The Wonderful Words for This Wednesday are  “American Heart Month”

Did you know that February is American Heart Month?  Well, if you didn’t, you do now!  This suddenly has new importance to me.

I’m going to start out this post with a few questions:

• How well do you know your heart?
• What does it look like?
• How does it work to keep you alive?
• Could you sketch out a diagram of a heart right now?  I mean without looking at any reference material, just make a quick sketch of the human heart and label the basic parts, the ins and outs, etc.?

I really hope you can answer these questions if you’re a cardiologist, however, if you are not in the medical field, do you know much about this vital organ nestled in your own chest that helps keep you alive on this earth?

I can answer this for myself with a resounding “NO”.

If you are with me in this lack of knowledge, I say we change this and fast!  But first…

Why this focus right now?

1. A friend of mine passed away exactly one week ago of a heart attack.  There had been symptoms but she didn’t know how serious they were until it was too late.  She was only 57 years old.  This jarred me out of my complacency around this subject.
2. After she passed, I did some art therapy and created a mixed media piece that was a beautiful heart (see last week’s Blog), as my friend’s heart was very very beautiful indeed.  Then I found out it was American Heart Month, which is when we raise awareness about heart health and prevention of heart disease.

Once I found out that it was American Heart Month, I thought, “How can I learn, and how can I help.”

So, my first thought was, do I even know what a real heart looks like?  NOPE!  I got on line and searched “how to draw a human heart (easy!)”.

The first video I found was perfect and I commenced sketching out a human heart for the first time:

Did you know that drawing something actually helps you remember the details WAY more than just looking at a picture of something.  Take 10 minutes and draw a heart with this tutorial (or any other one you find!) and start to spark your curiosity about your own body.  It’s fun, and awareness is the first step friends!  I’m right there with you!

Call to Action

Seeing as Heart Disease is the leading cause of death in America, you have almost certainly been impacted by this issue directly or indirectly. So, will you join me in learning and sharing?

Here’s How:

1. Use your drawing from the tutorial above, or make some kind of representation of a heart (paint, draw, sculpt, find some clip art, whatever!).
2. Look up an interesting fact about heart disease to share and add it to your image.
3. Share on social media.  (if you don’t have Social Media, send it to me via e-mail)
4. Please tag me and use the hashtag #heartfactsforgood
5. Post once, twice, thrice, or each day until the end of February

Here are some example / ideas:

Or even as simple as this:

If you have a story about how heart disease has impacted you and/or your family, I’d love to invite you to send me an email and share.

I’m also kicking around the idea of doing a live heart art tutorial (free of course) some time before the end of February…..stay tuned.  Let me know if you’d be interested in that so it puts a fire under my bum!

If we can save our own lives or the lives of anyone else through awareness and education, let’s do it!

I love finding a passionate reason to play art.  I wish my friend passing wasn’t my motivation here, but I want to thank her for her “heart”.  She LOVED helping others and making others smile, so I know she approves of this message, (right Cheri?).

Love from my heart to yours,

Kim