2025- WOTY
My Word of the Year - Finally hit me!
Each year, I choose a word that serves as my compass, a guiding light to steer me through the twists and turns of life. This year, that word is MEND. It’s a small word, just four letters, yet it holds a world of meaning—a call to repair, restore, and nurture. MEND speaks to me not only as an artist but also as someone deeply invested in self-care and the power of transformation.
Mending Through Art
As an artist, the act of mending is woven into my creative process. Whether I’m piecing together recycled kantha quilts to create free-size shirts or layering scraps of paper and paint to form a mixed-media collage, there’s a beauty in taking what’s old, torn, or forgotten and giving it new life. Mending is not about hiding flaws but celebrating them, allowing the history of each piece to shine through.
When I work with materials that carry their own stories—a worn fabric, a tattered book page, or a broken piece of jewelry—I’m reminded that repair doesn’t erase the past; it integrates it. The act of mending becomes an artistic dialogue between what was and what can be. It’s a practice of honoring imperfections and finding the beauty in them.
Self-Care as Mending
Beyond the studio, MEND resonates deeply as a call for self-care. Life has a way of wearing us thin, fraying the edges of our well-being. This year, I’m leaning into the idea that healing doesn’t have to be dramatic or immediate. It can be slow, deliberate, and even messy.
Self-care, for me, is about allowing repair to happen. It’s about giving myself the grace to rest, reflect, and replenish. Sometimes mending means sitting quietly with a cup of tea, journaling about the things that feel broken, or simply allowing myself to feel—to grieve, to hope, to grow. Other times, it’s about taking action: setting boundaries, seeking support, or carving out time to do the things that fill my cup.
The Beauty of Imperfection
Visible mending in clothing and textiles inspires me as a metaphor for MEND. The stitches and patches, instead of being hidden, are celebrated as part of the fabric’s story. They transform what might have been discarded into something unique and beautiful.
This philosophy mirrors what I’m embracing this year: that the process of mending—whether it’s an artwork, a relationship, or my own spirit—is an opportunity to grow stronger and more vibrant. The scars don’t diminish us; they make us who we are.
Moving Forward with MEND
As I journey through this year, I’m carrying MEND with me as both a mantra and a mission. I’ll continue to explore how this word unfolds in my art, my self-care practices, and my interactions with the world. It’s a reminder that even in moments of brokenness, there is always the potential for repair, for transformation, for beauty.
I invite you to reflect on what needs mending in your own life. Is it a creative project you’ve set aside? A part of yourself you’ve neglected? A connection you’ve let slip away? Whatever it may be, know that the act of mending is a gift—to yourself, to others, and to the world around you.