As we celebrate creativity this month, it’s natural for Jennifer to come to mind.  A Life Styles client for seventeen years, Jennifer has spent many happy hours at our beloved Blair Center For The Arts (home to our renowned art program and venue for Thursday’s Spring Awakenings show, the Blair Center formerly housed the Law Offices of Jim Blair; he and his wife Nancy generously bequeathed the space to Life Styles in 2009). 

“I like making stuff and doing stuff, and learning new things,” explains Jennifer, “Just don’t make me glue things!” Providers and Life Styles staff alike often point to this signature self-deprecating humor as an exceptional coping mechanism for Jennifer. In fact, some think her upbeat attitude and ability to take things in stride have helped her overcome some serious health challenges—evidenced in party by her ability to consistently outperform statistical odds and doctor’s predictions.

Not only does Jennifer simply enjoy art-making, she also recognizes its therapeutic value. “I like how it relaxes me,” she says. In the studio, Jennifer enjoys painting, jewelry making, and creating with Perler beads. And afterwards, her Life Styles staff note the change in her energy levels, explaining that “coming to the Blair Center seems to motivate her to get up and participate in her day.”

Regardless of what she next attempts in the studio, or in life, Jennifer’s support staff have every confidence in her material and emotional success, noting that “no matter how difficult the goal, she finds a way to not only find joy in the successes, but happiness in the failures as well.” Sounds like Jennifer has found a way to turn living itself into something of an art.