Artists Way Week 12 - THE FINALE!

I can't believe it.
Here I am - my very last week of the Artists Way.  It actually doesn't feel like 12 weeks!

 

This last week didn't seem to have a whole lot to do.  All the tasks were writing tasks and basically things like - "do your affirmations again, check out your negative blurts from week 1, what's your goals and fears going forth" etc. etc.  I did find that a bit disappointing.  I do prefer more interesting weekly tasks rather than just writing things down.  But I don't hate it.  I suppose that makes sense for the last week.

Regarding the pages - I actually did do them quite a few nights.  I'm finding that it brings me back to the days I used to write in a diary.  I enjoy it.  And it's a great way to wind down before bed. 

So my Artists Date started with a bit of synchronicity!  I was struggling trying to figure out what I wanted to do with myself this week.  Even Googling "Solo Dates" trying to find ideas.  I stopped thinking about it for a bit and was scrolling through my phone when I came across a post from a group I started following a while ago called "You know you're from Orange when..."  Someone posted a picture of a park I'd never heard of.  I was like "What?!?!?!".  We found so many little parks during COVID.  We'd venture out just to get outside, take the kid and the bike, and search for random parks that we'd never found.  I of course would geocache.  I swore we found them all around here - but low and behold - here's another one!  So I thought - There's my Artists Date!

A sunbathing turtle!

Duck Party

Ahhhh so this is a thing!

Tiny park but lots of pretty trees!

No geocaches here...but makes me think maybe I'll hide one here!

I do love my trees

Poe loves my Artists Dates

So what have I learned after 12 weeks of the Artists Way?  I would say the big takeaways are these:

  - Right now a guide is what I need to keep me motivated and almost force me to find the time to be creative.  I believe this will change after a long period of time and I'll fall into some creative habits.  Currently it seems a guide is needed and I thoroughly enjoy it!

 

 - I need more "me" time.  Yes my social calendar is usually full.  Yes I'm in a wonderful relationship and can enjoy doing absolutely nothing with my husband.  But I need to make sure I take time for just me, by myself, with no one else (except maybe the dog or cat).  This may require Artists Dates being a regular weekly thing.

 

 - I thrive when I'm doing something like this.  I found myself lighter.  Looking forward to certain tasks.  Always looking forward to chatting with Justin.  I had so much fun finding new things to do.

 - I'm at a place in my life where I'm much more open to things like this, so I want to continue to find things that are similar to the Artists Way.  Looking forward to rolling right into the 2nd book to this series that I'll start next week!

 - I want to keep my little adventure group alive.  Sometimes it saddens me when I can't seem to get anyone to participate, but there's almost always at least one person (Usually Noel!) and that makes it worth it.  I get to see these people I care about and I also get to do things I probably wouldn't normally just go and do.

 - I've actually learned how important exercise is to me.  I'm not sure if the Artists Way necessarily brought that out but it helped get me back into a routine mindset and the morning pages did get me up and used to getting up early again - I've just now replaced them with work outs.

 

 - I need to blog more.  If that means getting myself out to more adventures so I have something to blog about then so be it.  But I've absolutely loved sharing my journey via blogs and sometimes was the thing I looked forward to most!  I do truly love story telling and blogging seems the best way for me to do it!

 

 - I really hope to find more instances of synchronicity!  It's such a delight!

So in conclusion to this latest journey - I'm so happy I did it.  I feel like I committed to it more this time than I have in the 3 times before.  I loved doing it with my dear friend Justin.  I'm actually a little sad it's coming to an end.  So very grateful for all the opportunities I have now and can really find ways to truly find the joy and nourish my inner artist!