Jennifer Leigh Allison's Blog

7 Principles God Taught Me in Prison

 Recorded at Fellowship Bible Church – 11/1/15 – Jennifer Leigh Allison

http://jenniferleighallison.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/01-Jennifer-11_1_15.mp3

Every time I step out of my comfort zone and follow God’s calling, I get to witness Him do miraculous things. In the audio message above, I share 7 life principles that God taught me as I was speaking with inmates. I can honestly say that I’ve learned more about His power, mercy, grace and forgiveness while talking to addicts, murderers and thieves, than I ever did sitting in a pew. He is truly awesome!

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Treehouse Illustration by Jennifer Allison

I have Sensory Processing Disorder and the struggle is very real. As a child I was in constant battle with the world around me…as well as my parents and teachers. I’d often retreat to the woods behind my house where I built a tree fort to escape the chaos and drama and seek much-needed solitude. That was where I found peace, and I spent hours talking to the various insects and birds that accepted me and my quirky, special need for quiet time.

As an adult, I’ve learned that throwing myself on the floor while kicking and screaming isn’t a socially acceptable way to deal with the overwhelming sensory input that my brain fails to process properly. But the disorder continues to wreak havoc in my everyday life. For example, in order to survive the corporate cubicle world where I work, I have to wear noise-canceling headphones all day long, but this isn’t ideal for inspiring creativity or productivity.

I no longer have a treehouse or secret fort deep in the woods that I can retreat to as an adult. Unfortunately. However, there IS one thing I’ve found that truly calms my stress and melts away the chaos and discomfort of my hyper-sensitive sensory system. That one thing is drawing. 

Hours and hours quickly pass by as I lose myself into the calming effects of creating art. It’s therapeutic, even magical, how the brain can focus and relax when putting pen to paper. Somehow, it makes my otherwise debilitating disorder simply seem to disappear. Ahhhhhhhh!

Flying Colors by Jennifer Allison

I have found the miracle cure! It restores energy and provides an outlet that is both safe and exhilarating! And there’s no nasty side effects!!

As a result of all my recent drawing, I put together 30 detailed, hand-drawn illustrations and turned them into an expert level coloring book. It’s available now from Amazon.com.

Have you ever tried coloring or drawing to help with your own disorder, chronic pain, stress or anxiety? If so, please leave a comment. I would love to know how art therapy helps you too. And I would REALLY love for you to try my new coloring book.

It works. It REALLY works! ENJOY!

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An Expert Level Coloring Adventure

I am very excited to announce that my new adult coloring book is now available. This video showcases all 30 detailed illustrations I did for the book.

I would love for you to share the images you color with me. If you will post them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and use the hashtag #flyingcolors in your post, I will see all your beautiful creations and share some of them from my own social media pages. I can’t wait to see what you create!

Right now the coloring book is only available on Amazon.com.  ENJOY!!!

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I have been in a drawing mood lately. Today I decided to give ballpoint pens a try.

First, I sketched out a rough pencil drawing of my favorite Star Wars character, Yoda. Then I began to lay down a foundation of color. Slowly and gently more layers of color were built upon each other to make shadows and darker tones.

I had a lot of fun working on this but it took quite a bit of patience to fill in some of the larger areas. Overall, this drawing took me about 15 hours to complete. (See below.)

I posted the final high-resolution artwork on my gallery where prints can be purchased.

Prints of this drawing and more are available on my gallery at jennifer-allison.fineartamerica.com.

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Now that my book has been published, I’ve decided to take a break from writing and do some more drawing.

Here’s a picture I just finished of Burano, Italy. This piece took me approximately 25 hours. First, I sketched out the houses and boats in pen and ink on paper. I decided to apply the color digitally so I scanned in my outline and used my Wacom tablet to finish the drawing and details. I used a software program called Manga Studio, which has some great brushes and paint effects that I’ve been experimenting around with. Let me know what you think!

I just opened an online store where you can purchase prints of my artwork like this one. Check it out at jennifer-allison.fineartamerica.com.

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One thing I love about the holidays is having time off work to relax and draw. Here’s an illustration I just did of one of my favorite bible verses. I’ve been through a lot of hardships but they allowed me to witness God do amazing things in my life. I can truly consider it joy.

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you face trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. – James 1:2-3

To see more artwork visit my gallery.

