Artists Way Week 9 (Re-do)...

 Recovering a sense of compassion.

This week doesn't have too many tasks because you're supposed to go back and read through your morning pages and highlight anything that jumps out at you.  That's a damn feat.  Especially when your cursive is as crappy as mine.

I actually read them all!  It was not easy, and I have no idea what I was writing half the time.  But I didn't highlight anything because it was pretty obvious - I want to drink less (That was a big one), I'm sick of having something wrong with me and hate that my workout routine fell off, I prefer night pages to morning pages, I need to re-evaluate some friendships and maybe tackle some things bothering me in my relationship.  Oh and my favorite - I went through 3 pens.  LOL!

I did actually continue to do the pages (which are now night pages for me) even though I was reading through them, so did keep up on that.

The only other task really was some definite goal exploring.  There's a bunch of intensive steps to take (collages, writing, etc)  I didn't get all that into it but I did find myself organizing my very involved current goal.  Justin even mentioned maybe writing a book about my process of the Artists Way.  Hmmmm interesting....

But my goal is what I stated earlier - basically all of it.  Do it all.  Just make it a part of your life.  Here's the list I made and I'm going to keep putting it places so it sticks:

 - Travel more.  Find trips/new places to explore and do them.  Day trips, road trips, weekend getaways, even random adventures.

 - Keep your adventure group going. (Even when it's only you doing things)

 - Photograph more.  Set up photo play days.  Print more photos for cards, books, collages.

 - Blog more. (Loving blogging this process)

 - Write more.  Journaling, writing prompts.

 - Don't be afraid to get onstage.  Small parts.  Readings.  Fun roles.

 - Cook more.  Bake more for friends/family/events.  Stay creative when entertaining.

I even started a separate Road Trip Goal list of places I want to go and will add things as I think of them.  I love this list!  I've actually never been so excited for a "goal".  Just do the things!

 For my Artists Date this week I did one of my favorite things to do with myself - get a pedicure!

So there we have it folks!  Only 3 more weeks to go!  But I'm not stopping there.  Just yesterday I ordered the sequel to this - Walking in this World.

I think the epiphany of realizing I thrive when I have a guide, like this book, really has pushed me to probably enjoy this the most I have yet.  I'm really hoping continuing with the next book will really solidify me getting some great creative routines in my life where I don't have to think about it but rather just do it.

On to week 10!

Artists Way Week 8 (Re-Do)...

Recovering a sense of strength.

Looking at this week I did last time I thought - hmmmmm, I didn't seem to do much.  But I must have just not - because there was ALOT of writing tasks.

There was a set of 20 questions - basically about your childhood.  I was surprised by a few things I wrote. I seemed bothered by my dad always thinking my brother was a better athlete than I was - even though I was just as good.  I wrote that my friend Mic believed in me.  I remember when he cast me in Jungle Book - honestly I was terrible - but he took a chance on me.  Then he kept taking chances on me and I truly believe he helped me get the courage to keep acting.  I wrote to him this week and thanked him.  I wrote about when me and my friend Susan used to make bracelets out of flowers and catch lady bugs.  I'm trying to re-connect with her this week.  A good role model for me was my friend Mel.  She's getting a note from me this week too.

 

We picked 5 affirmations off a list. 2 out of the 5 I chose last time.  This time I chose:

I am a talented person. (Same as last time)

I am a good person and a good artist. (Same as last time)

I now treat myself and my creativity more generously.

My creativity is appreciated.

I now act affirmatively. 

 

I think last time I was daunted by all the writing tasks but I found myself doing them all for the most part this time around.  The one I really got into was the Dreams Exercise. We were to write a dream then there were 5 other questions/tasks about it.  If you had multiple dreams you did these 5 things for each.  But the thing is - I have one big encompassing dream now.  That's to live my life happy and consistently doing creative things.  Whether that be cooking, writing, acting, photography or traveling.  Why do they all have to be separate.  I don't want them separately.  I want them all.  I want them all to be a part of my life on a consistent basis.  My goal is to make sure I'm doing something creative at the very least - and I mean very least - once a week.  I want creativity to just be a part of my every day regular life.

