A Full Cup
I am participating in a creativity circle online with Kimberly Wilson for the next eight weeks, and today, I am just brimming with excitement for this course and gratitude for life in general! The course focuses intently on the book, The Artist’s Way by Julie Cameron, so I’ve been writing my morning pages for about a week now and planning Artist Dates for myself.
For my date this week, I will be taking myself to Villa Borghese with my sketch pad for an hour of people watching and sketching. Although this might sound sort of humdrum, I haven’t pulled out my sketch pad since Clara was born, not to mention all my art supplies were in storage when we were living in Arlington. This is very exciting for me and I am looking forward to this time… I am no Picasso, but I so enjoy drawing and painting!
The following week, I am going to this place called Acqua Madre with a friend and her daughter. Technically, these are supposed to be solo outings, but really. This is definitely a pampering date with myself!
In the spirit of pampering and self-care, I chose to take a nap in savasana at the end of my Yoga practice today. A few weeks ago I was messing around with shoulder opening poses and injured my right shoulder. My neck and shoulder have been tight and painful ever since, so I’m not sleeping well. I took advantage of my naturally sleepiness and relaxation post-practice. It was lovely and I felt so refreshed when I woke up!
I have also decided to put a serious cap on computer time when Clara is home. Through my explorations with morning pages, I keep bumping up against my own guilt at how much time I spend on the computer versus engaging with Clara. So, for the time being, my Gatha stands. Now, of course I have ample time for the computer when Clara is in school, but tomorrow, I am interviewing for the position of editor/writer of the embassy newspaper. I am very, very excited about the prospect and look forward to hearing more about the job! Wish me luck, although this is one more thing that will require my attention!
Such a large part of living Yoga (or any spiritual practice) with a family and small children is striking a balance, and I suppose that’s what I am working towards as life here becomes busier. It really is a dynamic, never-ending process to attend to one’s own needs and also meet the needs of children, partners, deadlines, homework, etc. Being mindful and fully present to the moment at hand is the best way to achieve balance… because the present moment is the only place from which we can respond, with clarity and an open heart, to what is required of us.
February 26th, 2008 at 11:04 am
I ADORE the Artisit’s Way. That book….. is INCREDIBLE. Incredibly time consuming but such an amazing, spiritual, creative journey. That book is seriously the reason I became a TV anchor/reporter. It propelled me towards my dreams. I’m not kidding.
Those artist date’s sound wonderful.
Good luck with the job.
Can’t wait to hear.
And yes… I, too, am always searching for that balance.
Great post.
February 26th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
I took an Artist’s Way class a few years ago and it was just awesome (although those morning pages were very tough for me!). Enjoy your dates with you and best wishes on the job. I hope it’s a good fit for everyone involved!
February 26th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
Did you ever see those rolly polly toys as a child? (I’m worried they were only my parents’ and my generation.) You toppled them over and, ups, they would right themselves again. I think of the time of raising my children when they were small, like being a rolly polly toy in the middle of a torrential storm. None of this striking a balance for me, I was down for nine most of the time.
Yet, it was the most humbling, beautiful, of processes as well. Now that my children are teenagers, I still have yet to strike a balance, but we are all definitely pulling our bit of the load now.
I wish you all the best on your job interview. The culture dates sound lovely.
February 26th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
Good luck in the interview! You are going to be great.
I want to write a gatha. What are the instructions?
February 26th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
Tranquil Space Yoga was the studio of the month for February at the Clarendon Lululemon where we are on an extended stay. Too bad I missed it. So many interrelated things entering my life. The Arlington studio is less than 10 minutes away; maybe this means I should try it!
February 26th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
Sounds like an interesting class!
Best of luck with your interview!
February 26th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
Good luck with your interview. I also bump up against my guilt with my computer time and engaging with P. With reading this post I think I will also cap my time at the keyboard. Nothing is a precious or can take the place of spending quality time with your child. Thanks for this post. I am so glad I found you (through Melissa) you inspire me everytime I read your blog.
February 27th, 2008 at 12:11 am
I know I am seriously lacking as a study buddy… maybe if my Artist Dates were as exciting as yours I’d be doing a better job! Life should be calming down now so I’ll be better. I promise!
February 27th, 2008 at 5:32 am
Good luck
February 27th, 2008 at 10:50 am
It was The Artist’s Way that brought me to starting my own business. Truly a life-changing book. I loved Villa Borghese, what a great artist’s date!
Have fun with that and good luck with the job interview.
I wonder if lilalia was talking about Weebles Wobble but they don’t fall down
good luck with the computer time… I keep trying myself
Doreen
February 27th, 2008 at 8:57 pm
Okay, now I have to order this book, based on the reviews above!
February 28th, 2008 at 10:57 am
As you know we have been studying serendipity and finding this post has been just that. Thank you for the link to the Artists’ Way pages. You may see on the HTC forums that I have been wrestling with the writing and finding this has certainly helped. I’m glad to be finding ways to get back to doing the pages in a way that suits me. Namaste.