A muse at day’s ending toward a new year
- Musing pen in hand…
In response to a blog post from Jane Davies (https://janedavies-collagejourneys.blogspot.com/2022/12/committing-to-play.html?fbclid=IwAR08TZhbc-mTGUCYBX0159bVh5PGEq7VkxyFEwwGpkLnj0ScDE5ROHf1czQ) an artist whose style I admire and whose teaching style fits my learning style, someone who I don’t even know posted this:
“… If the creative work gets to the point, where it is not enjoyable then I don’t do it anymore and move on to something else.
I am retired and really don’t want or need my art to become a “job” for me. I am old and life is short!…”
I’ve only shared a small portion of what this person “said”, but I am sharing what spoke most loudly and clearly to me.
I too, would be considered ‘retired’ by most people, but not in my mind. I just finished two Master’s degrees during our Covid lockdowns and I am chomping at the bit ready to put all that I learned out into the “world”. And I was doing just that, then came a blip.
I won’t go into details, but a site to which I was beginning to feel “attached” became unavailable and, if I am honest, somewhat uninviting. Now that is a personal observation and many may not agree. But it has become my reality.
So where do I go now? I mean that literally. The work needs to be done, but I am flexible. I’ve had to be.
Photo credit: Jeff Suchak of http://mythiclandscape.com
This is what I am pondering as the calendar year comes to a close. These next few days, I am spending a good part of my daylight hours putting my “studio” space, in good working order.
It felt laborious at first. Probably because I allowed myself to be weighed down with recent disappointments.
But, the most recent development or news has freed me somehow. It is hard to explain, but it is like Spirit is working and I am being forced to listen to her. There is always a way, when we come to perceived “roadblocks”, we just have to put aside ego and expectations and remain open to the opportunities that present themselves.
So, I am making art and making plans too. Plans to find the way for what is calling me to channel this. To bring this idea into focus, a focus so sharp that it materializes itself as an offering into the world that I believe so deeply needs the healing it brings.
It feels so impersonal to call this vision “it”. I wish I knew its name, but that will come as I spend time in the Southern Ontario Wren’s Nest Studio. For now, I just need to be open to listen and move to this music that is drawing me. In good time, all will come.
And though what needs birthing feels a little distant, like individual trees in a forest, I do see it shimmering, beckoning, smiling … and I know that if I focus on that which I am being called to do and be, all will be well.
And so it is…
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Writing Ourselves Whole EE
It is August. The garden is a riot of colour and deliciousness. Food for tummies and eyes. The Lotus pond at Waterworks Park here in St. Thomas is blooming and full of music. The deep bass of the bullfrog, the splash of turtle and muskrat, the chirrup of crickets, the flutter and whrrrr of Cedar… Read more
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Courage to be…
Today, as I was procrastinating from actually writing the proposal, this wee piece of wisdom (you can click on the link) by Stephanie Renaud appeared in my Facebook feed. Usually, I don’t read everybody’s blogs or posts or even shares because, well, life is full enough for me right now. But this one compelled me to… Read more
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Ordinary
Recently, I was struck by my lack of empathy with a colleague, not to mention my total lack of compassion and non-violent speech in a recent discussion in which we were at odds on a particular matter of great import to me. He tried to cajole me by saying he valued my “gifts” which just… Read more
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More stones…
Sometimes, the worst wounds are invisible. But they still feel like stones. Hard. Unforgiving. Difficult to walk on. Today, I am missing my grands. I used to be the one to get a wee girl off to Junior Kindergarten which involved brushing long golden hair and braiding it so that she looked like a Princess.… Read more
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a few thoughts about today
Feet up the wall in celebration. Today, I submitted another assignment in my course Writing and the New Media: Creating Life Histories. It took me days and days to pare it down and then I still had to attach an outline of the workshop I was discussing. Words rarely fail me…but they do threaten to… Read more
-
Writing Ourselves Whole EE
It is August. The garden is a riot of colour and deliciousness. Food for tummies and eyes. The Lotus pond at Waterworks Park here in St. Thomas is blooming and full of music. The deep bass of the bullfrog, the splash of turtle and muskrat, the chirrup of crickets, the flutter and whrrrr of Cedar… Read more
