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How can you use art to think, heal and grow?

Mar 12 9:00am | Dr. Denise Millstine and Lisa Speckhard-Pasque | @readtalkgrow | Comments (5)

Don’t consider yourself a poetry person? You might be surprised! Listen to our latest episode, “Embracing poetry and releasing perfection.” Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

Episode summary:

Comedy writer and poet Lyndsay Rush joins us to talk about her book “A BIT MUCH” and the power of poetry to think, process and heal. Dr. Shelly Noland, medical director for the Center for Humanities in Medicine at Mayo Clinic, helps us better understand how poetry and other art can improve our wellness.

In this episode, Dr. Millstine and her guests discuss:

  • Poetry is easy! You may not think you’re cut out for poetry, but it can be so simple. Try black-out poetry. Write in phrases. Don’t finish your thought. Don’t come up with all the answers. Poetry is full of ambiguity (and incidentally, so is life).
  • A bit much. Women are often told to tone it down, and pressured not to express themselves to the full extent. Lyndsay argues that it’s not just OK to be a bit much – in fact, it should be a compliment!
  • Body image. Body image is, unfortunately, a near-universal struggle for women. Lyndsay explores these themes in her work and rebels against the expectation of constant self-scrutiny and self-improvement.

Questions for discussion:

Have you ever tried writing poetry or another art form to help you heal or grow? Tell us about it!

Share your thoughts, questions and opinions below!

Interested in more newsfeed posts like this? Go to the Read. Talk. Grow. Podcast blog.

katherinepostel | @katherinepostel | Mar 23 4:14pm

Id like to know more about how art can heal please can you tell me? Do you have a book on this subject or how would I find out? Thank you with love from Katherine

REPLY
1 reply
pml | @pml | Mar 24 9:51pm

Hi,
What a nice topic! I love writing poetry! I have been doing it for some years. Some of it has sold and some hasn't. I wrote a trilogy about 9/11/01. I was so frightened when it occurred! But writing my poetry about it helped me deal with the fear. The poems I wrote were entitled, "Heaven is Crowded Tonight", "Where is John Wayne when we need him?" and " The Lady At the Bus Stop." (The lady got covered with airplane fuel waiting at the bus stop when the plane hit the towers and she died.) These just came to me except the one about the lady at the bus stop which was a real news story. These poems were published in several places.

I'm now working on another trilogy based on my real life experience in the 1960's when I was in my 20's. (I'm currently 78.) They are entitled, "Saturday Night at the Maplebrook Tavern," "Saturday Night at the Maplebrook Tavern but don't dance with the Puerto Ricans!" (I did dance with the Puerto Ricans and that didn't go over well.) and "Saturday Night at the Maplebrook Tavern with my Arabian friends." These poems basically show the fun that existed in the 1960's and also the prejudice that existed then that thankfully, is no longer present today.

I find writing and especially writing poetry relaxing and it helps me get my real thoughts out. It's also rewarding when your writing gets published which mine has at various times. Writing is a good way to get your thoughts and feelings out whether the public sees your writing or it's just for you.

Besides writing poetry, I love reading it. My favorite is The Pathless Woods by Byron. It's interesting because there are no more pathless woods in the world! Reading this poem takes you back to the time when there was pathless woods and how beautiful and natural they must have been.

I just found this topic so I haven't listened to the podcast yet but I am looking forward to doing so!
Thank you!
PML

REPLY
1 reply
Dr. Denise Millstine | @drdenise | Mar 28 1:09am
In reply to @katherinepostel "Id like to know more about how art can heal please can you tell me? Do..." + (show)
@katherinepostel

Id like to know more about how art can heal please can you tell me? Do you have a book on this subject or how would I find out? Thank you with love from Katherine

Jump to this post

Did you know there is actually an area on Mayo Clinic Connect where you can learn more:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/center-for-humanities-in-medicine/
Also, Mayo Center for Humanities has many resources and links to references.

Is there a type of art that particularly interests you?

REPLY
1 reply
Dr. Denise Millstine | @drdenise | Mar 28 1:12am
In reply to @pml "Hi, What a nice topic! I love writing poetry! I have been doing it for some..." + (show)
@pml

Hi,
What a nice topic! I love writing poetry! I have been doing it for some years. Some of it has sold and some hasn't. I wrote a trilogy about 9/11/01. I was so frightened when it occurred! But writing my poetry about it helped me deal with the fear. The poems I wrote were entitled, "Heaven is Crowded Tonight", "Where is John Wayne when we need him?" and " The Lady At the Bus Stop." (The lady got covered with airplane fuel waiting at the bus stop when the plane hit the towers and she died.) These just came to me except the one about the lady at the bus stop which was a real news story. These poems were published in several places.

I'm now working on another trilogy based on my real life experience in the 1960's when I was in my 20's. (I'm currently 78.) They are entitled, "Saturday Night at the Maplebrook Tavern," "Saturday Night at the Maplebrook Tavern but don't dance with the Puerto Ricans!" (I did dance with the Puerto Ricans and that didn't go over well.) and "Saturday Night at the Maplebrook Tavern with my Arabian friends." These poems basically show the fun that existed in the 1960's and also the prejudice that existed then that thankfully, is no longer present today.

I find writing and especially writing poetry relaxing and it helps me get my real thoughts out. It's also rewarding when your writing gets published which mine has at various times. Writing is a good way to get your thoughts and feelings out whether the public sees your writing or it's just for you.

Besides writing poetry, I love reading it. My favorite is The Pathless Woods by Byron. It's interesting because there are no more pathless woods in the world! Reading this poem takes you back to the time when there was pathless woods and how beautiful and natural they must have been.

I just found this topic so I haven't listened to the podcast yet but I am looking forward to doing so!
Thank you!
PML

Jump to this post

It's true that there can be healing from reading, writing, sharing and reflecting on poetry - and other sorts of writing as well.
I hope you'll let us know what you think of the podcast when you check out this episode

We have a related episode about writing to heal - episode # 32 Write Your Story.
Check out that one as well!
https://libraryguides.mayo.edu/readtalkgrowpodcast/Episode32

REPLY
katherinepostel | @katherinepostel | Mar 29 5:05pm
In reply to @drdenise "Did you know there is actually an area on Mayo Clinic Connect where you can learn..." + (show)
@drdenise

Did you know there is actually an area on Mayo Clinic Connect where you can learn more:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/center-for-humanities-in-medicine/
Also, Mayo Center for Humanities has many resources and links to references.

Is there a type of art that particularly interests you?

Jump to this post

Well I am broke but someone gave me a "Amazing Grace advanced coloring book" so I've been coloring in that. I've done paintings in water colors and oil before, also worked with air dry clay! I'll check out that link that you sent thank you please write again

REPLY
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