Here in the shop

Its another day in the shop. My 4th this week. Good for income. But not good for Hub who is now feeling sick and wants to go to bed instead of being in charge of a 4 yr old.

I have been working a lot this week. It's been very good to get back in the saddle again. And we need the cash too. Dear me, it will be good when Hub finally gets paid all that he is owed. We are right up against all the overdrafts we can muster.

The great news is, I am ready to deliver AP for People Who Do and even better is that they have got some work that is truly extremely exciting. It's about mixing it up at a big company to re engage the workforce. Using properly random and interesting techniques. Like Keri Smiths book, 'How to be an Explorer of the World' is a working reference book for it. And Tim Smit type ideas are getting implemented. Very cool stuff. Works in progress! So excited by that.

Yoga is what is really trailing behind. My asana practice has been, for health reasons, non existent for several months. I feel terribly behind physically. I have been doing meditation and study instead, but even so. I really want to be doing that again, and for a while too. And still am not quite right, physically. But I need to start, gently, with that. And catch up with my homeworks.

With regard to HSHB. I am starting again and going through it for the next couple of months with specific regard to my portrait business, and improving how that functions. I have an accountability partner in Ruthie Collins and I am really looking forward to working with her to keep us both on track.

Lastly I want okay how fabulous the HSHB community has been for me over the last few weeks especially. A totally soulful, supportive, kind and generous bunch. It's been emotional!!

Things I need to do

For my creative business.

Get a new website with a blog on it, on Wordpress. Make it clear that i do portraits.
Spend some time going through the HSHB course with regard to this particular business.
Experiment with styles and framing to find the best fit
Experiment with the idea of empowering self portraiture and the possibility of doing a workshop on this
Set some time aside for this each week

Goals, aims, end points, finish lines.

I am a qualified yoga teacher
I am paid to teach yoga
I have been to Ibiza, a festival, on art retreat and on a yoga holiday
We have a sociable kitchen
I paint and create
I am fully qualified at people who do and get regular work. Inc setting up work.
Ted is learning; French, swimming, cooking, oh and to read and write

That will do for now.

Yoga, PWD, holidays, art. Yes.

You gotta make your own fun........

A cardboard arcade. Awesome. I love this kid. I may have mentioned it before, but there is quote from a film, I think it was by David Mamet, anyway, the quote is "you've gotta make your own fun, otherwise it's just entertainment" or maybe I am paraphrasing. Whatever. The sentiment resonates deeply with me. There is a difference between what you make your self and what you can buy, or consume, or watch or hear. Doing it yourself makes it more fun. And this kid has it in spades. To me it's not the heartwarming flash mob aspect of this wee film. It's just the sheer awesomeness of his amazing cardboard arcade. X enjoy x and then go make something your self.

the postive outlook on it

things to be glad about

my beautiful healthy son
a roof over our head with the right amount of rooms for our family
my time which I will have more of
my creativitiy which can start from nothing and bound off into limitless things
i have a studio full of paint
the nhs
living in brighton  - its such a cool place to be
my parents who are such go getters and set me such a great example of living well
my brother is happy again
i am essentially healthy
i can choose how I get to be
i have great friends who are really lovely, beautiful and supportive
i have a great online community which is likewise beautiful and supportive
I am going to Call of the Wild Soul art retreat in September with flora bowley and lisa
I can travel
As bub goes to school in September I will have even more time to create a living and art
invited to Ibiza to stay with good friends
i have a great job (plural actually)
i am loved
i love
i know how to cook great food

Needed this today...

Live with intention.
Walk to the edge.
Listen hard.
Practice wellness.
Play with abandon.
Laugh.
Choose with no regret.
Appreciate your friends.
Continue to learn.
Do what you love.
Live as if this is all there is.

--Mary Anne Radmacher--

In particular the bit that says 'choose with no regret' x  

Who the hell is Mary Anne Radmacher?  I don't know, but it seems like a pretty damn good advice.  

its been a while......

Life  has been getting in the way again.  Doesn't it just do that.  But I did very much want to share that I have been PAINTING.  HURRAH!  at last.  AT LAST my studio got used for its proper function.  All that time since DWYL last year.   And finally I got my paint out and got stuck in.

Thing was,  at my new job, where we specifically help people find more time and space for the things they really want to do, we were discussing an exercise which is designed for the Planning Retreat being held in April, and of course it turned out that I was not the only one who was not actually doing enough of the stuff that made us come alive.  How ridiculous!  Its one of those things though, its so easy to do other stuff instead.  Or feel guilty about doing reading, or painting or baking or just taking a nice long hot bath and thinking, when there is so much to be getting on with.

SO the next day, it totally dawned on me, that instead of sitting down and getting sucked into admin.  I would not go near my computer.  I sidelined EVERYTHING else and got my paint out.  Got the canvases out and got into my painting clothes.

The morning flew by.  I was in my element.  And yes, a few things did not get done that day.  But it really didn't matter.  Nothing fell apart.

Sometimes you just have to prioritise what you find most deeply and personally valuable.  Otherwise it is never going to happen and years will go by and your dreams and your pleasures get to stay in the cupboard.  And that can just make you a bit cranky.


So, my sincere advice to you all, is to when you can, instead of being sucked into whatever chores or admin you feel OUGHT be done..... just don't.  Sweep away the guilt, and dive straight into whatever it is that makes YOU feel in your element.