On My Way

I was listening to Margo Tantau's Windowsill Chats Podcast today, and absolutely devouring her chat with Beth Nydick. I've been binging, really. It's so, so, so good--if you haven't had a listen I so highly recommend it!

Anyhow, tomorrow I start up with work again, and I can't help but feel as if I'm at a crossroads. Nothing will change tomorrow--I will still go to my day job--but something has changed (me) and now I will go to my day job taking with me my arty hopes and dreams.

I have no goals as of yet, not mastermind plans or even inklings of where I hope to end up with all of this. I'm just starting again, and I'm okay with where I am, for once.

One BIG question that Beth asks in this podcast is "What is it that I need to world to know about what I think about life?" And so what is it? I think what I need the world to know is what I need to know myself: that it is possible to live a life you love. It is possible to take your art and your writing and share it with the world. The world needs what you have to give. What burns in my chest at night is this--if you hear a creative calling, have the courage to listen to it and follow it to see where it leads. I'm for creatives everywhere, I want to encourage those with creative callings to answer those callings in a way that brings and abundant life for that creative, and I want it to start with me.

In the past I've felt as if I've had to choose between answering my creative call and making a living. I still don't know how to do both at the same time, and maybe I won't ever know how. Or maybe I'll figure it out. In anycase, I don't want to choose anymore. I want both. A life that fulfills my creative calling and one that also heartily supports my family financially. There I said it. I'm on my way.

Life

I woke up to a very long work email early this morning, that I should not have read until Monday. But I did read it, and then I couldn't sleep.

My spring break is ending tomorrow and then back to work I go. In the midst of this creative reawakening, I can already feel the pull back to the old rhythms I was following.

I'm feeling a bit anxious and fearful about keeping my creative work flowing...I hope I can manage life when it starts up again fully on Monday.

It isn't lost on me that all of this is happening at once. I could see this season as a test or a trial to endure, but instead I'm looking at it as a challenge for me to pursue joy regardless of what my work week does or doesn't look like, or maybe even because of it. I think if I keep joy at the center, I'll be okay, more than okay because joy always leads me to God. The hard part is in the doing. I hope you'll stay with me on this new leg of the creative journey to see where it all goes.

What the Soul Needs

I'm so astonished at how little encouragement the soul needs to flourish. Like an air plant, moisture in the air is enough for it to fill its thirst, if only we let it.

Today I bought these Fiskar scissors for my art studio and unwrapping this humble tool birthed this new piece. Do you see what I mean?

More is sometimes better, and I'm not saying that we can survive for eons on scraps, (nor should we), but the soul--she knows how to use what little we have to make miracles! Just the littlest encouragement, the lightest sprinkle of rain, and flowers grow. I had forgotten, completely forgotten this.

And the truth is, I've been parched for months, going into years now. I couldn't have told you exactly what was wrong with me, but now I know. My soul had dried up and gone into hibernation mode to conserve what little I was giving it to go on.

I forgot that I was an artist, a writer, a mess maker, a dreamer. I let work and home consume me--no wonder I've been so empty!

But I'm here now, and that's what matters. I'm slowly tending to my soul, asking it what we want, what we need, what brings us joy. And I'm bending low to listen for answers.

What little thing can you do today to encourage your soul to sing? I'm all ears.