Embracing Uncertainty

Tonia Lyon has been changing the world through service and poetry/poem-making since 2016. Since connecting with John and IPM in 2018 at Mepkin Abbey in South Carolina, Tonia has brought poetic healing to her own life. 

This inspiration gave Tonia the courage and clarity to share the gift of poem-making with others. Since joined by Samantha Overbay, they take the tools and practices of Poetic Medicine into their community—specifically reaching nonprofits. Through organizations such as Sandbox, Hope Haven and Running Works, they meet with and empower women with writing and self-expression. At Sandbox, they serve women who have experienced trauma through the death of a child and/or who have a child with serious illness. At Hope Haven and Running Works they reach people overcoming substance dependence. They call this work Embracing Uncertainty. 

Embracing Uncertainty has given participants a platform to be heard, to explore their creative voice and to hear one another which does so much to diminish isolation and create friendship. Each year a poetry anthology is produced.