The Magic of Connection

"Marlene's Magic Touch" - mixed media on reclaimed wood, 18" x 6".  Ready to hang.

This is the second in a series of pieces on reclaimed wood.  I'm really enjoying how rough and grainy the paint can look on this surface, and how unexpectedly delightful some of the results are!  My new favorite substrate, even over aquabord.  My neighbors will have to get used to me pillaging their bulk trash for unwanted boards. :)

This week I am reading  Cure: A Journey Into The Science of Mind Over Body.  A fascinating look at how powerful our minds can be. My husband has preached "mind over matter" to me for decades, and I believe there is a lot of truth to that.  In this book, I learned that placebos work even if you know they are placebos.  I also learned that associating a smell or taste with a medication can, over time, cause your body to respond to the smell or taste alone as if you had taken the medication!  And there is some solid science behind these occurrences. Our minds are powerful disseminators of chemicals.  Training our minds when to disburse and when not to can change our physiology.

There is another section of the book about the amazing health benefits of social connection.  From physical health to longevity to mental health and activity level.  There is no medication that beats a serious connection to people, especially close, supportive connections.

This week I've experienced an avalanche of support and connection - phone calls, visits, emails, messages and texts.  From people I haven't spoken with in ages, to people I see often.  And with each one, I feel better, stronger and more resolved to heal perfectly.

So when I sat down to create a new piece of art this week, the first thing that came to my mind was friend Marlene, who invited me to kvetch with her about accidents and recovery...and then she explained to me what "kvetching" was.  Perhaps there isn't a scientific study to support the health benefits of kvetching, but the smile she put on my face sure made me feel great!
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