We're one quarter of the way through, folks!
Today, we check in for Week 3 and are onto reading Chapter 4 -- my project as soon as I complete this post.
MORNING PAGES
Were you able to complete the Morning Pages on a daily basis this week? I managed to write them 6 of the 7 days. I took a day off on Saturday, without intention. It just worked out that way. I think I might actually have slept in. For me that's getting up at 6 a.m., instead of 5 a.m., but that's a loss of one hour in the day. So I skipped the writing that morning and went straight into my day.
ARTIST DATES
Nevertheless, I had a plethora of Artist Dates drop in my lap, it seems. And I even managed to do artsy things with friends as well. My week was extremely productive in a creative way. And I witnessed first-hand how very energizing that is to me. I feel like I'm playing catch-up or making up for lost creative time and am amazed by how much our minds/bodies/souls really do know what we need.
DATE #1
My first date this week took me inside a store in Phoenix called Write-Ons; it's a stationery story where they do custom-made invitations, sell greeting cards and gift items, and sell other miscellaneous items you really don't need but like to buy just for fun. I bought some of those, including three journals with bike imagery on them. I'm always looking for that kind of thing. The owner, who is a member of my Wednesday morning breakfast group, said she'll let me know when more come in. Yes!
DATE #2
I also spent an unusual amount of time this week looking at funny YouTube videos and listening to music. I get so caught up in work that I don't do that. How sad? I'm glad I'm being pulled back in that direction. I need to feed my inner senses as well as my creative mind. Clearly, I've been feeling starved and didn't even know it!
DATE #3
I returned to the Speakers' Lab with the Arizona Chapter of the National Speakers Association. The chapter holds regular monthly meetings which members and candidates can attend to practice a presentation. Up to four people each month can sign up to speak. Other members attend to act as the audience and learn from the presentations themselves. Then, they offer feedback. The chapter invites long-standing members to offer the final, professional critique. It's a valuable playground for speakers, and it's really fun to attend. It's also a way to develop personal relationships with other members, which is an excellent form of networking. I enjoy going, am highly energized and encouraged by this group, and am glad to be committed to returning. We pay $75/year to participate, and it's very much worth the extra fee.
DATE #4
My last Artist Date of the week took me to an artsy town north of where I live. It was completely unexpected, as I went there to meet friends for coffee. And when they left, I decided to poke around the town on foot, letting the road signs lead me where I went: to an antique store, an art gallery, an artist's studio, a bike shop. I met a sculptor, a woman who was feeding her pet desert tortoise, and a guitarist. I relished in the sights and sounds of this unexpected self-guided tour.
In addition to these four trips on my own, I also visited a new friend at a new wine bar in downtown Phoenix, and I went to a weekly Art Walk with my boyfriend one night this week.
OVERALL THOUGHTS & IMPRESSIONS
I think I can safely say a creative awakening has begun over here. Because of it, I'm feeling a renewed sense of joy. I've missed that. And all it takes to reconnect with that is adding a little playtime to my day, or to the week, if that's all the time I have. So the work here with The Artist's Way is making me realize that it's far too easy to get caught up in stuff that doesn't matter, to focus on things that hold you back, when what will propel you forward is a matter of simply deciding to spend more time with yourself. This is a good lesson that I've already learned, of course, but a lesson that needs demands reminder -- and action. The B.I.K.E. isn't enough if you don't take action.
The response from my work with The Artist's Way is also showing up here. I've added a few new plug-ins on the blog: a stats counter and a list of most popular blog posts -- both on the right-hand side of the page. I've updated my speaker page on the NSA-Arizona Web site, and I'm getting ready to use these updates on my blog profile/bio and also on my LinkedIn page. The work has also inspired other posts and led me to exlore how I'm going to market myself as a speaker of my B.I.K.E. I sent out four or five letters of introduction last week for that, which I don't usually do. I'm usually just marketing myself as a writer and letting the speaking work come to me. But now I'm getting active on that level as well.
ABOUT SYNCHRONICITY
To me, this has always been the main thrust of Chapter 3. The lesson about how synchronicity can work in our lives and lead us to the work we feel most passionate about has always spoken to me the most. I believe it in. I look for it, and I experienced this several times this week. Each time, I was drawn to either make a call, send an e-mail or do something I had been wanting to do for quite some time. Once I had the sign in front of me and opened my eyes to see it, I followed. In some cases, literally.
