A Poetic Immersion into Self-Discovery: Sebastian Alanya Launches Third Poetry Collection
"My Mind and Me" by Sebastian Alanya delves into human emotions. He navigates sadness, trust, and heartbreak recovery with authenticity. This ray of hope underscores the need of validating emotions for mental health.
Sebastian Alanya ©
Sebastian Alanya's latest poetry collection, "My Mind and Me," emerges as a moving investigation of human emotions, self-discovery, and healing in a world where the mind frequently becomes both a haven and a battlefield. Alanya digs into the depths of sorrow, sadness, and the rocky journey that unfolds when trust is shattered in verses that ring true with real authenticity.
"My Mind and Me" is filled with questions that haunt the human experience. Alanya's words remain in the reader's mind, leaving them wondering how a broken heart can leave one so hollow, and how, in the midst of the suffering, one finds the strength to rise again.
As the verses connect, a conclusion emerges: the path to healing is intrinsically personal, with each person being the custodian of their emotions and the navigator of their own rehabilitation.
“My Mind and Me” book cover
Sebastian Alanya, a well-known Peruvian writer and guest contributor for Project Synergy, offers more than just a collection of poems; he extends an invitation to confront the maze of mental health. The book's inspiration came from Alanya's own worst adolescent moments, which eventually launched a journey toward self-awareness and personal rebirth. "My Mind and Me" encapsulates not only Alanya's creative ability, but also his belief that admitting and validating emotions is essential for processing them.
The collection is a beacon of hope, a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there remains a glimmer of light. Alanya's journey as a Booktuber, expressing his literary opinions on YouTube, catapulted him into the literary spotlight. Invitations to major events such as the Buenos Aires International Book Fair and the Arequipa Hay Festival followed, laying the groundwork for the creation of "My Mind and Me." Alanya weaves vulnerability into poetry, drawing on his abilities to describe emotions to create a bridge between himself and others who find peace and resonance in his words.
The debut of "My Mind and Me" at the Lima International Book Fair is a watershed moment in Alanya's career. The official presentation took place on Saturday, August 5th, at 8 p.m. in the Cronwell Jara auditorium in Lima. The event offers not only a close encounter with Alanya's literary prowess, but also the chance to immerse oneself in the magic of his lyrics.
In an honest conversation, Alanya discusses the personal circumstances that inspired "My Mind and Me." "Throughout my life, I've been in constant self-discovery, deconstruction, and healing," he says, “my first love and heartbreak, the shadow of familial loss, and reframing my place in the world all had a tremendous influence on this work."
Alanya's book contributes to the conversation around mental health by providing a forum for discussion. He underlines that verbalizing emotions might help with understanding and management of mental health. His poetry, in its raw honesty, acts as a conduit for talks that society generally avoids.
Alanya infuses his own work with the essence of those literary interactions that have left an unforgettable effect on him. Alanya's creative expressions are influenced by the diverse voices and ideas he has encountered while reading over 250 books.
As "My Mind and Me" enters the literary world, it demonstrates Sebastian Alanya's writing prowess as well as his unwavering commitment to destigmatizing dialogues about mental health.
Alanya leads readers on a transforming trip, one that honors the resilience of the human spirit and the power of true expression, through poems that resound with the echoes of human emotions.
Read an excerpt of the book below.
Today loneliness embraces me
With such force
That it shatters
Breaks
And vents
Because everything was kept in a corner
Of my mind
And the rain cleanses, purifies
And revives
Everything that I once saw die
And I breathe
The clear air
Of my ancestors
And of the hidden places where treasures still exist
And the embrace,
The kiss,
The hand
That I can't give you weigh on me
I miss you
They hurt me
And I wonder
Who are we now?
Cities without humans
Yet more cities than ever before
And the wave, the wind, and the leaf
Make their way
Dancing outside
When we are inside
And I wake up
Tired
Alone
But never defeated
because my home cleanses and blushes
And opens its doors for me, gladly,
Smiling
Powerful
Because absence has taken us all with the
hope of seeing each other
Present
Aware
Once again.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sebastian Alanya is a Peruvian journalist and author who started his career in the literary world at the age of 16 with a YouTube channel dedicated to books and reading. Later on, he has written various articles for different media outlets, worked in the press and public relations, and has a strong interest in social, transformative, and educational activities related to culture. He has written two books of poems, and a third one that was officially launched at the Lima International Book Fair in 2023.
For more information, you can visit his Instagram page @sebastianalanya.
