I haven’t missed many days with Explore IT, but I haven’t been consistent either. Some days I had to set it aside. Other days I tried, really tried, but the hoop kept falling. Literally and metaphorically. The image didn’t land, or the moment passed too quickly. It wasn’t always the right setting, or the right light, or the right feeling.

But here’s what I held on to: this project has never been about perfection. It’s about presence. About returning. About building psychological flexibility. Not just for clients, but for myself.

There’s a distinct energy when something begins. Explore IT 3 has launched with that energy in full bloom...literally. With new and returning participants diving in, the collective creative pulse is vibrant and strong. Each day has already offered quiet moments of awe, insight, and connection. This season, it’s not just about what we’re seeing outside,it’s about what we’re uncovering within ourselves.

Explore It 3 is a 30-day creative mindfulness project that invites participants to explore their environment, emotions, and imagination through art, movement, photography, writing, or simple observation. Whether you're a seasoned creative or trying something new, this practice encourages deep presence and reflection.

What if something forgotten in your garage could change how you see the world?

That’s what happened to me. A weathered wooden ring, once part of a large drum, sat tucked away for years. To most, it was just scrap wood. To me, it was a treasure waiting for its moment. That moment arrived when I launched Explore It—a project born not just from creativity, but from a deep craving for structure, accountability, and inspiration.

There’s something special about birthdays. They mark time, growth, and transformation—moments to reflect on where we’ve been and where we’re going. This year, I, Dina Palma, am celebrating not just my own birthday but also the fifth birthday of START Creative Arts Therapy. Five years ago, I took a leap—one that required me to rewrite the story I had been telling myself for far too long.

PS I Love You Day, held every year on the second Friday of February, is more than just a day to wear purple. It is a movement—one that encourages kindness, connection, and mental health awareness. It started in West Islip, New York, in 2010 after a family lost their loved one to suicide. In response, they created a day to remind people that they are loved, valued, and never truly alone.

Over the years, PS I Love You Day has grown into a nationwide event, with schools, businesses, and communities participating by spreading awareness, initiating conversations about mental health, and fostering environments where people feel safe to share their struggles.

Today, we are sharing two tales from two tables that reflect the things that social media is not able to capture: the hurt that comes with the season and the hearts that hold it.

Trauma can shatter lives, disrupt the very core of who we are, and fill our existence with secrets, pain, and turmoil. It's a journey that transforms us, often in ways we least expect.

In this blog post, I explore the mental health benefits of immersing ourselves in nature, discuss how a reading experience I had connects nature with creating, and share ten art therapy exercises incorporating nature.

Recently, I had to Surrender. When it comes to Surrender, it can be challenging to say, “I fought hard for and advocated to the best of my ability and now it’s time to let go”.

September is a month of anxiety. New school. New teachers. New subjects. New schedule. New classmates. New routines to be established. Separation from our families. Learning how our homes function compared to other kids’. Socializing after so many months of being isolated and communicating through screens. Missing our families. Being exposed to different personalities.

Many years ago my mentor said something that has resonated with me throughout my personal and professional life: “You cannot ask someone to do something that you are not willing to do yourself.”

I define this month's theme as the achievement of self-actualized freedom. I see authenticity as living in (and maintaining) a state of acceptance and self-worth despite controversial forces. It is a spiritual liberation dependent upon no other deity but the one that resides in my own soul.

Research has revealed that 80% of us will retrace known paths and avoid opportunities that invite unknowns, while 20% of us will take a new path and explore our sense of adventure accepting invitations of the unknown and possible. 

Grace does not mean to be perfectly carved out of smooth marble. Nor does it mean to successfully hide any pain, displeasure or discomfort from everyone else. Grace does not mean a trifecta of elegance, beauty and happiness. When I think of “grace” many other types of images now come to mind…

Without our stories, who are we? Our internal worlds, where our "narrative identity" lives, can get messy. Our narrative identity is the inner story that helps us navigate our external worlds. It is the myth, the legend, the tale we construct that informs who we think we are and what our purpose is.

In anticipation of the upcoming reception, I spoke with several artists. I asked, “what kind of communication or ‘permission’ was verbalized throughout your process as you handed off the canvas to the next person?”

February brought us the theme of “invite”. Although it seemed natural to approach the monthly theme of invite with some type of big party metaphor, it was not in my blood to do so. I am an introvert and therefore do not become energized by daily socialization. Continued socializing drains me; I can feel the energy leaving my body when I spend a lot of time with people. The closest metaphor I can give you in the name of “Invite” is a reference to J.R.R. Tolkien.

It is our hope that our readers and followers will acknowledge that we are holistic, complex, and multi-faceted human beings. Our wellbeing is conscious and self-directed. The wellness wheel reminds us that wellness is not merely the absence of suffering or illness, but the personal, meaningful, and intentional striving for positive wellbeing.

It is unrealistic to assume that “just breathing” is going magically transform someone’s issues into a sunny day or worry-less experience. In my own personal and professional experience I believe it is so important to view breathing as a gateway. A gateway to improved perspective. A gateway to more clear perception.

For six months, phrases like "social distance" and "new norm" have replaced courtesy hellos and casual dinner time talking. Many of you have been scrutinized, criticized, and minimized for your response to chronic stress, uncertainty, loss, and the risk of mortality. These factors, compounded by political discord, have created a perfect storm for a mental health crisis.