Overall, I am so happy to see an attitude shift taking place. It's what I needed to get me back on track, and especially dump some stuff that had been clogging my thoughts of late. It's why I took this book off the shelf again.
I hope positive shifts are occurring in your lives as well. So please post your results and let us know what's going on. All you have to do is answer the questions at the end of the chapter, revealing only as much as you feel comfortable sharing.
Motivation for Mondays is a part of a weekly Twitter party called #MotivatedMondays initiated by Lorrie Shaw, a professional pet sitter, a regular pets contributor at annarbor.com, and pet blogger in Dexter Township, MI. Together, we post a combination of inspirational notes, links to motivational blog posts, and tips to help kickstart your week ahead. Look for us online every Monday morning--and throughout the day--if you need to kick start your week or want to share your own motivational thoughts.
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Part I
1. I did my morning pages M - Th. This has been my pattern as F mornings, I'm on the air, so I sleep until I have to leave, on the way back, I do my errands, and then after that I listen to a 3-hour radio show. By that time, it's time for a nap, then eat & watch television/catch up on emails & social media until bed. Saturday is football from the time I'm up until I go to bed. Sunday is also usually football w/the baseball playoffs thrown in, which takes up the whole day. This Sunday, though, I saw Secretariat as there was no daytime football game.
I tend to not do my pages first thing in the morning, but rather just before I go to bed, as that's when I can actually hear myself think and have no distractions. We both work from home, so I have no way of getting away from hearing his conversations, seeing him pace throughout the house. Of course, I think if I was truly into what I was doing, I could do a better job of ignoring him.
When I do the pages, I do enjoy the analysis. I think I bring to the fore truisms I already know, but just now have to confront and accept. by doing that, I can decide what to continue and what needs to be changed or stopped.
2. Artist's Date. I did little dates, in that I indulged in little funny cartoon-type sessions (like Simon's Cat, etc.). I'm still couch-ridden, so if I go out, it's with someone's assistance. It felt good to laugh.
3. The only synchronicity I can think of is one that involves coming across something I can use to help one of my authors promote her book. It's been extremely difficult trying to find a traditional publisher for her. I think I've found a distributor, but I hadn't even thought of a separate promoter until I saw a post on FB from one of my FB friends. Not sure if that counts, because it doesn't have to do directly with me or helping me heal or get to where I want to be in my career, but that's all I have.
4. When I was describing all of my childhood rooms, which I could remember back to my crib actually, I thought it was significant that my dad never had a place for us kids, even when he was married. My brother and I always slept on a couch or floor. When dad had a live-in girlfriend, her kids had their own rooms. I slept on the couch. I don't remember my brother ever staying with dad during those years. Wait. I do remember one time when they lived in her apartment. He was on the couch. I was on the floor.
Part I
1. I did my morning pages M - Th. This has been my pattern as F mornings, I'm on the air, so I sleep until I have to leave, on the way back, I do my errands, and then after that I listen to a 3-hour radio show. By that time, it's time for a nap, then eat & watch television/catch up on emails & social media until bed. Saturday is football from the time I'm up until I go to bed. Sunday is also usually football w/the baseball playoffs thrown in, which takes up the whole day. This Sunday, though, I saw Secretariat as there was no daytime football game.
I tend to not do my pages first thing in the morning, but rather just before I go to bed, as that's when I can actually hear myself think and have no distractions. We both work from home, so I have no way of getting away from hearing his conversations, seeing him pace throughout the house. Of course, I think if I was truly into what I was doing, I could do a better job of ignoring him.
When I do the pages, I do enjoy the analysis. I think I bring to the fore truisms I already know, but just now have to confront and accept. by doing that, I can decide what to continue and what needs to be changed or stopped.
2. Artist's Date. I did little dates, in that I indulged in little funny cartoon-type sessions (like Simon's Cat, etc.). I'm still couch-ridden, so if I go out, it's with someone's assistance. It felt good to laugh.
3. The only synchronicity I can think of is one that involves coming across something I can use to help one of my authors promote her book. It's been extremely difficult trying to find a traditional publisher for her. I think I've found a distributor, but I hadn't even thought of a separate promoter until I saw a post on FB from one of my FB friends. Not sure if that counts, because it doesn't have to do directly with me or helping me heal or get to where I want to be in my career, but that's all I have.