I am finding that doing this process and probably anything similar to this is what's helping me get into a routine.  Well 12 weeks isn't going to be enough for me.  I found out there's another book after this one called Walking in this World.  I plan to purchase that before this process is done and start right into that one next!

We were to right about our favorite color as a living thing.  Incorporate it more into our home.  Green is my color.  Green is the color of my Irish eyes.  Green is the color of nature and calm.  When we bought our condo last year I was excited to decorate our living room with accents of green.  The best part - my very own photography adorns our walls!

I've also changed my Morning Pages to Night Pages.  I have finally got myself back on my workout routine in the mornings before work.  Unfortunately I just can't fit everything I want to do before work (I already get up at 5am), and the morning pages are the least priority.  But - I do like the idea of these so I'm still doing them, just at night before bed.  And I did them every night!

For my Artists Date this week I wanted to incorporate a morning workout into my date, so I did something I love - hike.  It took an unplanned turn though.  My original plan was to hike to the geocache I've hidden out on the trails I used to live by and just make sure it's still there with all the weird weather we've been having.  Well it must have been a little too early because it was just me out there (my poor pooch has a belly ache so he didn't join me) and it's a little intimidating when you're alone.  Sure enough a trio of coyotes was blocking my path.  Nope.  Turned right around and headed back towards my truck.  I was really upset and didn't want to not hike.  When I got back to my truck there were some mountain bikers parking next to me.  Ok I thought, there's some other people now...so I pulled up my big girl pants and headed back out a different way.  This would change my geocache maintenance plan but at least I'd still get a little hike in.  It ended up being just lovely and I got up to where I almost made the sun rise (which was also a goal) and got in a good workout.

Summertime makes for very brown trails.  This is usually flush with mustard seed.

My old trails

A little late but still got a pretty shot!

These are the summer version of the really cool bright purple plants I love

Some color in the brown.

I call these Paprika Flowers

So Week 8 in the books!

 

 

Artists Way Week 7 (Re-Do)...

Recovering a sense of connection.

I can't say this was a great week of me accomplishing all the tasks but was a great week none the less.  I'm finding myself more present.  Appreciating the time I take for myself which is what is coming out of this process that I need the most right now.  I don't know if I'm re-discovering myself or just really trying to focus more on myself.  Whichever it is - it feels good.

There was a 10 questions of negatives in your life.  Nothing of note jumped out here, just wishing I had more guidance on things and/or a mentor.  I think as I got older I realized I do well with help/guidance/mentoring.  (Part of why I think I enjoy this process more now a days) Would have been cool if that happened earlier in life.  Then 10 positives.  Also nothing necessarily of note but cooking and self care are on there!

Then list your 5 favorite movies.  I compared these to last year and a few are the same, but there not all the same.  I also went one step further and added 5 favorite TV shows, because I think TV is now a bigger thing than movies with all the streaming and what not.  You also have to do this super fast.  So I'm sure it'll change up over the years.

5 Favorite Movies that popped in my head:

Have just always loved the beauty in this movie.

It's probably the only cartoon movie I love

Such a feel good movie

Food/Also feel good

Always been a fave

5 Favorite TV shows that popped in my head:

Always will love this show

This surprised me, but it was so well written and the love story was a hit right to my heart

This was so heartwarming

Lucy Forever

Pat & I love love love this show.  I don't know why

Notice a theme?  Ya, me too...FOOD!  Also feel good.  Chef, 100 Foot Journey, the Aristocats and Ted Lasso are all just so heartwarming.  Nothing tragic happens - it's just happy feel good.  Pat & I have had so much turmoil in our lives the last couple years I think I'm yearning for just happy.

