Alignment may emerge over time through deliberate practice, but sometimes we stumble upon it suddenly, by accident—in the most unexpected places.

Alignment, for me, feels quiet, embedded deep within my inner self. Reconnection with my dreams and wishes brings a peace that I find in solitude.

I masked Autism and ADHD for over 60 years. This meant constantly shoving pieces of myself “out of the way,” or hiding and denying them altogether. For years I powered through school, a career in architecture, and motherhood, not even aware of how I had fragmented myself in order to adapt.

Eight years ago, an unlikely hobby helped me begin putting my pieces back together.

I morphed into a gamer, initially to bond with my son and relax. Over the years, character creation in Guild Wars 2 grew into a therapy tool: I could safely make a character representing my angry little girl aspect, for starters. Seventy-two toons later, my family of characters spans as many “issues” as I’ve been able to identify.

In my gaming world, I can create a toon to represent an aspect of myself. There, I find safety, anonymity—whatever shape, size, race, gender, and color I choose. I can dress in exotic costumes and escape to distant fantasy lands.

There, I have launched daring missions, battled monsters and enemies, growing powerful and resilient in the process. My favorite character, Ida Wanna, is a tiny Asura known as “Commander” and “Wayfinder.” She has conquered every challenge.

Several years into my gaming journey, I discovered Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy in 2023. As I read about Parts: protectors, exiles, etc., realized I was already creating therapy with my “toons.” Gaming transformed into an outlet for processing trauma as well as my neurodivergence. I had discovered a new alignment that empowered my growth and healing.

My favorite ways of discovering alignment typically involve crafting words and images, but gaming burst into my life as an expression of a little girl’s journey back to herself. These tools bring me peace, confidence—and alignment—in ways that I never imagined possible.

Today I’m sharing a recent painting, titled “Respawn.” Inspired by my gaming and the Buddhist concept of rebirth, it expresses the metamorphosis we forge when we keep going, keep starting over, and spring anew from the ashes of our inner battles. This piece covers the range of emotions I brought to the canvas that day: fiery determination, blissful inspiration, and meditative peace.

Leslee Hare, author and artist, fulfills her dreams near Birmingham, AL. You can enjoy her artwork at www.leslee-art.com and her words at www.spirittrainchronicles.com. If you’re in Atlanta in mid-October, drop by her booth at the Pine Lake Fest (pinelakefest.com), Oct. 11-12, 2025. She also has artwork on display at the new Birmingham Art Alliance space next to Forstall Art (https://www.forstallart.com) in downtown Birmingham, AL.

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