4. When I was describing all of my childhood rooms, which I could remember back to my crib actually, I thought it was significant that my dad never had a place for us kids, even when he was married. My brother and I always slept on a couch or floor. When dad had a live-in girlfriend, her kids had their own rooms. I slept on the couch. I don't remember my brother ever staying with dad during those years. Wait. I do remember one time when they lived in her apartment. He was on the couch. I was on the floor.
Part I
1. I did my morning pages M - Th. This has been my pattern as F mornings, I'm on the air, so I sleep until I have to leave, on the way back, I do my errands, and then after that I listen to a 3-hour radio show. By that time, it's time for a nap, then eat & watch television/catch up on emails & social media until bed. Saturday is football from the time I'm up until I go to bed. Sunday is also usually football w/the baseball playoffs thrown in, which takes up the whole day. This Sunday, though, I saw Secretariat as there was no daytime football game.
I tend to not do my pages first thing in the morning, but rather just before I go to bed, as that's when I can actually hear myself think and have no distractions. We both work from home, so I have no way of getting away from hearing his conversations, seeing him pace throughout the house. Of course, I think if I was truly into what I was doing, I could do a better job of ignoring him.
When I do the pages, I do enjoy the analysis. I think I bring to the fore truisms I already know, but just now have to confront and accept. by doing that, I can decide what to continue and what needs to be changed or stopped.
2. Artist's Date. I did little dates, in that I indulged in little funny cartoon-type sessions (like Simon's Cat, etc.). I'm still couch-ridden, so if I go out, it's with someone's assistance. It felt good to laugh.
3. The only synchronicity I can think of is one that involves coming across something I can use to help one of my authors promote her book. It's been extremely difficult trying to find a traditional publisher for her. I think I've found a distributor, but I hadn't even thought of a separate promoter until I saw a post on FB from one of my FB friends. Not sure if that counts, because it doesn't have to do directly with me or helping me heal or get to where I want to be in my career, but that's all I have.
4. When I was describing all of my childhood rooms, which I could remember back to my crib actually, I thought it was significant that my dad never had a place for us kids, even when he was married. My brother and I always slept on a couch or floor. When dad had a live-in girlfriend, her kids had their own rooms. I slept on the couch. I don't remember my brother ever staying with dad during those years. Wait. I do remember one time when they lived in her apartment. He was on the couch. I was on the floor.
I bet doing the Morning Pages at night helps you get a good night's rest. Are you noticing if this is the case?
I didn't do as many of the exercises last week, so didn't post about them. But I do remember doing the childhood room exercise before. Yours is kind of a sad memory. Why your dad did not think you and your brother should have your own space at his home is a mystery. I think it speaks to the misunderstanding some dad's have about kids and divorce. You're only theirs when they can fit you in, or get you, or something. I'm not sure where your dad's mindset was, of course, but that's what it seems like. I'm sorry that is your memory, but that was his mistake, not yours. Do you know what the point of this particular exercise was? I don't recall.
I didn't do my morning pages while I was out of town since I really didn't have any alone time, but I did them Wednesday through Saturday. Although I missed Sunday, I started back up again today. It's become part of my routine first thing in the morning, replacing the immediate Facebook and Twitter entries.
I had my artist date yesterday, almost by accident. I had an hour to kill between the time I dropped the girls off for an activity and picked them up. I ended up going to Barnes & Noble. After I had checked my regular sections (magazines, AZ travel, travel in general, etc), I still had time to kill so I spent it looking at books that I might not otherwise have picked up.
I read Chapter 4 today, and it caught me a bit by surprise, especially the part where it talks about "tossing out the old and unworkable." I've been making an effort the last few days to throw things away. I'm constantly trying to declutter, but I was thinking, just before reading that chapter, that my current efforts felt more genuine.
Part II
Other interesting things:
In the reading, this struck me: Sudden disinterest in work/projects is a coping device employed to deny pain and ward off vulnerability. Detachment/numbing out. I'm very detached as a rule. I've pretty much been proud of that, but maybe I shouldn't be.
I the exercises, these things struck me:
Childhood rooms: I could remember back to my crib. In thinking about that room, I can recall what my crib looked like, the paneling, and that I was standing up in the crib looking down the hallway w/my arms outstretched. I'm by myself and I know that someone is out in the front part of the place, and I just want someone to come get me. In the next room that I shared w/my brother, I remember that I enjoyed playing teacher to my stuffed animals along. The next room that I had by myself is the one that I remember three things: I clearly remember the nightmare I had that was set in that room. I clearly remember my dad setting down his suitcase and come over to kiss my forehead the night he left, and I remember that I made my bed the first time on my own. The next room, I remember the darkness and then not liking it when it was painted lighter. The next room, how cold it was. What I like about my room right now has to do w/one thing that I created, one thing that my dad bought me that I really wanted and needed, and the rest has to do w/comfort and the company of my animals.
