Craftours Lifestyles Magazine December 2018 | Page 28

From
Loss
t
How making man
By Kathryn Costa
I
nspirational quotes and memes dot
the internet with messages of hope
in dark times. “Breakdowns lead to
breakthroughs.” “Don’t survive, thrive.”
“Let go and let God.” I’d crack a smile and nod
at such sentiments, but the warmth they are
meant to offer barely penetrated the surface of
my grief.
Looking back, it seems amazing that it was a
string of losses that led me to find my calling
and to begin living my creative passion.
This transformative journey began with the
loss of my beloved dog. Then, my son who had
been living with me for seven years, moved
1,800 miles away for more time with his Dad.
A year later, my mother unexpectedly died.
Ten months later, my Dad passed away. As
you can imagine, grief struck hard. Although
I was high-functioning in my job, I felt as if I
was sleepwalking through my life.  I had little
energy for anything but what was required of
me, and I considered pulling the plug on my
popular blog and social media.
man • dala (Sanskrit) -- circle. A spiritual and
ritual symbol in Hinduism and Buddhism, representing
the universe.
Sometimes the best medicine for whatever ails
us is a time out to break our familiar routines and
change our environment. Still feeling unsettled
a year after my losses, I traveled to Colorado
where I spent a week in a charming, rustic
home nestled in the mountains. I brought with
me a little handmade journal and a small set