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Hello, welcome to the second issue of the Flourishing Spaces Newsletter—a small offering to pause in the midst of busy days. Firstly, we would like to thank you for signing up to receive this gentle thread. We aim to connect a growing community committed to rehumanising medicine and education through creativity, reflection, and care. This isn’t about adding more noise to your inbox but some encouragement, a signpost to something meaningful, and a glimpse into what’s unfolding in our shared landscape. The previous newsletter can be read here.
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Every day is a struggle with the seductive voices in my head that whisper “oh what’s the point”. Through what I do with my activity in the world, I transform, what many people have referred to as a tragedy, into a wonderful opportunity to flourish. My practice allows me to dance with those partners of loss, pain and decline with more grace. - Excerpt from “Thoughts on Flourishing” by Gavin Blench
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Invitation to Inaugural of Professor Louise Younie- June 4th, 5:30pm - 7:30pm 📍 Perrin Lecture Theatre, Barts and The London, Whitechapel Professor Louise Younie has been exploring the idea of flourishing spaces, creative enquiry and student voice often through inviting the stories and creativity of others. At her inaugural she will be telling some of her own story, which also deeply weaves across and through the lived experience of the many patients, colleagues and students she has the privilege to journey with.
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When it’s over, I want to say: all my life I was a bride married to amazement. -Mary Oliver
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Special Interest Group discussion on Flourishing Spaces– June 24th, 6pm
📍 Zoom meeting We have been invited to the Justice for Flourishing interest group associated with the Harvard Human Flourishing Programme to explore ‘Flourishing Spaces’, on June 24th at 6pm. This online event introduces Eri Mountbatten-O’Malley, Sarah Willen, and Louise Younie who are to discuss the concepts of justice and flourishing, with a focus on 'flourishing spaces.' This is a group that meets regularly and people can sign up to it – let us know if you are interested.
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Della Fish Foundation Grant We are delighted to announce that the Flourishing Spaces team have been successfully been awarded the Della Fish Foundation Large Grant to pioneer and research the Human Dimension of Healthcare. We are launching this stream of work soon. |
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Barts Arts Exhibition A huge thank you to those who attended the ‘Flourishing in Challenging Times’ exhibition on 30th of April. The event was a success, with an original song by Aman Qamar and a thought provoking introductory speech by Professor Stephan Krummaker. The event was attended by over 100 students, doctors, staff, and patient artists. A few quotes by attendees follow: |
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“A rare in person event, this was an excellent exhibition of many talented staff and students, and a celebration of their work. Speaking to some of the contributors about their work was an added bonus.” “Witnessing the synergy between art, reflection, and human connection during our Flourishing Spaces gathering was truly inspiring.”
”The journey that led to the creation of each exhibition piece was very insightful.”
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CREATIVE ENQUIRY: Student Piece
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‘What lights the heart’ by Sereen Alyammahi |
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To me, creative expression is like opening a window into the mind and drawing back the curtains. It is a process of untangling the woven, complex, often subconscious emotions we carry, shaped by our unique lived experiences and rarely questioned amidst the rush of everyday life. It offers a way to unleash and give voice to the buried thoughts and unspoken feelings we often keep hidden. It’s giving yourself a much-needed listening ear. Even when we think we’re always listening, we never actually hear ourselves, or our concerns and needs that seldom get addressed. An act of self-listening, of offering ourselves the same attention and compassion we so readily give others.
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TRY IT OUT: Embracing journalling
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4th year Barts and The London medical student Elle Tallgren has recently completed a dissertation on the potential of creative enquiry in mitigating burnout. She shines a spotlight on journaling as a gentle tool to invite flourishing into one’s life, here are a few collected tips which may help you get started: All you need is a bound book and a pen. Start by tuning into the moment: write the date, time, place, and weather. Let your first thought guide you, even if it’s small. If stuck, use a prompt: What surprised me today? Struggling to find time? Ask: When do I wish I were more present? Bring your journal into that moment.
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I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world. -Albert Einstein
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If there’s something stirring for you after reading this, or if you simply want to say hello, we’re always here, just email us at creativeenquiry@gmail.com. We will see you again in the next newsletter, which is due to be published on the last Friday of June. With warmth, The Flourishing Spaces Team
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