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Am I really the only one who was traumatized as a kid when I learned the cold, hard truth about Santa? Honestly, I was devastated. I couldn’t believe I had been so gullible and that my family, friends and teachers all conspired against me. As a result, I never carried forth the Santa tradition with my son. When I tell people this I’m often met with wide eyes and gasps of horror. They say, “how could you rob your child of the Christmas magic?”

Here are four reasons why I believe the TRUTH is so much more magical than Mr. Claus.

HIS LOVE

My brother and I sitting on the lap of a very creepy looking Santa.

We’re taught at a very early age that being naughty or nice determines what gifts Santa will bring. Even just talking to him can be an intimidating experience for many of us. (See the photo of my brother and I with Santa). Does he really look like the kind of man you want your kids to develop an intimate relationship with?

To the contrary, Christ doesn’t give according to our behavior. He gives freely to all who believe. His love is unconditional and He wants to bless us with peace, joy, freedom and eternal life.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:8-10

HIS POWER

Santa’s power is limited. Sure, he can fly a sleigh with the aid of eight tiny reindeer. And somehow he manages to squeeze his gluttonous body down every chimney in the world in a single night. That’s pretty remarkable, I agree.

However, Christ can walk on water and heal the sick. He can even raise the dead back to life! Not to mention, He created the entire Universe, which is far bigger than we can even imagine. That’s pretty awesome!

“And what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.” Ephesians 1:19-21

HIS PRESENTS

Santa’s gifts are temporal and oftentimes costly. Many of them are even tied to debt. Greed and jealously run rampant as we clamor for more and more toys…many of which end up broken or hardly even played with.

Gifts from Christ are eternal and transformative. First, He forgives all our wretched sins and transforms us with incredible power. He gives our life purpose and frees us from bondage and fear. He also gives us the hope of eternal life. He is an awesome provider because He owns EVERYTHING!

“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19

HIS PRESENCE

Santa only comes to see us once a year. If you’re really determined to foster a relationship you might need to take a painfully long road trip to search for the old man’s hiding place at the North Pole. Good luck with that.

Christ is always with us. He’ll never forsake us. He wants a personal relationship with us so much He came to earth just to prove it.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only son. Whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

So, how is some guy at the mall in a fake beard and red suit more magical than the everlasting master of the universe? I mean, really?

If you want to create truly memorable experiences for your child, tell them about Jesus. Read about His miracles together. Proclaim His promises. Remind them that the birth of Christ paved a way for their lives to be full of purpose…forever and ever and ever. THAT, my friends, is worth celebrating!

Merry Christmas!

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Relaxing, and even sleeping, doesn’t come easy for me. Because of my mutant superpowers due to Sensory Processing Disorder, the process of unwinding is usually a battle. It’s essential for me to have a quiet place to retreat after work, church, or social outings so I can be properly rejuvenated for interacting with the world again.

Quiet time is important for everyone though, not just people with special needs like me. Even Jesus Christ, who had the most important mission on earth, often found time to be alone. This discipline refueled and focused Him for interacting with the crowds He wanted to help, serve and heal. (Mark 1:35-38)

For those of us with disorders like SPD, or even just introverted personalities, having the right time to re-energize is critical for our overall health and well-being.

So, how can you create a sanctuary of solace and be at your best for the work and relationships God has provided to you? Here are a few things that help me.

Create a Sensory Safe Zone – Make a place that is safe and free from all bombarding stimuli and distractions. If you’re parenting a special needs child, let them have input into how this place, room, closet or cubby hole is set up. Your personal design preferences may actually clash with their ability to find tranquility. What comforts them is key.

I was lucky to have a bedroom of my own as a kid, but it was not a happy place. The walls were busy with plaid striped wallpaper, in pastel colors that I hated. On top of that, a painting of a ballerina hung above my bed and her judging eyes constantly reminded me that I wasn’t the prissy little girl my mother wanted me to be. I could also hear the rumble of the TV from our family room through the wall, which created a lot of anxiety because of my SPD. I had severe panic attacks every single night when I went to bed. The only time I found peace and comfort was in the still, dark, quiet of the middle of the night. However, staying up all night doing rambunctious things and not getting any sleep created a lot more problems for me. You can read more about my nocturnal shenanigans in my new book.

I have a great sanctuary of solace now. This room was designed with specific calming colors that I enjoy. I also turn on a box fan for white noise and use peppermint oil because it soothes me. Knowing I won’t have any interruptions or distractions in my sensory safe zone is something I look forward to and it really helps.

