the dKol la femme project: dKol's story
How The dKol la femme Project began
“Unveiling my story, god this makes me feel extremely vulnerable and anxious.” – Danielle Kolachik | Founder
Here I go, unveiling my story, god this makes me feel extremely vulnerable and anxious.
How did I get here?
For as long as I can remember, I need to find a reason for everything. I’m seeking insight, accountability, I want growth.
Life changed drastically for me in 2013. What I now know as depression and anxiety, words that were not on my radar during that first deep dark bout with depression. I didn’t understand what anxiety meant. What felt like endless weeks that eventually turned into months of feeling depleted of any positivity or happiness, I began attempting to get myself out of bed. I can remember sitting up and swinging my legs off the bed in hopes of actually getting out. I’d sit seated there and it took all my will power to convince myself that I could begin my day to only lay back down and pull the covers over my head again. Eventually, I’d make into the family room to only return right back to bed. It was extremely slow moving progress. To then be able to shower and get dressed to dreadfully just lay back down. No one could touch me, no one could talk me up, no one could break me out of the funk. I was at my weakest.
Why became a word I started obsessing over. I now know it would give me insight and ultimately be the very reason la femme began manifesting.
After recognizing that I had a team of support and allowing them into my space, I began to slowly heal. Despite another huge setback in 2014 and the occasional less severe bouts of depression and anxiety from that point forward, it became extremely clear that I was finally getting my definition to my why.
I began to trust my intuition. I found a deep knowing. The struggles were intentional. It was clear that this was the base to developing a space for healing.
I no longer wrestle with wishing depression and anxiety away. I intentionally stopped medicating myself. For such a long time I’d either run from it or numb it. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want it. I hate when I’m in that space feeling stuck. But I’ve learned to finally be OK in the darkness. I find comfort in solitude. I’m aware of what I need to learn from it. And please let me say, I’d rather be in the light so I could give all of what I’ve learnt back. I now have coping skills to navigate my depression and anxiety, which still very much exists despite being pretty good at masking it.
Through this I knew la femme must acknowledge the darkness and allow for a time to remain there, in a space of discomfort. We truly believe that with recognizing that, the beauty of healing begins. We give you an empathetic nod to feel the darkness. We love positivity. We swear we do. But it’s like WE NEED to feel the discomfort and disappointment as much as we need to BE positive at other times. We want to offer support and encouragement for you to heal. Art is therapeutic like that. It will make you feel vulnerable but it will liberate you too.
What is vulnerability to me?
This story
This non-profit
Being ok inside of what defines me
This upcoming photo shoot
How has la femme liberated me?
Making the decision to begin this charity
Having a team of support that encouraged me to take this project on
Unveiling my story
Finding acceptance in the fact that despite my past, present and future fears, failures, disappointments, setbacks and stress that this courage I’ve been mustering up will be the very reason others will learn the freedom of living so boldly with their voices turned up.
Words that are very much a part of my story.
Layers
Stretch marks
Self abuse
Acceptance
Feeling unsafe
Anxious
Seeking answers
Looking for the light
Peeking out of a cloak
Verbal and emotional abuse
Music
Lyrics
Quotes
Art
Writing
Painting
Photography
Guess it’s my turn in front of the camera…(coming soon)
xo-d
The dkol la femme Project is a platform created to give a voice to you and your unique struggles by telling your story through art. la femme is where vulnerability meets liberation. What is confidence and empowerment to you? What is VULNERABILITY, and how does it affect you? You, as in the generalized you, the one that isn’t gender specific, or defined by your struggle or labeled by medication. OR maybe you are and want to advocate so your story is heard (insert dKol la femme). At la femme you are allowed to free yourself of the need for perfection. Here you will evoke your self-confidence and take pause so you can reflect on your soul.
Be heard through #thedkollafemmeproject