Tag Archives: farewells

Art is therapy.

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Her Caregivers Group blessed Alex on her last day as art-therapy intern at Emmanuel.

I want to thank you all for tuning in each week and allowing me this space to expand upon my learning experiences this year. I have truly loved interning here at Emmanuel in the common art, Boston Warm and Art & Spirituality programs. From my first week, I immediately felt welcome and a part of this amazing community, for which I am deeply grateful. It has been a gift to have been able to enter into the reciprocal love, care, and generosity that takes place in these programs. Continue reading →

If you were a clock, what time would you show? 

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“Saying goodbye is not easy.” resonated in my head this week. Monday (1/9) was my last day after nine weeks at the Suffolk County House of Correction for the Art and Spirituality Program. When leading the opening group check-in, I asked participants: “If you were a clock, what time would you be now?” Some people said they were in the morning; some people said they were in the afternoon. What spoke to me was that some people said they were at 12 o’clock midnight, which means it is an end but also a start of something new. I related to their words deeply. Indeed, without goodbyes, we would not be able to have a new beginning. The ending of something can also be a new start for people who are looking for a change.

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Weaving a Farewell Tapestry

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I am thinking of endings today as I recently announced to the community that I only have a short time left at common art. I expressed my gratitude to everyone and told the community how much they have helped me grow. I shared with them the site where I’ll be going for my second internship and explained how my experience with them helped me get this opportunity.

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Leaving without Saying Goodbye

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This week at common art the unexpected departure of one of our beloved community members was announced. We were told that he had found a job and had just moved to start it. It was his wish to leave without telling many people and to leave no contact information. While I have only been at the program now for two months, I felt this loss greatly. He had worked as our barista, our food liaison, if you will. He served the community coffee and meals with a smile and could often be heard laughing.

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Saying Goodbye

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Saying goodbye is never easy to do, yet it is something that I have been preparing for over the course of the semester as I knew my time at common art would be ending. It was time to begin bringing closure in these meaningful connections that have blossomed over the last nine months. It feels as though I have been coming to common art both for years and for only days.  There has been a comforting familiarity walking in and being greeted at common art by community members eager to get started.   On the other hand, each week has been full of surprises as I consistently learned new things.

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Processing Emotional Discomfort

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As I come into the end of my internship with Emmanuel Church, I am reflecting on what I can take away from this experience.  What am I taking with me from this internship beyond the indelible impact of resilient, artistic, and caring individuals?  Undoubtedly, the ways I have been impacted by others and the wonderful memories I have made with people in this internship will be something I carry with me for the rest of my life. In addition, I have been reflecting on what growth and new skills this internship has given me.  I believe that one of the most important skills I have gained from this internship – something that I can take with me into future career opportunities and life in general – is the ability to sit with my own discomfort.  This is not to suggest that I should sit idle if I feel like my personal safety or the safety of others is at risk, but I am suggesting that it is okay and maybe even essential to therapeutic presence to be able to sit with and process the emotional discomfort that can arise in difficult situations.     Continue reading →