Write out your mind and heart

Creative Writing is a form of art. More than the paintings and graphics, writing is an expression of our thoughts and those topics close to our hearts.

Among other things, writing has been an advocacy where I have blended creativity, arts and everything else in-between. Last Tuesday, a local author friend – Lester Laoagan launched his book “Kalanay: A Tale of the Mountains”. He introduced Cordilleran practices, culture and tradition in his fiction book. It took him seven (7) years to write it, which I think also, among other things, he wrote about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) about his brother. What was the source of his creative writing? Perhaps, it was the inspiration of his experiences as an Ibaloi, as a brother who is the caregiver of a person with disability and a mindful practice or therapy for his thoughts and feelings. Such is the power of the words and the pen, it is a creative undertaking.

The Baguio Creative Writing Local Community is proud to have a list of authors who have shared their experiences through mindful writing. To name a few, count me in with my Mindful Musings and Don’t Call Me Schizophrenic at Amazon. MJ Leonardo Gambulao did talk about grief, melancholy and depression in her two books: The 25 Centavo Coin and Answered Prayer.

Malou Maningas-Coronacion talked about the feeling of loss for her daughter. She also came back with a collaboration grand entrance with her sister for a children’s book with illustrations. Evangeline Patal-e Dao-anis wrote about mental health and self-care inspiration on her journeys for Brighter Perspectives and recently launched, Bago Ka Ma-Fall. Liway Dela Rosa, on the other hand, won a Palanca award for her book, “Si Tala at and Mahiwagang Pila ng Jeep” which dealt with a kick of Psychology.

So why do we write? Why do you write? Why do I write? That’s too many questions, don’t you think?

No, it’s not a sore spot for questions-too-many. We all write – maybe some in journals, poems, short stories, zines, campus newspapers or even the likes of the historical Baguio local newspaper Midland Courier.

I have written for In-between Lucid Intervals for sometime with the likes of Psychologist Myra Gahid who became all too busy. I write as a form of therapy. When emotions are at its peak and mental health is disturbing, I take time to write my mind and heart out. Why? It is because I find it more useful and organized to think about thoughts or anger written rather than saying bad words to influence a toxic environment. It works for me.

Have you tried writing in a journal? Journaling is a known concept in therapies for mental health. Even my first doctor recommended it many times to me and to others. Even Psychstart, a team of Psychologists do recommend journaling. Meanwhile, journaling has taken another and better creative form such as in scrapbooking or journaling on your cellphone applications. There are journals you can find online also, where you can print and answer them. Such is the beauty of writing as a therapy!

The next time you feel a heavy emotion, sit down and get a pen or type on your cellphones briefly describing the emotion. If you’re sad, write it. If you’re happy, write it. Then, go over both again and see the difference to realize that emotions are not constant – that circumstances do change.

Through the whole process of my mental health journey, I realized that my first books or short stories were full of sadness. Now, they have become light-hearted and I am able to laugh at my own misadventures and life’s antics, accepting and realizing my level of weirdness. I am in the process of looking for a publisher for another book, wish me luck!

I hope you write your mind and heart out so much that it gives you more peace, calmness and serenity. Write as if there’s no tomorrow. Share it in various forms or keep it as keepsakes like diaries. Be creative as you can be. Express yourself. Be you. Be mindful and be aware. You’ll realize there’s plenty to think, feel, write and live about!