Back to basics

If you've followed my posts for a while, you know that I'm always trying to get away from the internet so to speak. I did meet my husband online, so thanks world wide web!, but otherwise what was my quiet, sacred painting life pre-2013, morphed into an array of screens, text messages, and endless emails. (2013 is the year I got a smart phone). The internet also opened up work opportunities for me, so I am grateful for that, but my body would say differently. It would remark- "whaddaya doing here? I was having fun and you made it all stressy."

Even when I was young I had a similar impulse about the net. I recall my mom getting AOL for us when I was about 10 years old. I was enamored by the Nikelodeon chatroom. a/s/l? I met cyber bullies and super sexual beings that pretended to be all kinds of ages and genders. It was the wild west and I quickly found that it was a little too wild for me. My intuition set off an alarm. My sister got into building web pages, but I went back to wandering around outside on my bike.

I had adventures though, and I found inspiration outside. I have good memories from this time. I watched people, took notes, found hidden trails, made picnics, did painting projects, and sang songs to myself. I enjoyed my chidhood, and I guess we're all here, trying to live a life we enjoy. So I look back to that time and what I used to do, as a roadmap for getting from technical chaos to inner peace.

This new year, I am going to do that thing that lots of minimalist people do, so it's not special. I'm quitting social media. I will still send out newletters and write blog posts, two things I used to do more of and really enjoyed, but stopped when social media seems to be more "efficient".

I'm also establishing my scared painting practice, and a sacred writing practice, which means to me that I must be quiet and not aim to produce anything in principle. I am wokring on some new books, and hopefully they will see the light of day, but they deserve to be cooked in my creative writing womb for a while, methinks?

This impulsive but necesary move was inspired by a few things- Cal Newport's book, Digital Minimalism, which I read severals months ago but at that time I didn't have the guts to step away from tech enough to be with myself. I was also inspired by Flow, by Csikszentmihalyi, which I read several years ago almost entirely at the gym. Both of these books talk about the importance of undistracted, concentrated time, where we can find our depths of creativity and delight. I've had a hard time finding this as podcasts are so easy to pop on while I work, text messages flood in, and emails never stop. My bad habits are too easy to foster, hence my attempt to break their spell once more.

Lastly, I was influenced by a women's circle, which creates a sacred space for everyone involved. I've found this to be an exptrememly healing presence in my life, and I can't help but want more of this undistracted, sacred time.

But, what is sacred? A friend told me that nothing is sacred anymore, but I don't beleive that. I think the sacred is created upon will, and it is a place of full presence with yourself and the divine. It's accessible to everyone. I would like to see more "sacred spaces" rather than "safe spaces". I don't think sacred has to be pretty, or religious, or even fun. But it can be sexy, delicious, midevil, and liberating. I'm aiming to transition into sacred time with my screens and learn how to love them in a new way. But first...

...Back to basics.

The Slowness of Vitality

Today's post comes from 6 weeks of slowing down and stepping away on an advenure to 4 different Euopean countries, a luxury I have and am truly grateful for. I am thankful for the flexibility of my work, and grateful for friends and family who will let me come visit and learn from them. They made this possible and I am fortunate.

I want to share what I learned so that you, in case you are feeling how I often feel when projects stack up and your stress rules your day, can step back and choose the path less taken by your efficient brain, and make the choice that's best for you NOW.

Meditation helps with this (1). Try it. I have to do it every damn day otherwise I will run amok and wiggle around trying to do everything/end up doing nothing. There is also significant science between the corrolation of a personal art practice and mental health (2). This makes sense when we think of art therapy being a viable resource to people, but you can easily have your own artistic practice and reap many benefits.

Pre Euro-trip, I was starting my day frustrated and angry, feeling like I never had enough time in my day. My shoulder hurt, by knees aches, my belly was bloated, my heart sank. I knew something was off and didn't know why. "I have a great life," I would think to myself. I never make art for myself. I worry about money. I rarely see friends. I spend way too much dough on chocolate.

During Euro-trip, I walked and walked and walked till my legs yelled. I saw inspiration on every street corner because I was actually looking up. I took the time to visit people for dinner, sit and draw people, enjoy a sandwich, facetime my Mom, devour books and enjoy looking out the window. My body came. back. to. life. I eat a little chocolate from every country I visit.

Post Euro-trip, my shoulder is starting to hurt again, but my body feels fitter and more relaxed. I am meditating and trying to walk as much as possible. I am stopping work at 4pm and going to yoga or for bike rides. I still have to remind myself to make art for myself. I go out and paint in the sunshine with some friends. I haven't eaten any chocolate so I'll buy some tonight and enjoy it with candlelight.

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There are patterns in the pre, during, and post descriptions. There are also some non-patterns, and I think those have to do with chocolate. Chocolate is not the issue. The issue is I'm aware that I must enjoy this day, take care of my body, and allow myself to do the things I enjoy. I'm working on fortifying the mind, which tends to worry and analyze, and overthink because that's all it knows how to do. I couldn't see my mental patterns before, because I was so deep in them. Travel helped me step away and run wild in a whole new environment, which automatically shakes up neuropathways and gives the brain new problems to solve. Like how does this toilet work? When does my train leave and how do I get there? What does that French word mean?

Artwork on the Millennium bridge in London. NOT graffiti because the art is on a gum wad.

The theme, I beleive, behind this method of interacting with the world, is to slow down and be present. So zen, I know. But slowing down makes it easier to catch ourselves and get out of reactive mode. When we're not constantly reacting, we can use our energy, even feel more energy, toward our creative pursuits.

If you can't travel to Europe, you can venture to a new street or take a new route and pay attention to what's around you. Find new problems to solve that mean something, that help you explore the world, not run away from it. Discover something new every day and you will come back alive in real ways.

Slowing down, looking around, paying attention to the world. For free.

We can all do this and it's free. Who's with me?

How do you like to explore within your own environment? Do you have a way of shaking things up at home? In your neighborhood? At work?

(1) https://nccih.nih.gov/health/meditation/overview.htm “Meditation: In Depth.

(2) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2804629/ "The Connection Between Art, Healing, and Public Health: A Review of Current Literature"

Let's Pause

Been reading a LOT about digestion lately. The idea of cycles keeps coming up, especially "optimal windows" of eating, resting, and detoxing throughout the day. It goes as follows:

4am-12pm is detox

12pm-8pm is appropriation

8pm-4am is assimilation

I feel like creativity mirrors digestion. You consume, process, then create, and it's definitely a cycle. But one thing I ALWAYS forget, is that space and rest is so so so important to the digestive system. If you're eating all day long, or too much, you can get constipated and tired or even put on some pounds. The body needs time to process everything, just like our creative minds do too.

My daily work habits suck. I will work myself silly for 8-10 hours, staring into the drawing tablet and forgetting to take walks. I'll deny myself myself time to oogle works by my favorite artists in order to get the job done, rather than fill myself up with some necessary inspiration.

And what about that detox, eh? What about getting rid of what we don't need? I always felt like elimination was the "creation" part, but now I'm thinking that detox is a totally different part of the creative cycle. It's reflection. It's doing things with friends. It's NOT creating. It's living and being and letting go and just...not doing.

If you want to read more about all this, you can check out this site for a run down of the cycles.

I wish you some space for your creative cycles, and that you ask yourself, what stage am I in? When is the best time during the day for me to create, rest, and allow for inspiration? Can I allow for more space for myself? You gotta, my loves! It's time to shine.

Annie is an author and illustrator with books available on Amazon and local book stores. She is open for commission, too! She lives in California, and loves tea, bike rides, reading, and exploring new places.