Meet Jo-Ann Silvia of Emotion Through Arts in Pembroke

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jo-Ann Silvia.

Jo-Ann, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
When I was a pre-teen, I did not feel loved and I did not show it. Thinking back on my life today I guess I thought that I knew how to love and show it, but I know now that I did not show love. So here is the beginning of my journey to a better life. These are the lessons I learned from not knowing how to love myself or show my emotions. Now I need to tell the real story of my life.
My passion in life all started right after my divorce in 1995 when I went back to college. I was sitting in my classroom at Massasoit Community College, just writing words down. One classmate said it was a poem. That is when I decided to write poetry. When I got sick in 2001 and could not work for two years, that is when I really started writing my memoir. I’m Sarah, Jo-Ann’s Inner Child: One Woman’s Search for Inner Peace.

I lost myself through my Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and dealing with my Dissociative Disorder. I desperately needed to find myself as I had no emotions for many years. I feel I can help others the way I helped myself through my words of poetry and my painting to a healthy and happy life. Learning how to cope with life’s challenges will help us see how wonderful life is. When you have a roadblock in your life, you do not always know where to go and so I would just focus on keeping a roof over my children’s heads.

I am open now to spreading the word of love. I have been working on getting the message out for people to understand that I was helped by writing and painting to release the hidden emotions that I had lost for many years. My goal is to help people to acknowledge and release their feelings in a healthy way. I will continue to encourage people to accomplish their goals to a happy and healthy life, and I will never stop until I see success. I would like to thank my good friend for this opportunity to spread my story, as it’s never too late to learn and grow. I am also a firm believer in the positive power of angel’s energy. I am a certified Angel Card reader.

Has it been a smooth road?
I had many life obstacles that got in the way to my pursuit of peace. Raising three children on my own after a divorce and working many hours left me not knowing where I was going. I always made sure that I had a roof over my children’s heads and food on the table, however. I was working and attending college to support my family. Those were my main focuses, and I never had any time to focus on my passions. Having Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder plus Dissociative Disorder made living life happily even more difficult to manage. It was hard to focus on what was important to me. I struggled moving forward with my life because I didn’t love myself enough. I wanted to share my story.

I had a TV Show Brighter Side, Episode 1 on May 1, 2014. It went downhill from there I wanted many more and I had ideas, but it never happened. Something always got in my way. Maybe it was me when it was happening. I would say I wanted to show the people what helped me. It was hard for me to get a team together. It was hard for me to ask for help. That is my big problem asking for help. I got a flyer made up, so I could have classes to help others. I had one opportunity to teach night classes at Brockton High School. It never happened because they did not have enough people sign up for my class, so it was canceled.
My low self-esteem that got in my way and not having enough confidence to move forward in my dreams on helping people. I was always thinking about what the right thing was to do but took little action. I realize it was all my own actions and decisions that stopped me from producing a good company. I always had setbacks. I moved forward and then one step backward. That was my life. Things always got in my way. Maybe in the back of my mind I was not good-enough but I knew that I wanted to help people just like me. I do not want them to be my age when they find out. I want to get my message out and reach the younger population before it is too late, so they can have happier life.

So, let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Emotion Through Arts story. Tell us more about the business.
My business is all about my poetry and painting and how it impacts my life. I am an artist and a writer. I love writing poetry. I have published many poems. I have a painting hanging in Bridgewater State University. I have two prints in Austria. I want to share my knowledge with the world. I also will show people how to get out of your comfort zones and try something new that they never did before to bring back happiness. What I got out of my experience going out of my comfort zone gave me joy and happiness to push forward with my passion. Some people will find happiness within themselves to feel joy for the first time if they continue to push forward. That is my mission. Seeing this come to completion would bring me great happiness. I can feel the energy around me that other cannot feel. I’ve been alone for many years not knowing who I was, but now I do. I can show people the things I have done and not be afraid and go out and have some fun. Fun is the key of happiness. That is what I am doing. We are never too old to have fun.

I will share my life experience and knowledge with people that have PTSD to help them grow and learn to love life again. My business would open their minds to a better understanding of who they are. I want to help others get out of their comfort zone; to feel better about themselves and know the real person they are.

It took me many years to get where I am today. I know how people feel. I’ve been there and back. It was not a happy place to be in. I survived. I want to reach out to people that lost a loved one and put a smile on their faces by writing a lovely poem. They can create a remembrance about the loved one they lost. It will bring joy back to remember all the good memories. Love is always in the heart.

How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
My message of healing through art and poetry will reach people of all ages worldwide.

Contact Info:

• Address: Pembroke, MA.
• Phone: 781-293-6034
• Email: brightersideshow@gmail.com

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