i completed the artist’s way | thoughts + catch up with me
Hello, friends!
How are you? If you’re in Seattle, you’ll know it totally feels like true rainy-showers-April. The cherry blossoms have come and gone (thank goodness but also, you’ll be missed!). I actually just recovered from a very short, mild bout of COVID. It was my first time having it and all I can say is thank you, vaccines! I don’t know if it was my short period of isolation, but these days I have a newfound appreciation for Seattle and my neighborhood. I’m so looking forward to every day and life is just fun right now, you know?
Let’s catch up since we last chatted – if you read my funemployment era post from early February, you’ll know that I was reading The Artist’s Way, which has so positively impacted and changed my life. To me it wasn’t a drastic change but more like a mindset and paradigm shift, and my little daily habits have changed a bit too. Two of the main tools from the ~journey~ the author, Julia Cameron, provides is the 1) morning pages (journaling 3 pages every single morning, for your eyes only) and 2) artist dates (solo dates you take yourself on that fill your well). They have been crucial in developing my new lifestyle and supplemented my intentions on slow-living, connection, and trying new things.
Another fun little thing I wanted to chat about in relation to connection and trying new things: post-grad and prior to 2023, I was having a toughhhh time meeting new people and making new friends as an adult, obviously primarily due to COVID and social restrictions, but even once I was more comfortable being out and about, I had no idea how to meet people outside of work. 2023 has been such a blessing, and I have to attribute it to dance!! The dance community has been truly so welcoming and the new friends I’m making were primarily me being approached at a dance audition/class or vice versa – dancers are just friendly 🙂 it’s so different from even when I used to go to spin or yoga classes – to me, those environments were like, get the workout in and then get outta there. Whereas in dance spaces, it feels like a safer space to linger and chit chat. I’m an introvert but this has been such a nice little joy the past couple weeks. I love the idea of happy hour and getting drinks with people who are new to you!! Keeps things so fresh and exciting..
That being said… you know I love a good photo diary and am always snapping photos (I really need to write lifestyle posts more often because I have sooo many photos). Let’s catch up! Grab a steaming cup of tea or an iced matcha, and in no particular order from the last couple of months…
You guys… something about visiting friends’ apartment is so charming and cute. Especially for my friends who live alone, I looove seeing their decorations and the space that is so uniquely themselves. It truly feels like you know someone better once you see their space. <3
Such an exciting time for me. I’ve rekindled my love for drawing and the Procreate app on the iPad has been my savior. One of my friends asked for a commissioned piece (!!!!) and I’m also helping with another gal pal’s wedding invitations.. eep! I love a good project and challenging myself to draw in different ways. Thanks to all who have been so supportive so far <3
Note to self: bring my ipad or a notebook to illustrate inside the conservatory because there were SO many things to feast my eyes on. So many cutie older folks drawing inside too.
If you made it this far in the post, thank you! <3 Am I fully “recovered” or “unblocked” as an artist? Far from it. I still feel doubt and fear with doing the creative work at least once a week. But I truly do believe that everyone has an artist within – the layers just need to be peeled back… needless to say, I’m excited to return to The Artist’s Way every decade or so, and am so grateful to the book club cohort for sharing their thoughts and journey with me. It’s definitely a highlight of the year for me! I’m so looking forward to continuing my artist journey!!
What have you been up to?
Jen x