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“Being creative is essential to my wellbeing,” says Felix Millory, the Paris-based architect and designer. How many of us can relate to that?
Being creative AND connecting to my spirituality helps me stay sane in an increasingly insane and brutal world. Writing my books, creating my art, inspiring others fulfills my passion and purpose. I was put on this earth to create joy.
I drew a card today from the Dark Magick Oracle: Reveal the light within and the prompt was “discover your animal spirit. And I immediately thought of my love for giraffes. This then led to my recalling the book I wrote in 2020 during a difficult time, Cassie is a Giraffe
2020 was a hard year but I ended with a flourish—finishing and publishing Cassie is a Giraffe Book 9 in The Transformational Super Kids series. Here is the blurb, following by a chapter and the author’s note. I hope you enjoy this short story or empowerment.
When people criticise the way Cassie looks she wants to change everything about herself. She thinks to belong she has to conform, hide her light and stay small. Until her friend Lulu The Black sheep reminds her that life is more beautiful when you are who you truly are.
This is a classic, empowering book that every child, teenager and adult should have the joy of reading.
With a unique combination of beautifully simple stories, comforting words, and powerful uplifting messages, Cassandra has been delighting young children, teenagers and adults for over fifty years.
Cassandra cuts to the heart of the lesson we all need to hear, over and over again, helping us learn to be courageous, happy, and empowered.
Cassie is a Giraffe is an inspiring story and personal development guide for girls, boys, men and women with themes on self-esteem, resilience and overcoming bullying.
A Wonderful Little Helper for Self-esteem and to combat the effects of bullying…
“This is a lovely story told in a whimsical manner that will alleviate the effects of nasty taunts and meanness by others. It is a story of how Cassie the Giraffe recovered her sense of self and found a loving other who gave her strength to see that the taunts said so much more about the taunt-er, the power of love building self-worth, self-acceptance, and genuine love and support. A story for any age.”
Suitable for ‘kids’ of all ages—aren’t we all still children at heart?
Once upon a time in a small, hilly land lived a giraffe called Cassie. Cassie was tall. Tall. Tall. But she wanted to be small. Small. Small.
Cassie didn’t want people to look at her. She didn’t want to be seen. She didn’t want to taunt her that she was being a queen.
Because everywhere that Cassie went people were mean. Mean. Mean.
“You think you’re taller than us,” the hill people spat. “But you’re not.”
“You think your spots are beautiful. But they’re not.”
“Why do you always wear dresses?” a girl in black shorts snapped.
“Are you trying to show off? You think you’re hot. But you’re not.”
Cassie’s face grew red. Red. Red.
She felt bad. Bad. Bad.
She felt sad. Sad. Sad.
Why couldn’t people be glad? She didn’t think about being taller. She didn’t think about her spots. She didn’t think she was better than anyone else.
Cassie was just being herself.
Some people are born to stand apart. Some people have to have the courage of a lion, and the grace of a giraffe to be who the are.
I hope reading this story has encouraged and empowered you to be you all the way through—from your toes to the sun and back. If we allow it…people, even well meaning people, can hold us back and bring us down. But within our own hearts and minds we have the power to rise above all that. The choice is always ours to make.
Sometimes you need a little more help than a book can give. Like I once did, perhaps you need the help of a skilled therapist to be free to you.
Therapy needn’t be gloomy. A lot of healthy healing can be achieved using playfulness and fun. Personally and professionally I believe in magic and the power of beauty, joy, love, purpose, and creativity to transform peoples’ lives. These are also scientifically-validated tools that enhance spiritual health and aid recovery.
Creativity in its various guises is a natural antidote to stress, anxiety, and depression, which explains why art therapy is such a potent and popular tool. Art therapy is a form of experiential therapy, an approach to recovery and healing that addresses emotional and spiritual needs through creative or physical activity. People don’t need to have a background in the arts or any artistic talent to participate. They need only to be open to experiencing and engaging actively to benefit.
I have trained in a technique called Interactive Drawing Therapy and have found it to be an incredible tool in my own life and in my sessions with others. The simplest of drawings, a line, a colour, a scrawled phrase or word can powerfully access parts of the psyche we often repress, bringing unhelpful subconscious belief to light. In an alchemical process, wounds are spun into gold.
When I first trained in Interactive Drawing Therapy the teacher asked for a volunteer. No hands were raised so he picked me. What harm could it do, I thought, being as skilled as I was at keeping a lid firmly on my feelings.
“Draw an animal,” he said.
Sure, I thought. Great. Harmless. I drew a giraffe.
“Put some colour on the page,” the teacher gently guided.
My giraffe became pink with green, purple and yellow spots. What fun I thought.
“Where is she?” the teacher asked. “Draw this on the page.”
I drew large grey and black rectangles, symbolising office blocks, cars belching smoke, and a road, not unlike Lambton Quay, in Wellington, New Zealand where I went to work in a job I hated every weekday.
“Put some words on the page,” the teacher whispered.
“She doesn’t want to stand out.”
And then it dawned on me, just as the words slipped onto the page. That giraffe was me. And the fact was I did stand out—naturally. I had always been different. And I had struggled unsuccessfully to belong.
“She can’t help but stand out,” my tutor affirmed. “It’s who she is.”
For me, this awareness was so new, so potent, so transformative, that I knew instantly there was work to do. I began to understand the deep social anxiety I had felt as a child and carried with me through adolescence—and with it the drinking and reckless behaviour I had adopted to belong, to bolster the confidence I never felt, to hide the discomfort of living in my own skin.
I hope, having read this story, that you’ll love being you, too.
AMAZON US: https://www.amazon.com/Cassie-Giraffe-Cassandra-Gaisford-ebook/dp/B08SKNLT3C
AMAZON CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B08SKNLT3C
AMAZON UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08SKNLT3C
AMAZON AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B08SKNLT3C
iBOOK, BARNES AND NOBLE, AND OTHER GREAT BOOKSTORES: https://books2read.com/u/4jL79l
KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/nz/en/ebook/cassie-is-a-giraffe
My experience of being bullied during my childhood and adult life and attempts to limit my potential fuelled my creativity and led me to launch a publishing company, for novels, creativity, health and wellbeing, career change and self-empowerment books.
Whatever happens in your life, I want it to look and feel better.
You may also enjoy
UNLOCK THE POWER OF ART: HOW ARTWORKS CAN TRANSFORM YOUR HOME AND ENRICH YOUR LIFE
WRITING AND CREATIVE EXPRESSION: OPENING THE PORTAL TO INFINITE POSSIBILITIES
SEEKING REFUGE IN STORY: FINDING SOLACE, INSPIRATION, AND CONNECTION
Posted in: Blog, Transformational Super Kids
Tags: self-esteem
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All my creations are infused with positive energy, love, and light. I believe in the power of beauty, joy, love, purpose, and creativity to transform your life.
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