Had a hard time coming up with things I liked about myself as a kid. The basic thing was my ability to play. I always put myself into a show: Adam-12, Emergency!, Hawai'i 5-0. Also liked how I would teach my stuffed animals and dolls. I was always interested in learning and teaching, but I always seemed to do it in a grande way. I also seemed to always have a great come-back for people who ticked me off.
My childhood achievements revolved around music, theater, reading, and being the center of attention as an authority. I was always so self-assured. I don't know where that went. Actually, I think I do.
Though I knew how I sabotage myself, it was interesting to spell out how I do it, in that I wrote it out as a progression. It's going to be difficult to get myself out of that spiral, because one slant on that spiral is actually something I need for myself and I don't know where in the day I can allow myself that alone time other than the mid-night hours.
I thought it was interesting that the people I see as supports are those who I also admire and do not have much time with, because their lives don't lend themselves to spending much time with me. Interesting, though, that I had lunch w/two of them Friday, and we decided that we're going to get together for lunch more often. The other person, we get together as much as we can. Other than that, my supports are on-line people I've never met. I live a very detached life.
It was very difficult for me to come up with people I secretly admire. I either admire people or I don't, so I'm not sure I got out of that exercise what Cameron needed me to get. Did think it was interesting, though, that I admired friends who were creatives who, to me, have balanced lives, and the rest were politicians.
I could only come up with three people I wish I'd met before they died. Couldn't think of people I'd like to hang out with in eternity. Only animals. So, what does that say about me?
I still need to call a friend and do the insight hour. This is the most I've gotten done w/in the week since I've started. Also still need to do a better job at both scheduling myself and keeping to that schedule. I wish I had more synchronicities that had to do w/me. I don't know what to look for, though.
I just posted Part II again. I got the error message again, but also have the "Your comment has been saved...", so I'm thinking you may have received it.
As for the point of the bedroom exercise, I think she wanted us to bring into our current rooms something good from our childhood rooms. I don't think that fits me, as when I think back on all those rooms, nothing is comfortable. I liked the curtains in one of my rooms. Big deal. I think the only thing I liked about all the childhood bedrooms that I didn't share was that the room was my refuge. I spent nearly all of my time in my room after my sister was born. Interesting. I just realized that before she was born, played outside. After she was born, I stayed in my room.
Teresa, it's like that. You'll keep noticing little things like this throughout the rest of the book -- and beyond. It's such a gradual effect. I had this same experience you did my first time around. In fact, even my Artist Dates were of the bookstore type. It was easy. I was pressed for time. I did what I could.
But that bookstore didn't come out of nowhere. You were looking for it on some level of consciousness. I think that's perfectly fine. Keep going at the pace that works best for you. When you pick it up again a year or two from now, you'll do it differently.
It seems as though you're finding something relevant about the process in your life. I'm so glad.
More interesting insights, Diane. Whatever answers you're seeking, you may just find them by Week 12.
Diane, I had to laugh at what you said about the games you played as a child. Our play always involved TV shows, too. In fact, we played Emergency! a lot, but since I had a brother, we also played Star Trek, Battlestar Gallactica and Star Wars.
I also related to your comments about being detached. Like you, I always took a certain amount of pride in being detached, but it's something I've been working on lately, being less detached. I have to remind myself to listen to what people are actually saying rather than what I imagine they're thinking or even rather than what I'm saying about myself. That's helped a lot.
I am loving your insights here. I've already had these kinds of insights throughout my life in therapy. Ha-ha! No deep thoughts here. Instead, I'm gaining creative story ideas (which I've always done before, anyway), and just this morning, while writing the Morning Pages, another idea for a book. I outlined it and everything. Am doing a bit of research on that this morning. I love that part of what happens to me during these 12 weeks. I'm also THIS close to dumping a bunch of old newspapers. Now, that's the stuff I resist. Am writing about that to see if I can resolve that hoarding problem. :-P
Week 3 check-in: http://kimhaas.wordpress.com/2010/10/19/taw-week-3/
I love reading how everyone is experiencing each week. There is no "right" way to do this process. It is what it is.
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