the art of being human
navigating the complexities of existence and living a creative life
How does one make sense of heartbreak, grief, and the relentless weight of the world’s atrocities and suffering? And how does one fully embrace sacred joy, knowing it can dissolve in an instant—replaced by political upheaval, sorrow, anger, or despair? These are questions I have pondered for what feels like a lifetime, questions that have shaped the way I move through the world.
When I first explored these themes in Adventures in Solitude, a blog I started in 2009, I had just experienced what I can only describe as an awakening—a monumental shift in how I saw myself, the life I had built, and the world around me. Until then, I had followed a well-worn path: be good, get good grades, go to college, build a career, get married, have a kid. While parts of my journey mirrored convention, my awakening urged me to question the narratives I had inherited and explore beyond the edges of what I had been taught to believe.
That questioning led me to contemplative wisdom teachings, philosophy, social psychology, yoga, meditation, dance, and the world of plant medicine. I slowly began to unravel the conditioning of my early years and released stories that no longer fit. In doing so, I arrived at a simple yet profound truth: none of us truly knows how to navigate this strange, wondrous, and often messy experience of being human. From that place, a deep curiosity, creativity, and freedom of expression through writing and movement began to emerge. My engagement with the natural world around me, along with the individuals I crossed paths with, provided the experience of what it meant to live a more creative, connected, and inspired life.
Now, in the thick of my fourth decade, rather than feeling ashamed of how I’m hardwired, I embrace my inquisitive nature and self-expression more fully. I’m sure much of that has to do with having practiced mindfulness over the last twenty years, or maybe it is simply a byproduct of age. Now I pause, reflect, and ponder what it means to live artfully—to shape a life that is intentional, textured, and deeply felt. Staying open, present, and aware has allowed me to cultivate richer connections, free from expectation or the need to control. I have learned that sitting with both grief and joy deepens my appreciation for it all—the light, the dark, and every shade in between.
My life, this path—it has been one of discovery and surrender. I no longer seek absolute answers. Instead, I live the questions, lean into presence, and try to make art out of my life whenever possible. To live artfully and to, in turn, make art out of our life means to approach living with intention, creativity, and presence. It is the practice of shaping our experiences—both beautiful and difficult—into something meaningful, expressive, and deeply felt. It’s about seeing life not as a series of obligations or random events, but as a canvas where we can paint our truths, a sculpture we carve with our choices, or a song we compose through our interactions and emotions. In this way, I wholeheartedly believe it is the artists and the creatives who will save us, especially at this crucial time—when everything is so desperate.
© Alana Foy 2025