The tasks were actually mostly tasks that are already an every day part of my life - wearing favorite clothes, going to a sacred space (peaceful walks are mine), listen to an album.  There was a lot of working on a collage - but I'd rather just add to my image file which I love the idea of so I did the magazine exercise and added more. So I'd say this is where I kind of bombed on the tasks - but I already do them for the most part.

I missed a couple of mornings of morning pages due to going too hard the night before (I swear adding dry days is making it worse on my not dry days it seems)

Artists date this week was a favorite.  I took a pottery class!!  I've always wanted to get on that wheel and see what it's like.  I did it a few times as a kid but don't remember at all.  It was just me and one other guy in the class so it was nice and chill.  Our teacher was a lovely young gal. 

I think my favorite part was when we "center" the clay.  You have to push a certain way with your hands to get it centered.  You feel it when you do and it was really cool!  Like it'd hit and I'd be like "Ahhhh yes there it is".  It was a neat feeling.  I also just really loved the process of throwing clay!  We made 4 attempts.  My 1st one ended up being my best actually.  2nd one was a fail.  3rd and 4th were ok but successful!  I'll now get a call in 3 weeks to come back and glaze them.

Pretty side of their building!

Class area

Love the flowers on the wall!

Oh boy

I was a little nervous...

The 2 pieces I'm keeping.  The one in front was my 1st attempt.  I think that one came out the best.

Couldn't take pictures during - obvi - my hands were elbow up in clay but I had a really good time.  It's a bit harder on the body than I anticipated.  My wrists were like hell no.  But I think certainly with practice you get used to it.  I don't see myself being a pottery thrower but I'd sure love to take a class every now and again!

So another week in the books!  I'm actually a little sad it's getting closer to the end.  I'm enjoying having a guide that's getting me to do things.  I may have to find something else to do.....Hmmmmmm.

Onstage...kind of...

This last weekend I had the honor of playing the lead in my dear friend Brenda's Staged Play Reading of Daughter of Genius.

You read that right...Genius.  I was the genius.  HA HA HA HA HA HA!  At least I'm a good actor.  This took place as part of the Page to Stage (And that's what she said...) Festival.  It took place at Curtis Theater which is a really cool spot.

I was actually quite nervous for this, even though it was a staged reading, the fact that I had so many lines and most of those lines were talking about math and words I didn't even know how to pronounce or what they friggin meant!  Pat helped me with a lot of the math stuff.  I Google Pronounced a lot.  And the cast helped keep me on track.  We only had 2 rehearsals and good lord I could have used a couple more to get those damn lines down.  (I mean there were lines like infinitesimal and Themestoclea and Pythagoras....WTF!)

But once the performance was up I was told I did fantastic!  Sounded like I actually knew what I was talking about!  Yay!!  Brenda seemed super happy with it and the crowd really enjoyed it.

Right before we headed out

Back in the lights!

Worked with some really great actors!

The director set it up as a classic staged reading, so we weren't blocked out like some of the others. 

The theater also had a Barbie Box!

Heather is the one that puts this whole thing together!

Look I'm a Barbie!

Theatre has been interesting for me lately.  About a month ago I was asked to audition for the title role of this really great show.  I was super flattered to be asked.  And honestly - I would have killed it.  But I just couldn't do it.  That many lines, Irish accent, I just don't have it in me right now.  After this damn hemorrhage it does seem my brain is a little wonked.  I was super crushed and found myself crying as if I lost a friend.  I talked to my friend Amber who was very empathetic and validated how I was feeling.  I realized this was the 1st time a really great opportunity presented itself in something I used to love doing so much and I had to say no.  But then another show popped up - looked fun.  Physical comedy!  Right up my alley!  Plus it was an ensemble piece.  I researched the show and realized there was a perfect part for me.  Less of a line load but all kinds of funny stuff to do onstage.  I went out to audition and when I got there realized the role I wanted was basically already cast.  I almost left, but thought I should still audition just to exercise that muscle. I wasn't feeling 100% that night unfortunately and pretty much knowing I didn't have the role made it a bit of a rough night, but it actually felt good to be onstage again - at least trying.  I truly do miss theatre so much and I hope another show like this one pops up again that I can audition for.  

