I would remind myself how grounding these things are when I feel disorientated or challenge in some way. Hindsight is a gift and reflecting on the journey and process, I’d share with my 10-year younger self – “When you believe, the whole universe will believe too.”
I’d say be more of yourself, more of your energy, your way, your gifts.
You can find Sarina over at http://www.secret-music.net/sarina-leah and her visual arts over at www.wildsuga.com.