As previously mentioned, lately I’ve been experiencing one of the worst creative blocks. So, to help work through it I started to look for other journaling sites for inspiration, which is when I stumbled upon Journaling Saves by Kristin. Coincidentally, I received a newsletter from her regarding the very topic of feeling stuck. She suggested creating and keeping a list in one’s journal for the things you are grateful for. I’ve never been one to take many things for granted, but it seems over time I may have overlooked certain parts that have always made me appreciate this life. As I started to think about my list and put things down on paper, I realized that I soon had a list of items that were simple, significant, and everywhere in between. I’m hardly finished with the list and this stems from my belief that there are things I can only appreciate with each day that passes. Best of all, this list has helped in allowing me to feel a little back to my old self. I’m even writing my morning pages again – and for that I’m grateful.

Keeping in touch with friends, near or far is almost effortless now thanks to sites like Facebook. But I’m still a fan of hand written letters and cards in the mail. So after procrastinating long enough, I managed to tackle one of the exercises in the Artist’s Way, which involves sending letters to 5 people. Coincidentally,  in early May I purchased a box of beautiful cards from Papyrus simply because I loved the design. Plus, the box was adorable. I suppose this is just another example of the “synchronicity” Julia Cameron speaks of in her book. It’s always interesting when that happens. I just hope my 5 people enjoy their letters.

This song (and video) are both so fun. Shame on you if you don’t tap your feet or clap along while listening.

Over the past two weeks I’ve been without cable since the cable box broke. Initially, I tried to get the issue resolved during my lunch hour but if you’ve ever visited a Comcast office, you know that an hour there is as good as not going at all because the line was already out the door. Sure, I could set up an appointment to have them come to me, but even then the hours aren’t that reasonable. So, needless to say it’s on my “to do list.”

Although I don’t consider myself a huge TV junkie, knowing the cable is out has forced me to do other things when I get home. And since restarting The Artist’s Way, I remembered Week 4’s assignment to forgo reading. It initially sounds absurd, but once you do it, you actually miss it. No books, blog reading, and certainly no Twitter or Facebook time. It’s all about less reading (mental clutter and time wasting) and more doing, creating, and being.

Interestingly, I came across an Etsy blog post earlier this week regarding a “holiday” called Present Day in which the first Sunday of the month you give up your computer and phone:

Present Day helps you connect to where you are and who you’re with. It reveals what cell phones and computers bring to your life and what they take away. It helps the earth and it feels good.

If interested, you can join their Present Day Facebook Group. I agree that those individuals most appalled by this idea are the ones who need it most. Trust me I was (and in some ways still am) one of them. So if you’ve ever thought or said out loud, “I don’t know how I ever survived without my (iPhone/Blackberry/laptop),” this challenge is for you. Even though I’m only in the beginning of week 2 of the Artist’s Way, I’m already finding myself needing to unplug from the technology around me.

Here’s to first Sundays and enjoying experiences not requiring a 3G or WiFi connection.

Introverted people are commonly thought to be shy, but introverts’ low motivation to socialize is not the same as the inhibited behavior, tension, and awkwardness that characterize shyness. Introverts who are not shy can behave extrovertively when they choose; whereas shy people, both introverts and extroverts, can’t turn their tension and awkwardness off and on. – Psychology Today February ‘10 issue.

Thanks to Psychology Today for clarifying this misconception about my own disposition.

P.S. I’m also restarting The Artist’s Way for the 4th time. Crossing my fingers this will be the time I actually complete it.

For the first time last night I had a bowl of pomegranate arils and golden raspberries. The simplicity of the fruits were too beautiful to not photograph. And yes, they were as delicious as they look.

Regarding my last post, it seems my plan of reading the book Journal of a Solitude is on hold because there is not one bookstore in all of South Florida that has it, so I had to order it online. As a result, I moved on to 30 days of morning pages. Despite this practice cutting into my cherished minutes of extra sleep, I always feel 100% awake after doing them and I can’t deny that I missed the mental AM purging. It’s definitely a practice I recommend to anyone. You’d be amazed the thoughts (big and small) that spill onto your paper as soon as you roll out of bed.

Although I’ve put my Artist’s Way journey on hold, I’ve been wanting to post my favorite exercise (so far) from the book. It was from Week 4 and the exercise was to write a letter as if I were 80 years old, to myself at my current age. Here was my letter:

Dear Vanessa,

Compared to some, our childhood may not have been the easiest growing up, but since then we’ve accomplished much of what we set out to do. These achievements, regardless of how big or small, have helped contribute to our happiness; not money or tangible items. The most important thing is that we never lost sight of the things that matter the most. Although you’re only in your twenties, I know you think you know everything, but it’s important I share some advice with you:

Remember to cherish the people you have in your life, and to hold back on being brazen with those that care for you; they will be the ones who stick with you through the hardest times.