This reading followed right after, so it does seem the Universe wants me back out there.  Now if I can just get the chance...

Artists Way Week 6...(Re-Do)

This week was Recovering a Sense of Abundance.

Seems to be a money theme these last two weeks.  The only writing task we had this time was there was a list of fill ins.  Some examples:

People with money are...

Money is...

If I had money I'd...

 

Like 20 of them.  The jist in my answers was basically if you have money you're comfortable.  I don't come from money.  I've been broke basically my whole life.  I'm a bit more financially stable now, but that's thanks to my husband mostly.  And yeah - if I was rich I'd friggin retire and travel.

 

I mean who doesn't want money.  I think I recall Week 5 & 6 must have been my least favorite because yeah...who the hell doesn't want money?!  LOL

I do like the little "to-do's" this week though.  One is collect 5 interesting or pretty rocks.  I actually didn't get around to this but I recall when I did this before, I lived across the street from hiking trails so I grabbed a bunch.  It ended up being a habit of mine to pick up cool rocks then I'd paint them.  I got Pat & the kid to help sometimes too.  I've since painted all my extra rocks, so this makes me realize I need to re-stock and paint some more!

Another is pick flowers or leaves and press them.  I'm not much into pressing flowers which is what I said last time, but interestingly enough an article popped up on my feed about this very thing.  I read it - and maybe it could be cool.  I do like the idea of pressing flowers into notecards or something and mailing them since I love to send people random mail.  So maybe?

Bake Something.  Now I bake and cook on the reg, so this wasn't something different for me.  I didn't bake anything this week because it's hot as balls, but I did have a girlfriend come over last week who doesn't eat meat (except smoked salmon) and made us a yummy little lunch spread that I was quite proud of and it was quite delicious! 

 

Get in mah belly!

 

Mail 5 postcards to friends.  This one tied into my Artists Date!  I ordered a book of "Punny" Postcards to send out, because I don't think I did this last time and really wanted to this time.  It's a book of 30 so I certainly just plan to mail these randomly when I feel like it, but 5 went out in the mail this week!

 

Add to your Image File which I finally whipped out and did just that!

 

There are other exercises to do, but these are already a part of my regular life (getting rid of old clothes, clearing space, etc).  Also re-reading a bunch of things which I'm terrible at.

I missed two morning of morning pages.  One was after a late night rehearsal and the other was after drinking too much wine.  But only missing two I think is pretty good!

For my Artists Date this week I was planning a picnic in the park and to write my 5 postcards.  When the day arrived I didn't have the right food to bring along really,  so was just going to go wander and write.  Well on my way to the park I passed the cemetery I did for my Artists Date a few weeks back.  I thought - "you know what?  I'm going to chill in that beautiful cemetery under that pretty tree and write my postcards!  And find that geocache I couldn't find last time now that I have a hint".  So that's exactly what I did and it was just peaceful and lovely!

Can you see it?!  No wonder it was so hard to find

Really good camo

Pretty sun streams

I watched this man in a work truck pull up.  I was thinking they were going to start working right by me and I'd have to move, but instead this man got out and knelt by this grave.  He stayed like that for awhile then left.  I found myself wondering who was he visiting?  It was such a simple sweet sad human moment I felt honored to witness.

Sun stream Selfie

My 5 postcards written and ready to be mailed!

The oak tree that provided me solitude today.

I'll be checking in with Justin this weekend after not chatting last week, so I'm sure we'll have a lot to catch up on!  This is the half way point!  I'm really enjoying this journey again and so glad I picked it back up!