Discovering a Sense of Camaraderie: Walking in This World — Week 10
This week took a deeper look at friendships and relationships as they relate to our art. I’ve always been a strange mix of introvert and extrovert, but when it comes to my art, I lean heavily toward the introverted side.
Because I don’t know where my artistic path is leading—or even exactly what that path looks like yet—I often feel like I’m on a solitary journey of discovery. And while I genuinely like this part of the process- exploring different areas of my psyche and doing the inner work- this chapter was a good reminder that I’m not doing this alone, and I shouldn't be.
This week asked me to look at the support system I already have, recognize the people who have encouraged me along the way, and consider where I might need to find additional support as I continue exploring my creativity.
Tasks
1. Keeping a “Ta-Da!” List
As a bookend to morning pages, the Ta-Da List encourages you to reflect at the end of the day—not on everything you didn’t get done, which is probably a more common end-of-day practice, but on everything you did accomplish.
I started keeping my Ta-Da List in a journal next to my bed this week, and as someone who is currently “winging it,” I’ve found it surprisingly helpful. It’s easy for me to get pulled into side tasks, whether that’s cleaning the pool, helping my daughter with the kids, or following some random idea that pops into my head.
The list reminds me that even if I didn’t check off every item on my mental to-do list, I actually do a lot with my waking hours. It’s been a nice little practice in acknowledging those accomplishments instead of constantly focusing on what I didn’t get done.
My reminder that giving a helping hand to my daughter when she needs it doesn’t have to shake up my world. Morning Pages with a side of dog sitting.
2. Becoming Teachable
This task had me exploring personal resentments related to a lack of effective mentoring and artistic nurturing in my life. One part asked me to make a list of five areas where self-pity sets in around not having received the artistic support or encouragement I needed.
For me, this list was pretty easy.
As the youngest of seven children, I often felt like everyone else had already found their thing and been praised for it. I somehow convinced myself that there was nothing left for me to succeed at—heaven forbid I do something one of my siblings had already done. I also grew up in a small town with very little exposure to the arts.
Needless to say, I had some material to work with.
The second half of the task asked me to look at each grievance and identify how to address them now. This was a much-needed exercise because it helped me realize just how many opportunities I have today to nurture my inner artist, singer, actor, or whatever else I want to explore.
I may not have had those opportunities growing up, but nothing is stopping me from having them now.
3. There’s Somebody I’m Longing to Meet
Task three explored my support system by asking me to write a want ad for an imaginary supporter and creative colleague.
I’m fortunate to know exactly how that want ad would read—because the position has been filled by an amazing partner who meets nearly every qualification on my list. However, I still loved how this exercise helped me recognize the support I already have while also clarifying the qualities I’m looking for in the people I bring into my life.
Sometimes we don’t realize what we already have until we’re asked to put it into words.
4. Catch Your Catcher’s Mitt
The final task for the week was a series of short-answer questions designed to help identify past supporters and sidekicks in our lives and the encouragement they provided.
Throughout this series, any task that asks me to look back at childhood is a little more difficult. My memories of younger years are blurry at best, and I often draw a blank when asked these types of questions.
While struggling to answer this question, though, something came to me. What if my lost memories of friends that should answer these questions aren’t missing because they’re gone or fuzzy? What if they’re not fitting because I’m looking in the wrong place? When I really stop forcing some neighbor down the street or friend I had a sleepover with once and let everything drop, the truth is right in front of me: My biggest supporter and friend as a kid was my sister.
She was my creative playmate, my sidekick, and someone who encouraged me in ways I probably didn’t fully appreciate at the time. I’m incredibly lucky that I had that kind of support growing up—and even luckier that I still have it today.
Artist’s Date
I had a lot of plans for an Artist’s Date this week, but in the end, I only managed to make a trip to the thrift store.
And honestly, that’s okay.
Thrifting is still one of my favorite sources of inspiration, so it serves me well when I don’t make time for a full artistic adventure on my own. I love wandering the racks and shelves to see what’s there, and it almost always sparks some kind of creative idea.
Maybe it’s a creative addition to my closet, a funky find for the house, or something I can give new life to artistically. There’s always something that catches my eye and gets my brain going.
Weekly Walk
I am so close to morning hikes I can taste it.
The temperatures here are slowly starting to come down, and a hike is finally on the horizon. Until then, I’m still enjoying my morning walks around the neighborhood.
Even though I take pretty much the same route every morning, I somehow manage to get something different out of it each day. I think a lot of that has to do with the fact that I’m different each day.
My state of mind is constantly evolving, and that changes what I notice, what I think about, and what catches my attention. The streets aren’t what matters, it’s what’s going on inside that makes the difference.
Maybe that’s part of the point of all of this—sometimes we don’t need to go somewhere new to experience something differen. We just need to show up as a slightly different version of ourselves.
A few projects from the week
