Past Present Future

This series draws on grounding techniques as a way of navigating anxiety, using what is immediately perceptible to return attention to the present moment. Pause and notice: 5 things you can see, 4 things you can touch, 3 things you can hear, 2 things you can smell, 1 thing you can taste. This practice shifts focus back to the physical world, interrupting the pull of anxious thoughts tied to the past or projected into the future. Some elements in these works are intentionally arbitrary, echoing the instinct to grasp whatever is within reach, to touch, to hear, to smell, when seeking steadiness. Others point to distance, uncertainty, or immediacy, reflecting the layered nature of perception and experience. Grounding is just one of many ways to move through overwhelming feelings. Equally important is recognizing that all emotions carry meaning. They act as signals, offering insight and direction. Anxiety, in particular, is often burdened by stigma. By engaging with it openly, by naming its presence and complexity, we can begin to shift that narrative and make space for a more honest understanding of mental health.