The One You Feed How to Navigate the Complexities of Caregiving with Kathy Fagan
Mar 24, 2023
Kathy Fagan, an esteemed poet and co-founder of Ohio State's MFA program, delves into the emotional complexities of caregiving. She shares her personal journey with the dualities of love and loss while caring for an aging parent with dementia. Fagan discusses how writing serves as a therapeutic tool to process grief and embrace difficult emotions. The conversation also explores the nuances of trust in relationships and highlights the importance of attentiveness and curiosity in creativity and life.
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Negative Capability and Emotional Multiplicity
- The "two wolves" parable highlights a spectrum of emotions, not a simple binary.
- We often hold opposing feelings simultaneously, embracing multiplicity.
A Caregiving Journey
- Kathy Fagan's father, with differing political views, moved in with her due to declining health.
- This experience, coupled with navigating healthcare systems, inspired her book "Bad Hobby."
The Struggle of Caregiving and Creativity
- Caregiving and creative pursuits can feel like simultaneous failures, demanding immense energy.
- Writing becomes a necessary processing tool, transforming raw experience into art.