This book and the stories presented here could be a lot of things. It could be about death and dying. It could be about accepting my Mom’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis. It could be about the depression that followed my Dad’s death. It could be about contemplating suicide.
But really, it’s a love story. It chronicles my journey back to loving myself more fully, of working to find the beauty in the jagged bits of grief when they showsup-and they do oh so randomly and persistently. It’s about embracing the cadence and sometimes shrill of my voice, of learning that slow jog back to living deeply, vulnerably; instead of swallowing the words, emotions and experiences that wait patiently for my acknowledgement.
It’s a love letter to my Mom, Rosie and to my dad, Joe.
I think it’s also a call to action to love one another fiercely and unapologetically. To love with abandon. To find your tribe. to love your tribe, and to count your blessings.
It’s about acknowledging the pain, the shit, the confusion, and the anger that is a partner to grief.
I am not saying it’s easy. I am NOT saying that Ms. Nancy Negative does not take a seat at the table next to me some days. She does.
Or that grief magically disappears. She doesn’t.
But what does happen, what can happen, is that you learn to live again. Whatever that means for you.
You can do it.
I swear you can.
With love and light,
Jodi
Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?
-Mary Oliver
I believe in the power of the individual story to inspire, transform, and heal. I work with all kinds of folks who want to learn how to harness the power of their individual story for personal, professional, and ultimately, societal change.
Let’s talk about your needs and I’ll tailor my workshop to fit your vision.
Here’s a sample of workshop topics I have developed and facilitated:
The Art and Craft of Small Moment Stories
Love + Loss: Writing to Heal
What Do I Do With All This Grief?
Our Stories Matter: Building a Caregiver Toolbox and Community
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Thank you for interest in my work!
If you are looking to find a speaker that is super-relateable and inspiring, I’d love to hear from you. I hand craft and tailor my message, complete with take aways and tools, in an engaging and thoughtful way to meet the needs of your audience and purpose.
Check out some sample topics below.
The Silver Lining and Adversity: How to Use Your Small Moment Story to Turn Sh*t into Gold
Learning Objectives:
Identify the adversity or hurrdle your small moment addresses
Discover your “Why”
Learn the art of the small moment story
Write and practice a small moment story
Discover how your story can be a catalyst for change for you and your audience
I Am Still Here: A Talk and Toolbox for Caregivers, Family, or Anyone Who is Navigating the Raw and Messy Road of Disease, Death, and Grief
Learning Objectives
Identify key areas of support needed
Demonstrate how to adopt an “I Am Still Here” mindset
Introduce the five tools you can use immediately to support you in your caregiving journey
Witness Jodi use lessons gleaned from her mom’s Alzheimer’s and be empowered to apply them to your own life
I’d love to be part of your next conference or event.
Send me a note by filling out the form below.
Artist Statement:
Through the use of archival film footage, photographs, and objects “I Am Still Here” is a body of work which chronicles one family's journey with Alzheimer's and the effects of caregiving. While Rosie, the woman at the heart of our work suffers from Alzheimer's she is “Still Here” physically, emotionally and spiritually. Rosie said it best, “May my story provide you with more trust and hope than I once had, so that you too will believe in yourself so so deeply, so fully that you feel compelled to share your story with the world.”
Laura Larson: BA Arts Education from University of Illinois at Chicago
Fine Arts Teacher/Video Production Teacher 13 years.
Advanced Topics in Photography courses at Lil Street Art Center with instructor Shawn Rowe and Jeannine Donegan.
Jodi Arndt: BSW; Loyola University
Masters Degree in Curriculum and Instruction; University of Illinois at Chicago
Masters Degree Educational Leadership; University of Illinois at Chicago.
Former CPS teacher and literacy coach.
Rosie and Joe’s daughter, the Arndt family historian, and author of the book "A Gaping Hole."
Fingers crossed the Universe provides this girl a publisher! xo
Jodi
Been putting off that movie you have in your mind? Do you have a great idea, but don’t know where to start? Or don’t have the time? We’ve all been there! Are story or speech ideas popping into your head, but aside from your bulleted list and a couple chapters, you haven’t gotten much farther? Ready to share the story inside of you? That story that you’ve been thinking about--it matters. Let’s work together to craft your biography, memoir, narrative, or non-fiction text. Email me at the link below and let’s get this party started!
Cheers to discussing the vision for your next project!
Your Memories are Magic:
Excavating our experiencing and dragging those small stories into the room to be told and shared can be beautiful, sometimes messy, and ego puffing work. Perhaps, that’s why some of us put off documenting our relevant and dynamic lives.
Yet, there’s a sort of alchemy, a magic that is created when you, in the midst of the mundane monotony of groceries, carpools, and scrolling through other people’s lives, you consider documenting your story while you live it.
Your story is your superpower.
I’d love to help you excavate special moments, document them, and compile them for you into a memory book made just for you!
You have all of these posts--archived pictures, catchy captions, and quotes--but you words that resonate with you all over social media.
I take all your content, experiences, pictures, and text (images you already have on social media or at home) and create a bound book for you.
A mama is someone who is a sacred guide and memory maker. She is the secret keeper and the truth-teller. She may have birthed you or come into your life by divine circumstance. Maybe you have a complicated, messy relationship with yours. I don’t know. We get a lot from the women in our lives. The beauty, the mess, the outlook; we embrace the messy and beautiful bits; as if to say—I got it from my mama. Please click link below
Please feel free to email directly for booking information.
jarndt1118@gmail.com
pinkypromispix@gmail.com
