36 www . AspireMAG . net | June / July 2018
The opportunity about which she spoke was a 12-week arts therapy course held on Saturdays at a local domestic violence center , the very center which had provided me information and helped me keep myself and my family safe . I applied immediately and soon received an invitation for an interview .
“ This isn ’ t therapy ,” the course leader said . “ The groups are carefully curated so as to ensure each person will thrive . We ’ re only working with people who are no longer in an abusive situation and are in the healing process . Do you feel this describes you ?”
I showed up at the first class feeling twitchy and nervous . The large room was nearly empty , a ring of chairs arranged in its center .
“ Write a nametag and grab any toy which speaks to you from the table ,” our instructor said .
I wrote my name , and began riffling through the toys . A Barbie . No . Truck . No . Hairbrush . No . Shrek . YES . I snatched up the ogre and returned to my seat .
Slowly , the room filled up with a diverse community of eight women . Our instructor warmly welcomed us and read a poem . “ Let ’ s go around and introduce ourselves , sharing what your object is , and why you choose it .”
One by one , my peers answered the questions .
I paused , biting the inside of my cheek . Yes and no . I ’ d left my marriage eighteen months earlier but I wasn ’ t certain about the healing part . “ I think I ’ d be a good fit .” I went on to share that I ’ d be out of the country for a couple of weeks .
We shook hands at the end of the interview . She said , handing me a schedule , “ You ’ ll hear from me within two weeks .”
I returned home from France to discover that I ’ d been accepted into the program . A sense of elation mixed with dread hit me . What were you thinking ?
Finally , it was my turn . “ I chose Shrek ,” I said . “ First , I love the movie and play . It holds special memories for me . Second , I chose him because there ’ s a scene where Donkey asks Shrek a question to which Shrek replies , ‘ Ogres are like onions .’ He goes on to explain that as you peel away each layer , you eventually get to his soft heart . That ’ s how I feel : like I ’ m shedding layers of external expectations to reveal my own tender heart .”
For the next eleven Saturdays , we gathered and explored our individual stories using poetry , crafts , or animal cards . The purpose was ultimately for us to give testimony on the last day of class . I wrote and honed my words , finally submitting them for review .
36 www . AspireMAG . net | June / July 2018