Message from Matt, Editor

On this, our first editorial on theCafe, I warmly welcome you on behalf of our Editorial Committee!  Our raison d’etre is “... to proselytise the links between creativity and well-being across the community, for and between individuals and affecting health -mental, physical and spiritual – in its widest forms”.

It is one of my long-held beliefs that whilst being creative might be challenging, it can also be both immensely satisfying at a fundamental and human  level.  Equally so, possessing creative pieces of work in our lives whether as books, pottery, paintings, prints, and so forth, can help us enjoy the world in which we live and work and be at peace within ourselves.

Introducing theCafé and theCafe society today,  I am conscious that, in part, it reflects the studies and personal experiences of several members of our team.  The origins of the ideas behind theCafe were borne from periods of study undertaken late in life by several of our members who, seeking new directions during times of trouble or crises in their lives, turned to liberating their inner creativity to help reshape their directions and to experience the joy that creativity nurtures.

As such, I offer you the words “experience is the teacher of all things” (attributed to Julius Caesar in De Bello Civili) – or more generally “experience is the best teacher”. To which the American author, speaker, and pastor John C. Maxwell, further commented: “the only way of learning from personal experiences is to reflect on them, something he feels Caesar had done a lot of, which was the only way he was able to become successful and write down his thoughts”  

Hence, the fundamental core of our philosophy and purpose is to explore, demonstrate, and eulogise what is at the core of our beings – i.e. to proselytise and  promote the links between creativity and well-being across the community, for and between individuals to nurture positive health – mental, physical and spiritual wellbeing – in its widest forms. The theCafe’s mission is supported by a sister social enterprise, Talking HealthSEN.