I Keep Creating Even When I Feel Broken

Send us Fan MailGrief doesn’t just break your heart, it can scramble your creativity, your motivation, and your sense of who you are. I’m sharing a real-time recap of a week in Seattle where I’m trying to make things again while I’m still deep in trauma and loss. If you’ve ever felt like you can only create when someone gives you a prompt, or like your “voice” went quiet after a hard season, you’ll recognize a lot of what I’m working through here.We start with the small stuff that still matters, like caring for my little dog after surgery and feeling grateful for a great vet. Then I talk about a character development class at the library that unexpectedly gave me the structure I needed. I drew myself as a kiwi (yes, menopause made it into the character design), and I felt that rare mix of humor and honesty that makes art feel possible again. I also get into sewing, applique, thrifted finds, and repurposing fabric when your supplies and your life are still in boxes.The heavy layer is navigating widowhood logistics and support: I found the book “Different After You” by Michelle Hernandez, learned about Camp Widow and Soaring Spirits International, and signed up for a local Seattle group. I also open up about the frustration of being denied twice for VA DIC benefits, missing medical records, and how overwhelming it is to fight a convoluted system while you’re grieving. To cope, I lean on comfort shows like Gilmore Girls and Frasier, plus reading and writing things down when the spiral starts.If this resonates, subscribe, share the episode with someone who’s rebuilding, and leave a review so more people can find the show when they need it most.Support the showCatch the doodles on YouTubeMy socials:Sign up for my monthly newsletterPortfolio website: Brewtifully.comInstagram: /BrewtifullyFacebook: /brewtifullyTikTok: GettingSmallwithGrandmaLinkedIn: Tracy Dawn Brewer