Scrapbooks for Healing by Michelle Schmidt
When we consider scrapbooking, often times we think of albums that focus on holidays, weddings, births and special events in our lives that we want to preserve. These are days that bring smiles to our faces and laughter to our hearts. As normal as this may be to choose such occasions for our scrapbooking projects, sometimes we miss out on an experience to use our creative outlet to express our thoughts and feelings about those challenging moments in our lives that are uncontrollable.
When we stop and think about the pain we have gone through, whether through the loss of a loved one or any other traumatic event, these are all part of what shapes us into the people we have become. So often we choose to disguise our problems instead of embracing them to search for the hidden treasures that are often overlooked.
Shortly after the birth of my daughter, I was diagnosed with severe post-partum depression. My difficult marriage that was riddled with chaos was coming to an end. The situations that led me to the place of complete hopelessness were overwhelming at best. As part of my recovery, I began to write down my thoughts and feelings about each event that took place. What began as an attempt to sort through the pain, developed into a complete visible expression of raw emotion and the spiritual journey that accompanied my experiences. Although not your usual scrapbook album, it is one that played a significant role for me in finding peace and healing.
Piecing it all together with photographs, carefully selected scrapbook paper and just the right stamping and embellishments gave each painful remembrance a sense of validation. It was like putting a mirror up to my wounded heart and saying, ‘Yes, that is what I felt. Right or wrong, good or bad. These emotions are mine.’ To be able to openly expose myself this way and to have a visual reminder has made it easier to let go of the pain, forgive and move toward healing.
My scrapbook album, titled ‘A Journey Through Life’s Challenges’ does not sit on my coffee table out on display. Instead, it lies on the shelf in my office, waiting for times, sometimes through tears, when I need a reminder of where I’ve been to truly appreciate where I am today.
Michelle Schmidt makes it easy to create beautiful scrapbooks, quickly & easily. Learn essential keys to fantastic page layouts with out-of-the-box scrapbook projects at Pixelpaintpapers.com.
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