Depending on where you were in 2018, you may or may not remember former Nashville mayor Megan Barry’s story. The Washington Post’s headline said, “Megan Barry Resigns as Nashville Mayor, Weeks After Admitting Affair with the Security Chief” and The New York Times declared, “Megan Barry, Nashville Mayor, Pleads Guilty to Theft and Agrees to Resign.” It was a monumental lapse in judgment that played out on the national stage. Before this public reckoning and while she was still in office, Megan lost her only child Max to a drug overdose. So in one year, she lost two of the things she loved the most — her beloved son and her job as the mayor of Nashville. Grief, shame, and resentment nearly destroyed her marriage. But she found her way back with humility, hope, and a fantastic sense of humor. We talk about how writing her memoir “It’s What You Do Next” helped her process her trauma and heal, and the transformative power of creativity.

Takeaways

• Creativity can help you deal with grief and trauma in a healthy way.
• Writing can be a transformative experience.
• Surrounding yourself with people who know more than you do is the best way to learn.
• Deadlines can be helpful tools to complete your work.
• Grief can be absurd, and humor can help you navigate it; and lastly,
• Creativity is an act of service.

Resources

Learn more about Megan here. Buy her book!

Follow her on instagram @mayormeganbarry.