Work on being closer with your brothers; they will be the only family you have left once mom is gone.

Never give up on your thirst for knowledge and need to be curious because it helps you stay young at heart.

You always wondered if you’d ever stop being quirky or “different” than others: you don’t. And you’re thankful for every moment of it.

Travel the world and learn a few other languages.

Embrace your quirkiness, it’s what makes you unique.

Move out of Florida.

Hold on to your creative outlets and practice them regularly.

Write a book, even if you never have it published.

Appreciate the little things regardless of how small they are.

Experience everything that comes your way with open arms and an even wider mindset.

Your life will be as beautiful as you allow it to be. Just try not to miss a moment of it all.

For this week’s Detective Work exercise, some of my answers were:

- My favorite childhood toys were my Jem dolls.

- The best movie I ever saw as a kid was The Nightmare Before Christmas (I’m sure this is’t 100% accurate but it was off the top of my head).

- If it weren’t too late, I’d like to learn to play the piano.

- My favorite musical instrument is my own voice.

- If I weren’t so stingy with my artist, I’d buy her a medium format camera.

- Taking time out for myself is an absolute must.

- If I’d had a perfect childhood, I’d have grown up to be less independent and strong-willed. Thank goodness for not having the  “perfect” childhood.

- My most cheer-me-up music is something that changes on a frequent basis. Currently it’s the song Private Radio by Vanessa Carlton.

- My favorite way to dress is comfy, casual, and classic. Nothing too trendy.

Five traits I liked about myself as a child: Carefree, playful, sassy, truthful, and outgoing

Artist Date:

Earlier on Monday I was shopping with my mom for new shoes and happened to come across a pair of flats that I instantly fell in love with. I don’t usually swoon over shoes, but this particular pair I immediately loved. After my mom’s visit, I slipped on my new shoes simply because of how they made me feel. Maybe it’s their bright colors, but just wearing them inside the house caused me to feel a little quirky but carefree at the same time. (Yeah, who knew shoes could do that?)

Without much thought, I set up shop at my desk and began art journaling, finally incorporating new elements and mediums into my latest spread. For the first time in a long while, I finally completed a page without over thinking and analyzing every detail. Dare I say that it’s probably one of my new favorite pages?

What I found to be a bit amusing was that I completed my journaling all while wearing my new shoes.

Ironically, I didn’t set an artist date this week, but instead it just sort of happened. This weekend I found myself wandering different stores in search of new fall decorations for our own place and came back with quite a few gems including a skeleton stylized a la Dia De Los Muertos.

Isn’t he great? I instantly fell in love with him.

As for the Artist Way “Check In” for Week 2:

The morning pages were much more fluid this week, though I still find it hard to write as soon as I get out of bed on weekends, but I don’t seem to be alone in this.  Maybe it’s because I become too preoccupied with other things.

Show and tell time!

The 5 other lives I’d like to lead are:

- Humanitarian

- Photographer for National Geographic

- An astronaut

- Filmmaker

- Art Gallery owner

And for the list of things I enjoy doing, here are only a few from my list:

Trying new things, going to museums, baking (though I don’t do it nearly as much as I’d like to), browsing antique or vintage shops, trying new restaurants, making necklaces/bracelets, art journaling, indulging on Häagen-Dazs Caramel Cone ice cream.

The week may have started out rough, but it definitely ended on a high note. Looking forward to Week 3!

I won’t detail my reasons for quitting the first time, or make excuses since I’ve decided to approach this round with a clean slate. As I progress into this course I’ll share some of my exercises from the book, as well as some of the group’s discussion topics and questions, starting with this week’s first question:

What object brings you a sense of safety?

I’ve read over some very interesting and unique answers from the group and tried to dig deeper into what I really feel is the most honest answer at the moment. Truth is, I couldn’t pinpoint an object. So instead, I began to think of the question as “what (in general) brings me a sense of safety.” Initially I thought that a hug, a warm smile from a close friend, or spending time with my family could, because in their own unique ways each of these makes me feel safe.

Photo by dave_mcmt

But after much deliberation I realized that the idea of school (learning) has always made me feel safe. I know this may seem a bit different from most traditional answers, but my reasoning is because it’s not necessarily the tangible projects in a school setting that brought me safety, such as the chalk boards or overhead projectors; but rather the concept that I’m learning something new, something different, something unknown to me.

Even today as an adult, I think of how important it is to hold onto my inquisitive nature and the eagerness to pursue personal growth.  Whether it’s for the various roles I’ve held for some time now (sister, daughter, aunt, lover, friend, etc), or for a newly given title such as artist, the thought of “settling” is truthfully one that would bring me a deep sense of restlessness.