07/23/2026
🐸💚This week’s Rise From the Pond Youth Recovery Group was all about the masks we wear. 💚🐸
This session invited our youth to get creative while exploring an important question:
Who do I show the world… and who am I underneath?
Using art, colours, words, symbols, and meaningful images, everyone began creating masks that represent both their outside self (what others see) and their inside self (the parts we often keep hidden).
Some of the questions we reflected on included:
✨ What emotions do I let others see?
✨ What worries do I carry?
✨ What strengths do I have that others may overlook?
✨ What dreams and goals do I keep to myself?
✨ What parts of myself am I protecting?
There was no right or wrong way to create these masks. Each one tells a different story, and it was amazing to see how unique and thoughtful everyone’s work became. ❤️
We’re not quite finished yet! In two weeks, we’ll complete our masks and spend time reflecting on what they mean, what we discovered about ourselves, and how this connects to healing, authenticity, and recovery.
Recovery isn’t just about changing our behaviours—it’s also about getting to know the person underneath the mask and learning that every part of our story deserves compassion.
I’m so proud of the courage and creativity these youth brought into the room today. I can’t wait to see the finished pieces and hear the reflections next session. 🌿
🐸💚
