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Today I would like to introduce you to Jackie Schuld an artist, illustrator and author. When Jackie’s mother was diagnosed with a terminal illness she created an uplifting personal book for her mother with illustrations and words to comfort her and bring a smile to her face.
She and her mother discovered fast that there were no stages of grief that would cure them from feeling sad and devastated at times. Grief is a Mess is the title Jackie chose for a book she created after her mother died and she was going through all those conflicting feelings of grief in an even deeper way. |
Making a list to get through another day. Illustration from Jackie Schuld's delightful book 'Grief is a Mess'.
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Jackie explains,
"After my mother died, I felt an inexplicable push to create a book about grief. Words couldn't possibly capture the mess I felt, and so I used illustrations. The process of making the illustrations was deeply painful because it required me to face and capture every inch of my aching heart. There were weeks and even months that I couldn't work on the book because it hurt too much. I finally forced myself to finish the book by working on it daily and setting timers that counted how many minutes I had to sit there.
My intention was to create a book that normalized the mess of grief and reached out to others who felt alone. I wanted to do this because I felt so alone.
What I never expected was the joy that Grief is a Mess would bring back to me. Whenever someone points to an illustration in the book and says, "That's how I feel!" it's as if my soul connects with another. Every time I share the book with others, stories inevitably come pouring out that help me to see I am not alone. The book gently opens the door to conversations about grief and affords me the opportunity to connect with others on a topic that once was difficult to express. I never expected such richness to come into my life, especially not from something that originated in the mess that is grief."
"After my mother died, I felt an inexplicable push to create a book about grief. Words couldn't possibly capture the mess I felt, and so I used illustrations. The process of making the illustrations was deeply painful because it required me to face and capture every inch of my aching heart. There were weeks and even months that I couldn't work on the book because it hurt too much. I finally forced myself to finish the book by working on it daily and setting timers that counted how many minutes I had to sit there.
My intention was to create a book that normalized the mess of grief and reached out to others who felt alone. I wanted to do this because I felt so alone.
What I never expected was the joy that Grief is a Mess would bring back to me. Whenever someone points to an illustration in the book and says, "That's how I feel!" it's as if my soul connects with another. Every time I share the book with others, stories inevitably come pouring out that help me to see I am not alone. The book gently opens the door to conversations about grief and affords me the opportunity to connect with others on a topic that once was difficult to express. I never expected such richness to come into my life, especially not from something that originated in the mess that is grief."
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Following the death of her mother in 2014, Jackie Schuld became a full-time artist. She devotes her creative life to painting, teaching, and creating illustrated books that capture the human experience. Whenever her soul needs replenishment, she spends time with her family and heads into the outdoors. |
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Get her book at
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