Artist: Sabreehna S. Essien

Women

Sabreehna S. Essien, MPH

Today I contemplated the magnificent power that is women. My view of myself during my single life was bittersweet. I spent most my entire life trying to prove my value. I volunteered thousands of hours in my community and even though my resume is excellent people doubt my value or language that describes my own self.

Why is it easy for some to assume fault in someone without personal knowledge of the person.

I have experienced rejection for so long that the need for outside validation is never a pillar for stability of mind. I have been maligned, crucified, publicly humiliated, and betrayed time and time again. My values compel me to forgive, let go, and strive ahead.

I started motherhood in my late thirties which is consider “old” or “high risk”. All the same I carried both my two pregnancies successfully and delivered two beautiful boys for my husband.

The mere process of pregnancy is amazing.

What a woman can do man cannot.

Read it again.

We truly are fearfully and wonderfully made. Just imagine the breast milk our bodies produces to empower our small babies growth and development.

Back to my original thought…there was a point I couldn’t see my value as a female child growing up. I thought it was a curse to be female due to abuse of authority from toxic masculinity. So I strived for perfection which is grasping for straws in sand.

My value as a woman can be quantified in what Christ is to his followers eat and drink. A woman is sustenance to her unborn child, after she gives birth her body remains a place of refuge and sustenance for her growing baby. A woman is also a refuge and sacred space for her husband, her life’s companion, she brings life.

A woman truly presents herself a living sacrifice daily for those she loves in mind, body, and soul. We do this 24/7….365….rain or shine….sickness or health. We give up ourselves and put those we love first always.

What a woman can do man cannot.

The View

Sabreehna S. Essien, MPH

In 2009, I was afforded the opportunity to study abroad in Ghana West Africa. It was my senior year at the Evergreen State College Tacoma. I was invited by a Director of a private children’s home in Ghana. She asked me to create curriculum for her students. The subjects she wanted them to learn were Art, Music, and Leadership Development. Being a student at TESCT allowed me to create my own course with faculty sponsor. The name of my course was Cultural Studies and Curriculum Development.

Being an Artist, Musician, and Leader within my community made the task to create curriculum on Art, Music, and Leadership a breeze. My students, k-8, were amazing and it was a joy teaching all of them. During my off time is when I would explore the local area, market, and learn about the foods.

I would frequent a small Internet cafe in the nearby village. It was owned and operated by a young Ghanaian orphan. He gifted me my first lesson book to learn the local language of Twi. Anytime I stopped by the cafe to check my emails he would quiz me on my skills.

These memories were stirred up recently during my studio time. I started to paint with the color black, added white, and used a lot of water this time around. The process gave the piece a water color feel and look. The development of the piece has been very contemplative over several weeks. I have named the piece “The View”.

Part of my artistic expression is to take photos of my process and the various stages of my work. Later I observe and make creative decision on next steps. “The View” was created horizontally and one day I just decided to turn the piece vertically. What manifest was a beautiful woman deeply in gaze at the distant shore. Immediately my mind remembered my Ancestors, the stolen ones, from the shores of West Africa. I thought about the castles during my cultural studies tours and the tears that poured down my face while a strong wind from the Atlantic kissed my cheeks.

Sabreehna S. Essien, MPH

I have been detoxing my mind, body, and spirit by the use of Lifestyle Medicine. In my life several heart breaking traumas one after the other which left me in a state of paralysis psychologically. I literally lost my way; my sense of self worth dropped to low levels. My personal dreams were like ropes of sand hardly able to grasp. I functioned through life, worked, and attended church but the ember of my inner most being was barely a flicker.

In my healing process I have encountered beautiful souls. People who said less and still their presence and care or concern meant the world.

The COVID-19 lockdown was a lonely time of isolation being a new mom with two small babies was not easy. I learned so much about myself and my resilience and capacity to love. I reconnected with community by growing a patio garden and a Community pantry on my patio to share food with members of my community. A note left behind expressing gratitude for the free groceries that helped a woman and her children meant a lot.

Anytime I find an obstacle instantly reroute and keep forward. My internal message these days is progressive movements only.

They say when life gives you lemons make lemonade. I say make body scrubs and exfoliate your skin. Wink! wink!