A few weeks ago, as I papered this space with handiwork from my little studio, I got an odd request from a self-proclaimed fan named Heba at PlusGuidance.com. She liked my collaged cards, and my blog, and asked me to write a piece for them about using art as therapy. Not sure about what I was being asked to do, I explored PlusGuidance a little bit.
It’s a hip sort of site with lots of moving parts and graphics. But the most interesting part is that folks can get online counseling or guidance. There’s a section for articles and news about mental health issues. Another section is more of a clubhouse for members to hang out and chat.
I thought, “Cool!” and sent them a piece called The Art of Distraction.
Thanks, Heba, and all the cool, hip folks at PlusGuidance for asking me to be a part of the club.
(Update: 7/25/20. PlusGuidance.com no longer exists, and they never did get back to me about the article. Oh, well…
SandySue Altered
A Mind Divided 
Feb 18, 2015 @ 21:02:03
Very nicely written piece Sandy. I loved your, “Whee” card! 🙂
Feb 18, 2015 @ 21:38:53
Thanks, Lori!
Feb 18, 2015 @ 21:03:59
That woman in Whee! is your grandmother?!!!
Feb 18, 2015 @ 21:38:27
HeeHee. I wish. Then, maybe I’d have gotten some genetic material I don’t curse every day.
Feb 19, 2015 @ 00:48:34
Now, now. You mustn’t curse your genes.
It’s dispiriting, negative and completely futile.
Try sleeping with a lump of plutonium under the mattress instead.
That’ll learn ’em.
Feb 19, 2015 @ 09:29:55
or maybe a cranky cat?
Feb 19, 2015 @ 09:55:08
With a mattress and a sleeping owner on top it might be a bit pissed, yeah.
Feb 18, 2015 @ 21:59:23
Great title, great article – I hope it generates a ton of sales for you 🙂
Feb 19, 2015 @ 09:30:50
Thanks for that. I’m not holding my breath. Seems my art is an acquired taste. 🙂
Feb 19, 2015 @ 08:24:04
I read your article on Plus Guidance last night and it was WAY cool. You go, Girl!
Flashback – My mother used to sketch women like this all the time when I was little. She entered those contests that said, “If you can draw this, you can…” I don’t know, win a prize or make a million dollars as an artist. Unfortunately, my mother never pursued any dreams like that.
The good news for me this morning is that when I saw Lady #5356 (above) and it made me think of my Mom… It made me smile. That’s a really nice shift for me.
Feb 19, 2015 @ 09:29:26
Yaay! Oh, we never know where the next gift is coming from. I love you.
Feb 19, 2015 @ 11:13:26
How great to get a wider audience for your wonderful words and fabulous art!
Feb 19, 2015 @ 14:26:40
Well, it felt like I was seen. That’s nice when I feel invisible most of the time.
Feb 25, 2015 @ 11:47:14
Hey Sandy
Lovely to read your thoughts on us. You are far from invisible, everybody in the office loved your piece and all your artwork. The Plus1s loved the injection of creativity and it’s inspired me to share some of my photography on the blog too, also spurred on by a mental illness. I for one will be buying a card or two come payday.
Thanks so much for writing for us, hopefully we’ll get to work together again soon 🙂
Feb 25, 2015 @ 14:51:46
thanks, Heba. I really enjoyed writing for you. Let me know if you ever want something else.
Jul 24, 2020 @ 14:21:08
I love how flashbacks of past posts come up as links in the bottom of the screen. It helps me to find things I missed in times before I became a blogger (and therefore was wayy to important to go back and catch up on years of missed works.)
One hopes my self-deprecating sarcasm comes through, otherwise, you will be right to think me a complete asshat.
Jul 25, 2020 @ 10:15:39
HeeHeeHee. Never an asshat!
Jul 24, 2020 @ 14:22:37
Addendum…apparently the Plus Guidance is no more. And so is the link to your previous work. If you can unearth it and republish it, I’d like to read it. The Art of Distraction sounds right up my alley right now.
Jul 25, 2020 @ 10:09:25
I’ll check on it.
Jul 25, 2020 @ 10:14:51
You’re right–PlusGuidance is gone. I can email you the article if you like. I won’t let your address get published in the comments.
Jul 26, 2020 @ 20:46:10
I’ll see if you have a link to your email somewhere and send you mine. I just got a gmail account, so, I’m getting with the times…possibly a decade out of step of everyone else…but it’s still a time.
Jul 27, 2020 @ 04:45:33
I don’t list my email here.