I'm not going to lie, I about threw in the towel. I just can't seem to get into this one. I also have a trip to Idyllwild in the midst of these two weeks (which I'm super stoked for) The last blog was really uninspiring and I was ready to quit, but I'm hanging in there and you know what - glad I am.
Week 8 - Discovering a Sense of Discernment.
This week was pretty much not listening to all the people around you that suck and make everything suck for you and your art. I get it. In fact - 2 of the 3 tasks I didn't do. But I really love the idea of the one I did do.
It says Make something for someone else, not to Be Somebody. I love that. It also gets me doing something I love which is making little silly things that may bring someone joy. So I was to list 5 people that I feel closely connected. So here's the list:
1 - Libby. Make a photo book of our friendship. 1.b - Hailey - make something for her graduation.
2 - Renee - Mail her a poem.
3 - Mom - Make her a healthy meal/snack/baked good.
4 - Becks - Make and send her something happy
5 - Brenda - Make and send her something silly.
The other two tasks - You're to write down "Emergencies" or things you need to slow the pace on. Basically I just need to slow down on trying to always do things for everyone else and always get everyone together. I know this is my "gift" but it gets exhausting. And the other task was something along the lines of creating an exorcism of your creative saboteurs. Meh. No thanks. I don't have any of those really anyway except my damn self.
Journaling - fell off on that a bit, but did do a couple nights.
I was worried I couldn't squeeze in an Artists Date this week due to our trip, but I was desperate for a pedicure before we go and one night after therapy I hit up a spot in Tustin (not my usual) so a fun new place and got pretty toes! The color is called Pink Mermaid!
I did to a intentional nice walk. I walked to the Circle one day while at work to pick Pat up a birthday card and something silly. I went to my favorite store - The Potting Shed and slowly wandered, looking at all fun little things and smelling the flowers and plant life as you walked through. "It had to be you..." playing on the speakers above. I then walked slowly back to work, taking the longer way back and enjoying the warmer weather. As I walked I caught myself just being. Enjoying the weather, the sights I see all the time and even snapped a couple of photos for funners.
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I love when these are in bloom!
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Ignore my shadow, but I loved the tree shadows this morning.
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So Week 8. In the books!
Week 9 - Ok so remember how I was saying I'm struggling with this one. Well I fell off for almost 2 weeks. But I packed it in this weekend and I did journal probably about 3 or 4 nights this last week, so that's better than I've done in a while.
Week 9 is Discovering a Sense of Resiliency. And lemme tell ya - this was a long damn chapter! I felt like it had way more parts and tasks than any so far. She talks of Worry, And that task was my favorite - we were to be "Reel" = Be an ideal. It said take a half hour and write about your ideal day - and spare no expense. You know what I found interesting when I wrote my ideal day? It wasn't much. (I did live on a vineyard, near nature and wildlife) but I got up, watched the sunrise, hiked, had Pat's breakfast burritos and mimosas, lunch in town with mom and friends, chilled in my yard where deer visited me, went to a sushi dinner, had sex. Yup. That was it! Way more detail of course, but it was so simple, and a lot of what I kind of do already so that made me feel very grateful.
She talked about Fear. Skipped that task. Kinda lame. She talked of Restlessness. (These are all chapters mind you). These tasks talked about taking Rests. I do that now. But it was interesting to read about the restlessness - because she talks about how things happen during these times. When you're annoyed, restless, "Oh that thing is dumb but I'll do it anyway", etc. Funny thing is that's kinda how I feel about this book. LOL - maybe something is going to hit me and be amazing! Next she talked about Insecurity. This task we were to list 50 positive or things we approve of ourselves. Um...50 is a lot. I got 25. Then she talked about Self Pity. Some fill in tasks - nothing new here. Then Doubt. Skipped that task too. But yeah. A lot. I didn't go into detail here but they all were ok chapters, nothing that's news though.
Artists Date was another pedicure. LOL. Yeah that's how long I fell off, I was due for another one. My mindful walk was walking home from the car place, which I think I actually did on this journey before. But it's such a great walk and forcing myself to not be on the phone and just be is nice.
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| Random yard decor |
So there we go. Week 8 and 9 done.
I'm going to put the last three - 10, 11 and 12 in one blog. Here's to hoping I can finish with a bang. Really wanting to get something out of this. But maybe I am and I don't realize it like she says. I don't know. But this impatient girl needs some damn motivation or inspiration or something. Ha!
