Finding Inspiration in Frida Kahlo’s Story
In January 2024, I traveled to Mexico for my son’s wedding. I should really say two weddings. There was one in the Church, and then the next was on an incredible beach in Playa del Carmen. My son married a girl who is from Mexico City. They met at their MBA program in Toronto.
The first part of the visit was to Mexico City, where we toured around with my new daughter-in-law’s family. You should have seen us communicating in English and in Spanish, using Google Translate, and sometimes having the “young” folks act as translators. I came out of the experience of learning a few words in Spanish. There is a lot more to learn!
Finding inspiration with Frida Kahlo in Mexico City
One of the places that we went to was the Frida Kahlo Museum. I remembered that Frida Kahlo was an artist. I had forgotten that she had autoimmune issues and then was in an accident at age 27 that deeply impacted her body.
Despite Frida Kahlo’s challenged body, she managed to have a full life within the walls of her beloved and beautiful home, along with her husband Diego. Frida had many visitors which was a blessing since travel would have been extremely difficult for her.
Frida’s subjects of painting were items within her own space, as well as many paintings of herself as she spent so much time alone, and with herself.
When I entered her bedroom, where she spent much time in convalescence, I felt very emotional. Suddenly, I could relate to Frida Kahlo in a new way. While I have been recovering from my knee replacement and have had to take so much more time than expected, I tried to capture my experience to share with others. Frida Kahlo painted. I made videos and wrote blogs.
Frida had pictures of butterflies above her bed so that she could feel like she was outside and have a sense of flight and freedom.
When I rounded a corner and saw this poem on the wall, “Noguchis’ Butterflies” (see photo on the right), my tears poured. Frida, the young artist, broken in body but certainly strong in spirit, and me, the older yoga teacher, searching for spirit to support a damaged body. I didn’t imagine going into the museum that would feel so emotional and so inspired.
I am grateful to have had the experience of visiting Museo Frida Kahlo in Mexico City.
Thank you for sharing your experience with me, with us, Heather. I felt emotional as I read about your emotion, knowing some of what you’ve been through in the past year or so. Love to you, my friend.