A few weeks ago, we said goodbye to our beloved 18-year-old cat, Misty. We’ve had Misty since she was 8 weeks old, and she’s travelled the world with us. She was so special to us, and so loved.
It’s been a devastating thing to go through, and it’s still difficult to think or write about. But I did want to work through some thoughts I’m having about the creative impulse in times of loss and grief.
When she died, I felt a strong need to honour her memory in a creative way. Something about balancing the energy of her loss with the energy of creation. Producing a thoughtful artefact that could make her live on forever. Something to touch when I can’t touch her.
Love is entwined with creativity. Wendy MacNaughton’s idea that “Drawing is looking, and looking is loving” springs into my head. When you’re creating, you’re giving your attention to that thing, which is an expression of love.
But when Misty died, I didn’t feel creatively inspired. Instead, I felt sick. I felt deep sadness. My sleep was disturbed. I was in no place to create.
So, I called on others to help honour her memory. I got a tattoo of her, entrusting the tattoo artist to create just the right thing. I had an engraved pebble made with her name and a paw print on it. I reached out — with nothing more than ideas — to other creatives who could help me put these feelings into something.
To process my grief in this way feels like a form of creative community, the shared spirit of healing creativity. I thank those creatives that helped me, and all creatives who have helped anyone in a time of loss. I hope that I can one day return the favour.
Rest in peace, Misty.
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