Hello, my people! I hope you are all doing well and surviving the flu season. So far, our household has managed to survive, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it stays that way!
Who else is feeling the pressure of the holiday season creeping up? I know I am! There seems to be so much going on and so little time, and somehow my creative process keeps getting pushed to the back burner.
The funny thing is, I'm not short on things to do in the studio. I have paper cut down and ready to go, a lino block waiting to be carved, my table waiting to be sealed, and a growing list of ideas I'd love to bring to life. Everything is there, just waiting for me.
So what's stopping me?
Well, a little thing called life seems to have other plans. Between dealing with pain, managing everyday responsibilities, and trying to find some semblance of a routine, getting started has been harder than I anticipated. And if I'm being completely honest, I think a little imposter syndrome has crept into the mix, too.
Maybe it's the pressure I'm putting on myself to come back stronger, create something wonderful, or prove that all this time away hasn't set me back. Whatever it is, I'm realizing that I need to give myself a little grace. I don't have to create a masterpiece tomorrow. I just need to start, and starting is half the battle when you have so many ideas that you don't know where to begin.
I have such amazing support from my family, friends, and art community. I'm incredibly grateful for the encouragement, patience, and occasional nudges to get back into the studio. Sometimes we need the people around us to remind us of what we already know: that we are capable of doing the things we love, even when the road getting there isn't quite what we expected.
So, I'm going to try to take my own advice and stop worrying so much about the big picture. Maybe I'll start by sealing my table. Maybe I'll finally carve that lino block. One little step at a time.
I have a lot of ideas brewing, and I'm excited to see where they take me. I can't promise a perfectly organized schedule or a steady stream of studio updates (because, let's be realistic, life happens!), but I can promise to keep showing up and sharing the journey.
Here's to finding our way back to the things we love, embracing the messy middle, and remembering that it's a journey, not a sprint.
Until next time, happy creating!