-
Courage to be…
Today, as I was procrastinating from actually writing the proposal, this wee piece of wisdom (you can click on the link) by Stephanie Renaud appeared in my Facebook feed. Usually, I don’t read everybody’s blogs or posts or even shares because, well, life is full enough for me right now. But this one compelled me to… Read more
-
Ordinary
Recently, I was struck by my lack of empathy with a colleague, not to mention my total lack of compassion and non-violent speech in a recent discussion in which we were at odds on a particular matter of great import to me. He tried to cajole me by saying he valued my “gifts” which just… Read more
-
More stones…
Sometimes, the worst wounds are invisible. But they still feel like stones. Hard. Unforgiving. Difficult to walk on. Today, I am missing my grands. I used to be the one to get a wee girl off to Junior Kindergarten which involved brushing long golden hair and braiding it so that she looked like a Princess.… Read more
-
a few thoughts about today
Feet up the wall in celebration. Today, I submitted another assignment in my course Writing and the New Media: Creating Life Histories. It took me days and days to pare it down and then I still had to attach an outline of the workshop I was discussing. Words rarely fail me…but they do threaten to… Read more
-
Writing Ourselves Whole EE
It is August. The garden is a riot of colour and deliciousness. Food for tummies and eyes. The Lotus pond at Waterworks Park here in St. Thomas is blooming and full of music. The deep bass of the bullfrog, the splash of turtle and muskrat, the chirrup of crickets, the flutter and whrrrr of Cedar… Read more
-
Courage to be…
Today, as I was procrastinating from actually writing the proposal, this wee piece of wisdom (you can click on the link) by Stephanie Renaud appeared in my Facebook feed. Usually, I don’t read everybody’s blogs or posts or even shares because, well, life is full enough for me right now. But this one compelled me to… Read more
-
Ordinary
Recently, I was struck by my lack of empathy with a colleague, not to mention my total lack of compassion and non-violent speech in a recent discussion in which we were at odds on a particular matter of great import to me. He tried to cajole me by saying he valued my “gifts” which just… Read more
-
More stones…
Sometimes, the worst wounds are invisible. But they still feel like stones. Hard. Unforgiving. Difficult to walk on. Today, I am missing my grands. I used to be the one to get a wee girl off to Junior Kindergarten which involved brushing long golden hair and braiding it so that she looked like a Princess.… Read more
-
a few thoughts about today
Feet up the wall in celebration. Today, I submitted another assignment in my course Writing and the New Media: Creating Life Histories. It took me days and days to pare it down and then I still had to attach an outline of the workshop I was discussing. Words rarely fail me…but they do threaten to… Read more
-
Writing Ourselves Whole EE
It is August. The garden is a riot of colour and deliciousness. Food for tummies and eyes. The Lotus pond at Waterworks Park here in St. Thomas is blooming and full of music. The deep bass of the bullfrog, the splash of turtle and muskrat, the chirrup of crickets, the flutter and whrrrr of Cedar… Read more
-
Courage to be…
Today, as I was procrastinating from actually writing the proposal, this wee piece of wisdom (you can click on the link) by Stephanie Renaud appeared in my Facebook feed. Usually, I don’t read everybody’s blogs or posts or even shares because, well, life is full enough for me right now. But this one compelled me to… Read more
-
Ordinary
Recently, I was struck by my lack of empathy with a colleague, not to mention my total lack of compassion and non-violent speech in a recent discussion in which we were at odds on a particular matter of great import to me. He tried to cajole me by saying he valued my “gifts” which just… Read more
-
More stones…
Sometimes, the worst wounds are invisible. But they still feel like stones. Hard. Unforgiving. Difficult to walk on. Today, I am missing my grands. I used to be the one to get a wee girl off to Junior Kindergarten which involved brushing long golden hair and braiding it so that she looked like a Princess.… Read more
-
a few thoughts about today
Feet up the wall in celebration. Today, I submitted another assignment in my course Writing and the New Media: Creating Life Histories. It took me days and days to pare it down and then I still had to attach an outline of the workshop I was discussing. Words rarely fail me…but they do threaten to… Read more
-
Writing Ourselves Whole EE
