The birth and growth of the Mangrove Seed is a metaphor for my continued, authentic S(s)elf expression, and was created as a supportive bridge for others to use on their paths to living a life of fulfillment, contentment, and joy.

I was born and raised in New Britain, Connecticut, a Northeastern factory town with an ethnic understanding of the World. As a second generation, Polish Roman Catholic youth . . . altar boy, eagle scout, overachiever . . . I was admitted as a minority student to Yale University.

Upon graduation, and with the idealism of youth, I went off to fight a “war” in Vietnam. This was my first major taste of cognitive dissonance. Eventually, I resumed life . . . without ceremony, fanfare, or adequate decompression.

Life as we all knew it then was changing rapidly. How was I to “fit in” when I had changed so much inside?

I continued to move forward into adulthood and marked the years with events . . . marriage, children, advanced business degree, Wall Street. Twenty three years later, I could no longer cope with the hollow victories. Something was missing. That something was the authentic me!

By then, my ideals were tarnished and my emotions were spent. There was only one choice . . . start Life’s journey anew! It seems we all must pass this way to find the inner peace we crave.

After another twenty plus years of a personal identity quest, I have found one theme that has threaded my life . . . expressive arts. Through studying graphic design at Parsons School of Design to subsequent courses in drawing, watercolor, oil, acrylic, collage, and videography, I have experienced a new way to authentically discover my "real S(s)elf." Actually, the Arts have bubbled up in my life since fourth grade; they seem to want me to "speak something" when using them.

Now, in my Golden Years, I choose to help others to also heal their heart and soul through the Arts. Again back in school, I am pursuing a certification in Expressive Arts.

Artistic expression in all forms is innate to humans; but, we must be encouraged to release our inner blockages to creative expression. Arts can help us to heal; Arts can reveal; Arts can help us re-connect to our lost Selves. I am finding my inner peace through heartfelt artistic expression, and now want to share my Expressive Arts techniques with others who are yearning to express their authentic S(s)elves.

Since we are all in the same boat crossing this ocean of Life, I choose not to view the use of expressive arts only in a narrow, therapeutic setting. I use the Expressive Arts as a vehicle in the process of applying the Mangrove Seed model of holistic, balanced living.

In truth, it is though the Arts that the Soul of each human can authentically express their needs and desires.  Often, a reconnection with our essential inner being can result . . . and that is healing!

My fervent wish is that we each continue to fertilize, water, and weed our own seeds of authentic personal growth; and, to plant new seeds for peaceful living that will blossom seven generations forward.

Why do we, the children of war,

continue to birth a planet of war

founded on competitive dominance

rather than cooperative mutuality?