Cary A. Thrall

Weaving Hands and Hearts

Growing up, I was connected and supported. I had a community, several actually. They taught me to share and reach out. I am a small town woman and as such, did a lot of activities. In small towns we wear all the hats and do all the things. We were the soccer team, the cross country team, actually most of us were on nearly all the teams, we played in the band, sang in chorus and were in our respective denominational church groups. My friends and I were intertwined in many circles and it was so good and- 'normal'. When I went to college and became a grown up (whatever that means) I realized that my childhood experiences weren’t actually so normal. Many people are not connected, supported or have someone to call when times are tough, if there’s special and exciting news to share or a random, weird Tuesday that needs to be discussed and processed aloud, with a friend. When it occurred to me just how many issues that disconnect could do to people, I was beyond frustrated. Supporting children, elderly, those with mental illness and anyone feeling lonely in their life is important to me and should be important to all of us. I am a fiery and passionate person, so when there is frustration, that fire is lit to do something. I am an educator, artist and changemaker. I naturally see patterns of connectivity and seek to grow that. This realization and that spark was my initiation into becoming more of what I am meant to be. A connector, an instigator, a deviant thinking artist who forges ahead with scissors and paintbrush in hand and a troupe of friends and family beside me. Each one carries their own creative dreams and materials for systemic change too. We always seem to start with conversation and the basics and end with something miraculous and unique and stories to remember.