Happy therapy

As some of my followers know, I am in the distinct unfortunate situation of having not one, not two but three people close to me with cancer (husband, mother sister). However, I am also in the very fortunate situation that they all three are still here, against the odds. Now, there's a reason for that, actually there are several, but let's start with this one: cancer research and treatment has made leaps forward the last 10 years, there's still a long way to go, but they learn new things every day - not least because kind and very ill people agree to participate as test-people in their trials.

Secondly, all three are fortunate enough to have loving partners, and love is a healer. Not a curer, but a healer. Loved cancer patients in stable relationships recover more often and cope better.

When my mother was first diagnosed and things looked very grim, I was teaching at uni one day and I had to excuse to the participants, that I had my phone on in case she or the hospital rang. One of the students came up to me and explained that she had nursed her mother the last year of her life in America (this was in Denmark) and she had received a piece of advice that had given her great comfort and made the journey bearable. She called it Happy Therapy.

Whatever the person who is sick loves and is able to do, do it over and over. Repetition and familiarity is key to a calm existence and happy memories are a source of endorphins and happiness.
And then she said: this goes for you too. Caring for sick loved ones is painful and sad, but it doesn't have to be. Take care of yourself and give yourself the joy of happy therapy. 

 It is true. So when you ask me - how come your paintings are always so happy and colourful - I have to tell you, it is because I AM happy. I am so grateful to still have time. I love to paint, they love that I paint - win win.

So I set about to share my happy therapy exhibiting in doctor's waiting rooms and staff rooms; hospital staff rooms and dentist's waiting areas; beauty shops and physiotherapists. Basically sharing colourful happy painting with people like myself, surrounded by sickness or pain, people who are sick and in pain. And the response has been tremendous. Gallery Livsmaleri has had hundreds of visitors, thousands on this blog and I keep getting requests.

My aim was to show that happiness is in us all, even in the worst of times. Everyday life is a fountain of little rays of sunlight, little bursts of colour. And at the heart of it is love. I am not being naff or sentimental, I am being real. sometimes we forget, because everything is so overwhelming. But look up - find a horizon - breathe in and as you breathe out say love. And it will come back to you manifold. I promise.

Below I have made a small cavalcade of the happy paintings I have made the last two years. I hope you enjoy. I did.