The Dance between Ease and Discomfort

I wrote the following during an artist residency sponsored by the Kentucky Foundation for Women and the Sisters of Loretto. Mandy Olivam and I were co-residents.

This morning when I chose to get out of bed before the sun was up, the play between ease and discomfort was alive in me. I began my day with the intention of ease, knowing that some of the work/play ahead would be uncomfortable, would stretch me and perhaps leave me with more questions than answers.

When my dear friend and artist residency companion Mandy and I began our work today, it was with a spirit of openness and play. We read passages from numerous books- by adrienne maree brown, Dominique Drakeford, Bell Hooks, Clarissa Pinkola Estes, and others - and responded to them in writing. Then we shared our writing with each other.

Even with a trusted friend, sharing preliminary thoughts quickly put to paper  felt vulnerable, most certainly uncomfortable. Still after doing this process a few times, each of us had written something we’ll return to & perhaps edit, merge, and ultimately share beyond our duo.

There is much healing work around white body supremacy, patriarchy, and capitalism that is calling us, not just the two of us, but so many of us, to move into the discomfort of the unknown-

When do I step forward and when do I step back?

When do I use my own voice & when do I amplify other voices?

What is my particular role in the healing process?

Entering the discomfort may lead to messing up and causing unintentional harm. We must train our bodies to know the difference between discomfort & danger. Stepping into the discomfort, we build resilience.

Allowing ourselves ease, play, and rest are also part of the work.

And so we ask unanswerable questions, we grapple, we laugh, we play, we hold in front of us a vision of the world we wish to live in, and we practice our way toward it, dancing between ease and discomfort.

P.S. Want to see how Discomfort was made? Check out the video below.

Time lapse video of the creation of a watercolor with the word “discomfort” written on it.