Chaos - Creativity

As part of a Mental Health First Aid Course I took, CLAC Health and Wellness Manager Dave Phillips projected the above picture and polled our group about our reactions. Many of the words that came back were negative when people described the left side of the picture. It seemed like the only positive words were about the right side of the picture. Perhaps the artist was quite intentional about the “right” side versus the “wrong” side. This is only increased by the expression of the individual who appears to be fleeing the one side of the image.

Looking at this image, I was struck quite differently from the rest of our group. I have had the delight and struggle of parenting one very special child, who—after over 18 years of living with him—caused me to have a very different reaction.

With his permission, I can share that he has ADHD. He has often described “out there” as a very chaotic, overwhelming, and noisy place. It has been hard to watch him growing up with this reality. Yet as his parent, I’ve watched him come up with incredibly insightful and imaginative perspectives on the seemingly boring and mundane. His ability to be creative is truly astounding. As a parent, I have often tried to encourage him by sharing the number of brilliant and famous people who share his label.

Imagining his perspective, I saw the left side of this image as one of creativity. True, it hinges on the verge of chaos, but it is also very contained. There is a careful use of white space and dark space. There is movement and fluidity leading to direction. Channelling my son’s creative brain, I could see sparks of ideas in the imagery.

If I were standing on the right side of the image, I could see the left side as enticing and something that I’d want to experience for a finite amount of space and time. I could see my worldview being enriched and enhanced in seeing connections and layers that I could never experience or consider if I spent my whole time living on the right side.

I can easily admit, however, that my nature wouldn’t allow me to spend too much time living in the left. I’d probably be running to the relative calm and structure on the right. Yet in many ways, I saw this picture as resembling the work we do as a union. Quite often, our daily work does see us willingly crossing into mayhem and chaos. Often, we seek to make connections and to create links that aren’t easily found. In the work of advocacy, we seek the edges of the law and push boundaries to find justice.

This image has stuck with me. There are days where I can acknowledge that I have to go into the chaos to find the best answer and determine the most solid way to handle a grievance. Where having a hearty debate with others creates a bit of push and pull, and then that moment of insight where I know I’ve got the right approach.

Then there are weeks where I realize I’ve been living in the pace, push and pull. I am left seeking a place of quiet, still, and structure. A place where order rules and there are no surprises.

Mainly, I think of this image to remind myself that no matter where I’m standing today, if I can shift my perspective just a bit, I can learn to appreciate where I am now and not be stuck in a limiting right versus wrong way of thinking.

And I try to remain grateful for the perspective I’ve learned from seeing the world through my son’s eyes.