FRIDUCHA

"I think that little by little I'll be able to solve my problems and survive." -Frida Kahlo 

"Feet, what do I need you for when I have wings to fly?" -Frida Kahlo 

"I don't paint dreams or nightmares, I paint my own reality." -Frida Kahlo 

                                           

My letter to Frida: 

My dearest Frida, thank you for inspiring us, (including inspiring us with your style). I'm sorry you had to feel so much pain, but now I have an idea what you suffered. It's really hard to be stuck in a bed and not being able to get up on your own. Also having your heart broken into many tiny pieces. It's really hard to get your heart broken so many times, it feels like someone took the air out of you and a feeling of emptiness. Instead of you giving up on yourself you always found a way to surpass all your craziness and suffering and made it into art. 

You motivate women to be strong. I say it's not just a man's world it's also a woman's world, be who you want to be, act like you want to act, feel how you want to feel, and if they don't like it well to bad.  It's your life and you are the only one that can decide how to live it, it's your happiness not their's. Your inspirations, and fuerzas gave us a way to open up more and be more chingonas. Life can be crazy but it can also be crazy awesome. 

-May

                         

Frida Kahlo was famous for the paintings she created, and if you've seen her work it's the true reality of Frida. The reality of the good, the bad and the ugly. Back then it was hard for women to express themselves but Frida did not care what people thought. She was like an open book, she would let you know what was in her mind and if you didn't like it well..too bad. Despite her health problems and heart breaks Frida was full of life and energy. Even though she painted a lot about herself her answer was "because I'm so often alone."

      

To tell you a little bit about Friducha (as they sometimes call her) born July 6th, 1907 in Coyoacán, Mexico, a small town from Mexico City. Frida had 3 sisters, she also had a brother but he died days after his birth. Her father, Guillermo Kahlo was a Germán immigrant that went to live in Mexico and met Frida's mom who was a mestiza. Since a child (6 years old) Frida suffered from polio, receiving treatments for her right leg which nevertheless grew thinner. Frida attempted to hide it by wearing pants, long skirts, or two pair of socks on her right foot. But other kids teased her calling her "Frida the gimp".

 

Another event that affected Kahlo's health took place on September 17,1925. She suffered a motor vehicle accident, for which she would have over thirty operations throughout her life, ending only with the amputation of her right leg less than a year before her death. When Frida had the trolley accident her lumbar region was fractured in three places, her right leg in eleven places and her right foot was crushed. Her collarbone was dislocated, as well as two ribs; her pelvis cracked in three places. No one thought Frida would survive this accident but she did.

  

In order for Frida to kill time she received a box of paints and brushes. She did not think of painting seriously until the following year when she produced her ravishing Self-Portrait with Velvet Dress (1926). A gift to Alejandro her first love and first heart break. Although Alejandro later wanted to rekindle the relationship she was no longer interested in him because by then Frida had fallen in love with someone else, someone older than her. His name was Diego Rivera, a famous muralist also known to have many women in his life.  In time Frida and Diego married. Frida knew he had many women and married many women before her but she was attracted by popularity and his courageous spirit. She was mesmerized by him. Even though Diego Rivera was not an attractive fellow she was still in love, and eventually that love later became betrayal, and emptiness. What hurt Frida the most was him cheating with her younger sister Cristina. Even though Frida and Diego were separated, they both had love affairs, but Frida still loved Diego but little by little he would pull away till they finally divorced. Frida was heart broken. She relied on her painting to express what she felt, which later turned into many of her famous paintings..



 

In the year 1940 she and Diego rekindled and remarried in San Francisco but they continued to have lovers on the side, and paint. Diego was with Frida till the very end of her death. He took care of her as she died happy knowing he was with her. Frida suffered, her body was just attacking her in so many ways from her spine dislocating and several discs putting pressure on blood vessels and nerve endings, lack of blood flow to the right leg that later proceeded its amputation. Even though Frida past away and left us, she still made her mark in this world and left us with her paintings, her reality. All the suffering, all the love, all the moments she lived and shared it with us but in full living color. Like I said before, Frida was just an open book and that's what she wanted us to be. Express yourself no matter how pretty, ugly, or shocking it could be but let it all out there and be you and be courageous.

  

A little about my story~ Mi Locura (My craziness).

Like Frida, when I was little I would too get sick. My parents would have to rush me to the doctor and once when my parents took me to the hospital because of rashes that were spreading all over my skin making itch like crazy and my blood was boiling. The doctors didn't want to take me in because they thought I was contagious (at that time they didn't know it was because of an allergy). My parents insisted they treat me and even though they didn't know any English they still made sure I was taken care of and my parents worked a lot to keep paying for my doctors. My biggest challenge was when I had back surgery. I can't really get into too much details but in a way I know how Frida felt to be stuck in a bed without moving and depending on your family to help you with every step, it can be physically and mentally draining. The torture of not being able to get up on your own, dance, get dressed, take a shower on your own, walk on your own was exhausting. 

Instead of crying, instead of giving up, instead of feeling depressed I learned it's important to distract your mind. For Frida, painting was her escape. I myself learned that life is too precious to give up. I created my world too at the same time I was relearning to walk, stand, move again. It was a challenge for me but I learned to fight my way out of bed and that's why I call myself a tigress because I feel like I am one. Hear me roar! Instead of me being stuck in that bed and feeling sad for myself I pushed myself to get out of bed on my own, to walk again, and little by little I let go of the walker, and ignore being stared at (wondering why a person so young is using a walker). Little by little I was able to get back and even though I'm still not 100% I'm better than before and I thank my family, friends, and boyfriend for being my rock and giving me support.




I can tell you many stories of my life experiences, especially how to cope with heart break, and those are the worst too. I don't want to use this space to nag, or for you to feel sorry for me, but I use this space to write my stories. You know I always learn from someone who talks about their life experiences. It feels like I'm in a coffee shop talking to that person and comparing life experiences. There's people out there maybe going through the same problem or somewhat familiar issues. We can all learn from each other. You're not alone. Make it your goal to move forward, fight for happiness! Once you overcome it you will feel like you won the lottery. Support one another. Express yourself! Be yourself. Never stop from dreaming big. 

Stay tuned for more of maycrazylifestyle! 

disclaimer: Frida Kahlo photos are not owned by me.