The Arts Help Us Heal

It has been a while since I last opened this blog. Life got the better of me -- tasks piled on top of tasks and soon, I was too busy.

Wow, what a year! 2020 has proven to be an unforgettable year with Covid 19, political unrest, and financial woes. Without dismissing all the challenges, however, the troubling year has solidified my belief that the arts are needed. And, what better way to demonstrate one's expression of creativity and imagination than the Carnaval parade. 

As a child growing up in Brazil, Carnaval was a chance to stay up late, be mesmerized by the colorful and creative expressions of samba schools, and to lose myself in the festivities of the parade. As an adult living in the San Francisco Bay Area, nothing has changed. Carnaval continues to be a moment of celebration, a gathering of the community, and an outlet for my creative expression. It's Christmas and Hannukah all put together. Yes, I ... love ... Carnaval. 

Though completely understandable, it should come as no surprise that the cancellation of the 2020 San Francisco Carnaval Parade was a sad moment, which was followed by more sadness when the cancellation of the 2021 Rio Carnaval Parade was announced. Not only would I and the community deal with the fears and troubles of Covid 19, political unrest, and financial woes, but we would also deal with our challenges without a creative outlet and without the camaraderie of our community.

But as many have eloquently stated before me, hope is always the last to die. Like a little kid at a candy store pre-Covid 19, I was over the moon when talks of the 2021 San Francisco Carnaval Parade began. The possibility of a Carnaval celebration during our troubling times was a shiny rhinestone in the middle of pebbles.  By no means am I dismissing the importance of social distancing and safety; nor am I dismissing the devastating impact of Covid 19, but the possibility of dreaming, of hoping for some sense of normalcy in a bizarre and upside-down world, brought tears to my eye. 

It is still too early to begin Carnaval planning, and a parade, in my opinion, should only happen if deemed safe, but it is never too early to once again turn to the arts, being dancing, music, or costume making, as a form of therapy that will help us all stay connected, safe, and sane. Being what may come in 2021, I am ready and know that I will overcome the troubles of 2020 with a glue gun in one hand, and a pair of dancing shoes in the other.

Want to know more? Check out the articles below 

"Doing Something Creative Can Boost Your Well-Being"

"Why Finding Time Each Day for Creativity Makes Us Happier"