Yesterday was a Monday but I didn't have to work and the weather was incredible - the sky was brilliant and the air fresh, almost sweet smelling - it finally felt like spring was coming. I sat out at the picnic table and watched my dog chase squirrels. I thought about changes, how I finally felt ok, possibly even happy, for the first time in months.
There haven't been any significant changes, really. I didn't come into a large sum of money, I didn't get a nicer, newer car. If anything, these past couple of weeks have been packed with more changes and jostling extremes than the weeks prior. But there have been a lot of small changes, ones that are actually starting to make a difference.
One thing that I've been trying to do is to weed out the negative energies from my life, and another, one that I think has had a huge impact on me is to get back in touch with creativity. Just having some way to channel all the emotions, whether good or bad, has helped in a way that is hard for me to even comprehend. I fell in love with Julia Cameron some time back and I try to tell everyone about her. If you haven't checked her out, you need to. She has tons of books about creativity, the artistic pursuit, blocks and how to unblock yourself, spirituality and creativity combined, etc.
I'm currently reading her book, The Artist's Way, a 12-week "course" on creativity. This course is self-imposed, so instead of taking 12 weeks it will probably take me the rest of the year. (I've been on week two for about a month now.) Anywho! Week one teaches you to get back in touch with your inner artist, and in doing so you do several tasks, one of which is the Artist's Date, where you basically hang out with yourself and do something that will tickle your creative fancy.
For my first week of going on artist dates, I took my dog up to the lake on a lovely, lazy Sunday. The sun was warm and the afternoon long. My friends were busy - a new baby had been born - so I was alone and found myself on this date without necessarily intending it. There is a thrift store, one that is huge and nice, just north of the lake, and soon enough I was there. Here is what followed.
The drive.
Love the sun.
My overloaded cart ;-)
A travel set and a child's microscope case, circa 1950s.
After a day of happiness.
This inspired me to sign up for the drawing class I've been ogling for months now :)
ReplyDeleteGood for you, dahling!
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