![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.judithdhenry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/fullsizeoutput_142.jpeg\")
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For the past few years, I\u2019ve been on a journey of self-discovery that includes creating art, writing, teaching, and even gardening!<\/p>\n
The catalyst was caring for both my parents in the final phase of their lives – kind of like a roller coaster ride in the dark, but with moments of joy, laughter, and deep connection. From that life-changing experience came The Dutiful Daughter\u2019s Guide To Caregiving. <\/em>It\u00a0was pretty much everything I learned during that time, and written so other adult children might feel supported, understood, and less alone.<\/p>\n Although the process of writing the book turned out to be incredibly healing, there was still that struggle of trying to figure out who I was now. Getting in touch with my own needs more and more, I discovered a desire to explore thoughts and feelings beyond words – something more visual, drenched in color and light. So, in 2016, I picked up my mother\u2019s well-used art supplies, carried home with me after her passing, and began to paint. It was love at first stroke and the rest is history, as I went from caregiver to artist with a book in-between.<\/p>\n As a Grade A over-thinker, making art is the one thing that happens in a judgement-free zone for me. Unlike caregiving, where we tend to second-guess our decisions (as if there was actually a perfect answer to anything), my only question has become, \u201cOooh, what happens if I try this!\u201d<\/p>\n And that, my friends, brings me to now and my website, JudithHenryCreative.com<\/a><\/em>, where I post new artwork as it comes available, and share observations about life and self-care, quotes\/poems, readers’ words, art tips, and much more on my blog \u2013 Late Bloomer<\/em><\/a>. \u00a0Sound interesting? Then grab a glass of wine or a cup of coffee and come on over. If it makes you laugh or smile, let\u2019s keep in touch<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n You may even find yourself inspired to begin a creative practice. I know putting yourself first is hard, yet even a half-hour once or twice a week can give your tired brain and body a big mental and physical boost.\u00a0In addition, it\u2019s a powerful tool, along with writing, to answer those \u201cWho Am I\/What Now\u201d questions that sometimes arise when the role of caregiver comes to an end.<\/p>\n Strong hugs to you all.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" For the past few years, I\u2019ve been on a journey of self-discovery that includes creating art, writing, teaching, and even gardening! The catalyst was caring for both my parents in the final phase of their lives – kind of like a roller coaster ride in the dark, but with moments of joy, laughter, and deep […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[5,29],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.judithdhenry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1449"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.judithdhenry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.judithdhenry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.judithdhenry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.judithdhenry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1449"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.judithdhenry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1449\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1454,"href":"https:\/\/www.judithdhenry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1449\/revisions\/1454"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.judithdhenry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1449"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.judithdhenry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1449"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.judithdhenry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1449"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}