Pam Temple lives a crazy-quilt of a life in the arts. She is an award-winning performing singer-songwriter with her husband in the Americana band Wild Carrot. She is a writing circle and SoulCollage® facilitator with Women Writing for (a) Change®, and part-time radio announcer at Cincinnati Public Radio (WVXU 91.7 and WGUC 90.9). She is also a rescue dog-mom and cat-mom.
What past event do you often reflect upon, and how did that event change you?
As an occupational therapy major, I was sitting in a huge lecture hall my senior year with other allied med majors and pre med majors, when it hit me: The last thing I wanted to do after graduation was to work in a fluorescent-lit hospital with the people around me! After some soul-searching, I called the Peace Corps. I served in Costa Rica from 1992-1994. Best move I ever made. My Peace Corps experience (using my OT training) gave me confidence through risk-taking, learning a new language, opportunities to prove to myself that I could find my own way while making a difference for people. Ironically, it gave me the courage to walk away from OT and live a creative life in music, writing, and radio.
How does your work add to the quality of your life?
I am a performing singer-songwriter with my band Wild Carrot. The rare moments of “being in the bubble” with my husband and other band mates, with the audience right there with us . . . magical. To hear that a song I wrote got someone through caring for a dying parent . . . no words. I also get to use music as a healing artist, playing for elders, memory-care groups, in hospitals and hospices. It is a sacred honor to play music at the bedside of the dying, or to witness someone who is non-verbal because of dementia sing along to a song he remembers from childhood. And facilitating writing circles with domestic violence support groups or a group of at-risk teen girls and witness them find their strength and voice through writing . . . well, I’m a very lucky girl. It all feels like meaningful work in a beleaguered world that is starved for personal connection. My spirit is lifted and my purpose is made evident by the group connections I am fortunate enough to hold space for. Right now, it feels like resistance.
Tell us a story you would like to share with the world.
One day I was carrying a bunch of flowers home from a writing circle at the justice center. I offered them to a stranger in the parking lot. She accepted them, amazed, and with tears in her eyes said, “You have no idea how much I needed some kindness today.” Be kind. You never know what burden another is carrying.
Author photo: Courtesy of author
Side bar image: Pixabay/Edar