It is August. The garden is a riot of colour and deliciousness. Food for tummies and eyes. The Lotus pond at Waterworks Park here in St. Thomas is blooming and full of music. The deep bass of the bullfrog, the splash of turtle and muskrat, the chirrup of crickets, the flutter and whrrrr of Cedar… Read more
-
Courage to be…
Today, as I was procrastinating from actually writing the proposal, this wee piece of wisdom (you can click on the link) by Stephanie Renaud appeared in my Facebook feed. Usually, I don’t read everybody’s blogs or posts or even shares because, well, life is full enough for me right now. But this one compelled me to… Read more
-
Ordinary
Recently, I was struck by my lack of empathy with a colleague, not to mention my total lack of compassion and non-violent speech in a recent discussion in which we were at odds on a particular matter of great import to me. He tried to cajole me by saying he valued my “gifts” which just… Read more
-
More stones…
Sometimes, the worst wounds are invisible. But they still feel like stones. Hard. Unforgiving. Difficult to walk on. Today, I am missing my grands. I used to be the one to get a wee girl off to Junior Kindergarten which involved brushing long golden hair and braiding it so that she looked like a Princess.… Read more
-
a few thoughts about today
Feet up the wall in celebration. Today, I submitted another assignment in my course Writing and the New Media: Creating Life Histories. It took me days and days to pare it down and then I still had to attach an outline of the workshop I was discussing. Words rarely fail me…but they do threaten to… Read more
-
Writing Ourselves Whole EE
It is August. The garden is a riot of colour and deliciousness. Food for tummies and eyes. The Lotus pond at Waterworks Park here in St. Thomas is blooming and full of music. The deep bass of the bullfrog, the splash of turtle and muskrat, the chirrup of crickets, the flutter and whrrrr of Cedar… Read more
-
Courage to be…
Today, as I was procrastinating from actually writing the proposal, this wee piece of wisdom (you can click on the link) by Stephanie Renaud appeared in my Facebook feed. Usually, I don’t read everybody’s blogs or posts or even shares because, well, life is full enough for me right now. But this one compelled me to… Read more
-
Ordinary
Recently, I was struck by my lack of empathy with a colleague, not to mention my total lack of compassion and non-violent speech in a recent discussion in which we were at odds on a particular matter of great import to me. He tried to cajole me by saying he valued my “gifts” which just… Read more
-
More stones…
Sometimes, the worst wounds are invisible. But they still feel like stones. Hard. Unforgiving. Difficult to walk on. Today, I am missing my grands. I used to be the one to get a wee girl off to Junior Kindergarten which involved brushing long golden hair and braiding it so that she looked like a Princess.… Read more
-
a few thoughts about today
Feet up the wall in celebration. Today, I submitted another assignment in my course Writing and the New Media: Creating Life Histories. It took me days and days to pare it down and then I still had to attach an outline of the workshop I was discussing. Words rarely fail me…but they do threaten to… Read more
-
Writing Ourselves Whole EE
It is August. The garden is a riot of colour and deliciousness. Food for tummies and eyes. The Lotus pond at Waterworks Park here in St. Thomas is blooming and full of music. The deep bass of the bullfrog, the splash of turtle and muskrat, the chirrup of crickets, the flutter and whrrrr of Cedar… Read more
-
Courage to be…
Today, as I was procrastinating from actually writing the proposal, this wee piece of wisdom (you can click on the link) by Stephanie Renaud appeared in my Facebook feed. Usually, I don’t read everybody’s blogs or posts or even shares because, well, life is full enough for me right now. But this one compelled me to… Read more
-
Ordinary
Recently, I was struck by my lack of empathy with a colleague, not to mention my total lack of compassion and non-violent speech in a recent discussion in which we were at odds on a particular matter of great import to me. He tried to cajole me by saying he valued my “gifts” which just… Read more
-
More stones…
Sometimes, the worst wounds are invisible. But they still feel like stones. Hard. Unforgiving. Difficult to walk on. Today, I am missing my grands. I used to be the one to get a wee girl off to Junior Kindergarten which involved brushing long golden hair and braiding it so that she looked like a Princess.… Read more
-
a few thoughts about today
Feet up the wall in celebration. Today, I submitted another assignment in my course Writing and the New Media: Creating Life Histories. It took me days and days to pare it down and then I still had to attach an outline of the workshop I was discussing. Words rarely fail me…but they do threaten to… Read more
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