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I love this post, Kathryn, so much richness to absorb. I will return to it again. So much pain to release through writing, although I'm not in a place of creating to destroy. I asked the question recently around how people feel about burning notebooks, diaries and memories. I can understand pain so dark that this would be a release. A real ponder...

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Thank you so much for reading ❤️ the question about notebook burning is an interesting one. I save them all and occasionally revisit them. My brother is someone who burns them all. What’s therapeutic for one of us may not be for the next. ❤️

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Exactly. We’re all coming from a different place when it comes to creating and letting go.

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Thank you for so much fuel for thoughts. So moving and inspiring, it took me to several different places: firstly it reminded me of my Yoko Ono's tape, much listened to in my teens, so unlike anything else I had ever heard. Then the poignant and heart-wrenching abuse and how it permeates Lisa's creativity. And then the challenges of a world mostly ill-prepared for neurodiversity, very close to my heart too. As far as create vs destroy, I am possibly more of a hoarder, of mine and others' work. I watched my dad either cut his paintings into four or paint over so many canvasses that I ended up raiding his studio regularly to save my favourites before it was too late! Collages, or keeping a sentence for a later poem, I just have to try and recycle. It helps document progress I think, but it is such a personal and fluid process.

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Thank you so much for your reply. If I recall correctly, Carver also discovered Yoko in her teens from a record purchased randomly. I didn’t really ever explore her work until last year when suddenly I found myself entranced.

So fascinating about your dad and wanting to keep what he was destroying and how we are each different in this way. I have a huge fascination with “artist clutter” and hoarding.

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Feb 18Liked by Kathryn Vercillo

‘The symptoms of mental health challenges are very often coping mechanisms designed to assist you. While they may no longer serve you, they exist for a reason, and it’s okay to honor them before letting them go.’ This is beautiful, Kathryn- and so true.

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