Have a Dedicated Quiet Time – As a child, I never had enough peace and quiet. I usually had to go into the woods behind my house and climb a tree to seek solace, which wasn’t always feasible. So, I fought for peace, all the time, with everybody. Now I have a time planned every day where I can relax. This gives me the strength and courage to face my everyday challenges, and do so a lot more effectively. Having a dedicated down time helps me navigate the chaotic world because I know exactly when I can finally let my defenses down and relax.

Manage a Healthy Balance – Be careful not to isolate yourself too much if you enjoy solitude. I recommend setting a specific time and place each day. If you have a special event or activity one day then you may need to plan some extra time afterwards to decompress. But be careful not to hide all the time. The goal is not to become a hermit. The time alone is for the purpose of being rejuvenated so you can go back into the world and fulfill your purpose!

Be intentional about making time to relax, pray and seek the heart of God. Even after Jesus performed some of His greatest miracles, He sought time alone to stay focused and prepared for His calling. If you do the same, you’ll become more effective in fulfilling your specific purpose. Plus, you’ll feel happier and healthier overall.

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As I was growing up, I heard a lot of the same words over and over again, in regards to my behavior. The redundant questions and statements from parents and teachers brought a lot of unnecessary confusion and pain into my life.

See, I have Sensory Processing Disorder, which creates a lot of unique challenges for me. You can learn more about SPD by reading my article, One Reason I’m So Weird.

I’m sure my disability was the main reason the following words were repeated like a broken record. However, they did a lot more damage than good. Words can really impact people who takes things very literally, like me. This is true whether your child has a disability or not.

Here are five things I believe you should never say, with some alternatives to try instead. Perhaps these can help turn your struggle with a difficult child into an opportunity to help.

1. What’s wrong with you?

Hearing this question always made me shrink inside. It diminished my self-confidence in massive amounts. Just because I’m different, doesn’t mean I’m wrong. Sure, my brain doesn’t process the world around me the same way yours does. My perception is very unique. However, these words led me to believe I was a mistake, or broken.

Say this instead: “You have a special gift. You were made for a purpose.”

2. I’ll never understand you.

This may be a true statement; people can never understand how I feel or perceive the world without being inside my body and mind. However, these words lack compassion. The thing I wanted more than anything as a kid was to be understood, or validated; for people to believe my battle was real and not just write me off.

Say this instead: “I am so sorry for what you’re going through.”

3. Why can’t you act normal?

Believe me, I wish nothing more than my body and mind would stop betraying me all the time. I want to enjoy peace and joy in everyday life as much as the next person. Now don’t get me wrong, learning to behave in social situations was an important life skill I needed to develop. However, pointing out the fact I was not like everybody else only made me feel like an outcast. It shattered what little hope I had at times.

Say this instead: “Is there anything I can do to help you?”

4. Why can’t you be more like your brother(or sister)?

My mother only said this to me one time, but it lingered with me for a lifetime. I know, now, she didn’t intentionally mean to hurt me by saying this. She was simply frustrated in the moment because I challenged her at every turn, whereas my brother was an easy child to care for. However, the words of comparison made me believe my parents loved him more; like there was no value in being me. This resulted in intense feelings of rejection, hurt and confusion. In fact, I ran away at six years old because I honestly thought my parents would be happier if I was gone. That’s a whole other story.

Say this instead: “I love how different and unique you are.”

5. You’ll never amount to anything.

These words were never actually spoken to me, but I felt as if they were because of the way people treated me. I was often forced into very overwhelming sensory environments for school or church and then punished for the way my body responded to them. Because I had so much trouble with chronic sensory meltdowns, everyone assumed I was an ornery brat. In reality, I was just trying to survive the brutal sensory assault. I couldn’t understand why nobody wanted to protect me or help me find peace. Homework and chores were impossible to complete when my heart and mind were racing at full throttle. Having a safe place to decompress was critical to my success.  In fact, I can be highly productive for hours on end and do amazing work…in the right environment.

Say this instead: “What can I do to create a safe place for you to relax, focus, find peace, and study?”

If you’re raising a difficult child like I was, I understand your struggle. Well, at least my parents do. We ALL need somebody who cares, even if you can’t fix or change the difficult situation we’re in. Having someone who believes in us, despite our behavior, can carry us a long way.

Words are like seeds that will either help a child bloom and grow into  healthy beautiful fruit, or they’ll fester and turn into painful thorns that can choke out our true identity and purpose. Choose your words carefully.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits. - Proverbs 18:21

Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body. -Proverbs 16:24

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