It's Like Being a Foodie, But For the Soul
by Kiara Carter, WPL's Director of Creative Programming and Creative Cafe Facilitator
I met people who had good ideas that I had never heard verbalized, but as soon as I did, I knew I had known it all this time. Jodie* once said you can be in community but lack connection. I think although I don't hang out with each person in WPL everyday, this is where I have people who are trying to figure out the hard parts—the emotional stuff, the mental stuff, soul stuff like navigating the volatility of humanity. And getting to be exposed to these new activities and bright ideas, has allowed me to try new things that have helped me unravel some of life's mysteries. And find new mysteries in a good way.
It's like being a foodie but for the soul. You get fine dining and new cuisines to try out all the time. And when you find a favorite dish, you can indulge because the calories don't count and it's good for you wholistically.
We are with our peers. Our peers are ones who want to see goodness in their life and are wanting to try different steps to get there. We practice together.
Now don't get me wrong, some of the best experiences have come from some of the weirdest practices from the group ha! But there has been a great amount of safety in those spaces because there is no judgment (we're all trying new things too!) and there's space for "failure" or choosing your own path and still having support. This has worked really well for a person like me who has been under a lot of pressure to be perfect and perform no matter how I feel. This group is where I try out boundaries and get celebrated because of it. I get encouraged to take meaningful risks that my heart desires. I get to have people who support me as a person, and I don't feel like I'm being used as just part of a machine.
I'm seen, I'm heard, I'm valued here. And I get to give the same back to others. For me, that's life. That's living.
*the Jodie Kiara refers to is Jodie Gonzalez of JAH Grief Services. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and collaborates with We Practice Life as a facilitator and curriculum developer.