Losing my partner - and the only life I ever knew as an adult - brought into question so many things I had always believed were just how life was.
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As a woman born in the USA in the 1960s, my role - and my purpose - was clearly defined for me; I was to marry, have kids, and raise a family.  I bought into this narrative so completely that this role became my identity. I was Rod's Wife, and thrilled to be so. 

In the last couple of years, I've discovered zentangling - a way of using a few basic shapes to create abstract designs. It is often used as kind of meditation, a way to practice presence, and it can be very relaxing. 
I've also learned about using art to express emotions, to give them somewhere else to live other than in my body. I applied both of these things and that's how I arrived at the doodles you see in the book.