Empty? Begin again…

 

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      Even the local grocer is crying out for creative problem solving…let’s all begin again. 

 

Needless to say (which happens to be my toddler’s favorite transition statement, at the moment – FYI, thanks to the Little Critter books), so yeah – needless to say, we are in a period of forced firsts. When we use the term forced, it sounds so rough and aggressive, no? Hmmm, I’ll begin again, for the sake of modeling…

Welcome back to a period of new beginnings. Rethink how you want to be living? Reimagine how you wish to be art making? Rethink how to spend time (in the flesh, eye to eye, skin to skin) with those you cohabitate with? Reimagine….possibility.

There is no time, like this moment, to start living with new intentions and habits.

Let’s begin again, as I often say…let’s begin again:

The more time we spend with something in open curiosity, rather than routine applications, the more dynamic it becomes. Frequent beginner’s outlook applications result in novelty and playfulness. Open to the subtleties. It’s good for you. Do not judge outcomes, just take in the moment of creation. 

Reach for a new palette, explore new materials, work in a new environment, consider artistic genres of which you are curious, explore a new or neglected voice.

In these new moments of art making, begin with fresh intentions and point of view. The rest is subjective shaping, morphing into whatever it is that you – the artist– constructs – and the audience perceives, which often isn’t one and the same. How fun! 

Mindfulness For Unprecedented Times…

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It’s been a whirlwind for most of us, in light of the concerns and precautions engulfing our world. I am sharing mindful wisdom that I am practicing. Trying to live and share, respecting boundaries and health, during these unprecedented times:

  1. STAY INFORMED, BUT DO NOT FIXATE.
    • ascertain information from minimally biased sources
    • read news articles rather than social media blasts to slow down stress reactions
    • gather information in moderation, compartmentalized amounts of time rather than news streaming – constantly – on the television, like white noise
  2. MAINTAIN A SENSE OF ROUTINE.
    • enjoy your morning coffee, exercise, and shower? bravo, keep that up…
    • consider a breathable, flexible schedule that spells out a few actions and engagements for the day
    • now, more than ever, carve out time for art making
  3. PRIORITIZE.
    • if you are homebound, tending to loved ones, that is an obvious priority
    • respect the priorities and boundaries of others
    • if you are working from home, prioritize the essentials of the to do list – the rest of the world is doing the same, right now
    • take stock of what your true priorities are, practicing a priority A v. B column, and let go of the B column til our way of life recalibrates
  4. SAVOR.
    • with senses wide open, soak in extra moments with rapidly growing children or aging parents
    • be grateful – exactly where and as you are, right now
  5. PERMISSION TO PAUSE, SLOWDOWN, HEAL, AND BE CREATIVE…
    • we are too busy during those other days of 21st century standards, pause
    • slowdown, that clean or that phone call or that evening story
    • allow stillness and joy via gratitude, to provide deep healing properties
    • create with novel materials already in your home (waiting to be repurposed), recreate your career, rebrand creatively….now, has never been, and you were made to BE, creatively in this moment.