We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Addison Hanson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Addison , we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
Since my leukemia diagnosis in 2018, remaining resilient has been crucial to my everyday life. That’s not to say that every day I feel as resilient as the last, it’s definitely an ebb and flow depending on many factors; ie how bad the daily symptoms are, how that affects my quality of life and ability to do what I love, how/if it disrupts my relationships with loved ones. A lot of what keeps me resilient is my consistent hope for the future and focusing on what sparks joy and brings meaning to what has generally been a fairly confusing existence for me.
I may be in severe pain and unable to leave my house, but being able to draw and connect with people through my art and content has been paramount to keeping me pushing forward. In addition to the support system I’ve found online, my dad (& full-time caretaker) helps to keep me grounded. Being with my dad, laughing with him, and weathering all the difficult moments together, is everything to me.
There are tough days, there are days where I sometimes wish I could disappear into it all, but I remind myself that every step I take, no matter how small or trivial it may seem, is resilience.
Choosing resilience in the face of such adversity helps me feel hopeful that it won’t always feel and be this difficult, there’s always hope.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
What’s most special to me about my art and content is that it reflects my journey- not just through leukemia, but everything that’s shaped me to be who I am today. I think the most beautiful part of art is that every piece is an accumulation of you; things, people, places you love, experiences you’ve had, and feelings you’ve felt, there’s a piece of your soul in everything you create. What’s even more beautiful is seeing how people interact with that part of your soul, I think it’s incredibly special and something I’m very grateful to regularly experience through my work.
I try to bring light to some really difficult topics, trying my best to make them feel approachable and even hopeful. My biggest mission over the past few years has been to show that a health diagnosis, like leukemia, isn’t a death sentence and that adapting to living and even thriving with one is very much possible. I want people to connect, feel understood, and seen, and maybe even find comfort in my work, whether they’re facing their own challenges or they just want to learn more. I love blending vulnerability with creativity, we’re all humans trying to figure all of this out for the first time, and I just want more people to know they’re not alone in whatever challenges they may be facing.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Resilience, openness to community, and vulnerability have been essential for me. Resilience keeps me pushing forward, even on the toughest days when I may feel I can’t move or do anymore. Openness to community has been huge, because connecting with others has brought me so much strength and support, especially during such an isolating journey. Vulnerability has allowed me to remove the “social media mask” and share my story more honestly, which not only helps me process everything I’m going through but also connects me to people going through similar struggles.
For me, I feel that resilience, openness to community, and vulnerability create a powerful synergy. Resilience gives me the inner strength to move forward, but it’s also bolstered by my community, which I’ve found largely through my vulnerability. Being vulnerable makes my support network stronger, which in turn reinforces my resilience. All three together have helped create a foundation for me to authentically grow and stay grounded through the tough times.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
I would love to collaborate with more like-minded artists, creators, or brands. My main aspiration is to show that resilience through creative expression can lead to a fulfilling and vibrant life. My journey has given me a unique life perspective and It’s incredibly important to me to demonstrate that an impactful health diagnosis doesn’t mean the end of your dreams.
I love to focus on creating meaningful and impactful content, from original illustrations to informative videos about living life with leukemia. I deeply believe in the power of art and community and my hope for collaborations would be to further broadcast these sentiments, bringing awareness and hope to those in similar situations and inspiring those that aren’t.
Together, we could diminish misconceptions and show that life’s challenges can fuel resilience and creativity, while also pushing for social change and impactful engagement that inspires and celebrates the unique strength and potential that’s within everyone.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kuzome.carrd.co
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