This Friday marks one year since I took a huge, terrifying leap and left my job of 21 years to pursue art and creativity full time. Holy moly. That went by fast! Also? It feels like a million years ago. So much has happened this past year. I've accomplished a lot of things, learned a ton, had some things not work out, have questioned my decision to make that leap at least a gazillion times a day, and also can't believe that what I used to only dream about is now becoming my reality. There's still lots to do to make this new path sustainable, but I wouldn't change a thing.
Here are some things I've learned this past year that stand out:
I'm neither an early riser nor a late owl ~ I've been able to find my natural circadian rhythm. And that means I go to sleep around 11:30 or 12:00 at night and wake up around 7:30-8:00 in the morning, most days anyway.
I've loved discovering and crafting a new morning routine ~ it's evolved into starting with 20-30 minutes of yoga, feeding my dog, making coffee, lighting some incense, pulling a tarot card for the day, writing in my journal, and then checking emails. When the weather is nice I like to sit outside on my back patio for this.
I prefer to keep my evenings work free ~ at first the freedom to work at whatever time of day I felt like, whenever creativity struck, or at whatever time the muse called was exciting. But over time I realized that I actually treasure that wind-down-my-day approach and don't want to be available at all hours. My evenings are mine.
As much as I love music, I often work in silence ~ this has surprised me, I thought I might feel isolated being at home so much, away from others, but I treasure the quiet time so I can hear myself, my soul, and all its inner longings and guidance to lead me where I need to go.
There's nothing better than breaking that morning routine to meet someone for coffee, to go visit a friend, or to try something new. As much as I love my morning rituals I crave having something out of the ordinary to look forward to on a regular basis.
The work I enjoy most is creating new content (and I don't mean social media content) ~ this can be for my workshops or for an e-workbook. I get downright giddy with excitement to have my journal and notebooks, some markers, and all the scraps of paper with my ideas and whims spread out around me letting the materials come together and take shape about how to best present the information or activities that I want to share. My creativity and synapses are on fire when I'm doing this, more than at any other time. Pure joy!
When I create altered books, faery houses, or wee desk altars I'm blissed out ~ instead of being on fire like above, when I make these whimsical creations I get into that flowing Zen-like state: at peace, relaxed, sometimes chuckling to myself about some fun detail that comes to me while putting them together. I'm content and time disappears.
I'm more disciplined than I thought ~ it turns out I'm really good at setting goals and seeing them to the end. I always knew this about myself working for others, because I'm a people pleaser and always wanted to do a good job and make everyone happy. I wasn't sure if I had it in me to be this way when it was just me, with no one to answer to. As it happens, I enjoy the structure I've created for myself, but have also learned to be flexible and trust that there is no schedule but my own, and I can rewrite it as I go, pivoting as needed, and still get things accomplished.
I've learned to really build my trust muscles ~ this is one of the hardest ones: when things don't work out; when I have an idea that flops; when I don't know what to do next; when I'm not making as much money as I thought I would... I've been able to start letting go of well-mapped out plans that I thought were a good idea and instead I've started listening to my intuition ~ my inner voice ~ about whether something is what I really want to be doing. I'm also leaning into trusting "right timing" and have seen again and again that the right people and the right ideas align without my having to chase after them. I wobble on this a lot still, but it's getting easier. One day at a time.
And last, despite any stressors that this new life path of mine has introduced, I'm happier than I've ever been. The desire to work for myself in some creative capacity has been in me for many, many years. To finally be able to do this for myself, even with all the unknowns, is the best thing I've ever done for myself. I pinch myself every day that this is now my life. I never take it for granted, and I realize each and every day how lucky I am to be able to do this.
Thank you for all the encouragement and support you've provided this past year, in whatever way that looks. Whether reading this blog, subscribing to my newsletter, buying my art, participating in my workshops and events, or offering reassuring words when I falter. Here's to the next year! Oh the adventures that await!!
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