When I tell others that I volunteer with my dog in a pet therapy program, they assume my work involves children or the elderly. I…
“The Final Masquerade” is a rock ballad by the band Linkin Park that implies a sense of negativity and foreboding. Interestingly, however, the instrumentals create…
“Still I Rise”, by Maya Angelou, is a poem about the adversity and racism faced by Angelou and many other African-American individuals throughout history. In…
In their song, ‘High Hopes’, the alternative-rock band Kodaline tries to convey a sense of optimism to the listener through lyrics like, “But I’ve got…
In a personal essay in the Hartford Courant, 17-year old Cassandra C. recalls her legal battle when she refused to undergo chemotherapy after being diagnosed…
In 1999, artist Mathew Good decided to write a song about his friend who was admitted to a psychiatric institution. The lyrics attempt to describe…
Sara Roizen is an artist and licensed board-certified creative arts therapist. Sara leads an art therapy class to help individuals struggling with mental illness. In her…
“The Grand Optimist” is written and performed by Dallas Green, of City and Colour. The lyrics convey a sense of losing hope—feelings often described by…
Zaneta Pernicova painted this piece after her husband was diagnosed with a brain cyst that altered his mental and emotional state. Pernicova also noticed changes…
Christian D. Larson (1874 – 1954) was an American New Thought spiritual leader, teacher, and writer. He believed in the power of the individual and…
