Hear from The Layered Onion team why we do what we do.
Deep in my soul, creative shoots have begged to be released into the world, but the responsibilities of life kept the shoots pruned. After the loss of my parents and a dear friend, the time was no longer tomorrow, but today. I launched one of my book ideas dormant under the surface for so long. It was exciting. I joined a writing class that inspired me only to have the pandemic cut our camaraderie short.
The demise of my cheerleading squad and the reality that publishing my story was remote, diminished my motivation to finish my novel. Through serendipity, I met a disabled artist. I began to wonder if there were other creators like us that just couldn’t quite thread the needle. From our discussion and my experience blossomed–The Layered Onion. We all have a story to tell and it should not be told by anyone else, even if it is one layer at a time.
-Linda, the Garden Steward
I live in a zone of self-reflection that surrounds me like dust in the desert. The sand and dust settle on my limbs, subtly at first, without me noticing until I am covered in dust and don’t want to move. Depression weighs me down.
Then I invite in the rain to wash me free of unnecessary thoughts and heavy emotions. I feel fresh and rejuvenated. I want to be the rain. Someone who listens without judgment, accepts who you are, and helps you feel free.
-Em, the Rain
I have felt the weight of gloomy days, how it can engulf and steal away hope. Yet, even in the presence of persistent clouds, the sun inevitably breaks through. In my role at The Layered Onion, I strive to emulate the sun, consistently illuminating amazing creators doing exceptional work. Together, I believe we can rise above the darkness and revel in the brilliance of a new day.
-Oluwatoyin, the Sunshine
-Bekee, the Soil
I feel I am most rooted when others around me flourish. Due to mental health issues and trauma, I lived in isolation and fear for a very long time. I felt I needed to protect myself from others and shield others from what was going on inside of me. Through that time, there were a few hot ants who persisted and insisted that going it alone was not the answer long term.
I have a powerful knowing that community is fundamental. I gravitate toward finding solutions to problems, helping people visualize their goals and then dancing through them. I’d like to say I’m one of the ants on the hill, pulling up a bunch of resources so we can all get to the top. We are starting small, but together we are doing something huge.
-Lili, Ant Guide
Do you wish you owned an off switch for your brain? My mind is constantly analyzing why humans do what they do. It can be lonely and it’s easy to become despondent. But like a constant knock at the door, hope lingers, waiting patiently for us to be open to the possibilities. That is my role in The Layered Onion, to keep rapping on the door, so our creators can connect and grow to be what they want to be.
My dream is for our collective efforts to burst open the barricades and dawn a new reality where everyone recognizes our similarities and lets go of our differences.
-Edward, the Beekeeper
