Hello everyone and welcome to "The Artful Garden" and the beginning of our conversation. As was mentioned in the invitation I am going to use a question as a framework for our conversation. My goal is that eventually you will have your own thoughts and questions that lead our discussion into new terrain. In addition to my weekly (monday) posts I will share my learning as well as interesting quotes, observations or ideas that I come across in my graduate work. Feel free to respond to these as well if you like. Feedback is always welcome. This week I am wondering how many of you make time for yourself during the week? What are the things that you like to do and how do you find the time? If you don't find the time, what keeps your from that? What would you like to do for yourself that you don't?
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THE ARTFUL GARDEN
"The Artful Garden" is a metaphor suggesting how we can sow seeds of creative ideas. Gardens start with small seeds, much like ideas and art. They both need to be fed, nurtured and loved in order to thrive. This "garden" is a safe place to be both inspired and inspiring to others. It is a way to share who you are and promote forward movement within your life. A way to realize that you are not alone. Please join our "conversation" any time by posting your thoughts, questions and ideas in the comment section of
"the garden."
"the garden."
Books to Savor & Ponder
- A New Earth, Eckhart Tolle
- Anything by SARK
- Art & Fear, David Bayes, Ted Orland
- Brave on the Rocks, Sabrina Ward Harrison
- Eat, Pray, Love, Elizabeth Gilbert
- Einstein's Dreams
- Ishmael, Daniel Quinn
- Living Color, Natalie Goldberg
- Living Yoga: Creating a Life Practice, Christy Turlington
- Spilling Open, Sabrina Ward Harrison
- The Artist's Way, Julia Cameron
- The Four Agreements, Don Miguel Ruiz
- The Glass Castle, Jeannette Walls
- The Secret Life of Bees
- The Time Traveller's Wife
- Turning to One Another, Margaret Wheatly
- Wild Mind, Natale Goldberg
- Wouldn't Take Nothing for my Journey Now, Maya Angelou
Movies to See
- An Inconvient Truth
- Coach Carter
- Dalai Lama: The Soul of Tibet
- Dan in Real Life (so good!)
- Ethics for the New Millinneum: His Holiness the XIV Dalami Lama
- Gandhi
- IL Postino
- Into the Wild
- Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth
- Joseph Campbell: Mythos 1 & 2
- Juno
- Life is Beautiful
- Memoirs of a Geisha
- My Kid Could Paint That
- Rivers and Tides (Andy Goldsworthy)
- Robert Rauschenberg: Inventive Genius
- The Future We Will Create
- The Great Debaters
- Volver
- Who the #$&% is Jackson Pollock?
Posts
17 comments:
I do make time for myself. Lately it hasn't been as much time as I like, but I still manage to fit some time in. To get real time to myself I usually have to leave my house. I go downtown in Portsmouth and browse the little shops and galleries. Sometimes even going food shopping or to Walmart gives me time alone. If I don't have time to myself I usually get pretty crabby. Last night my husband could sense I was hanging by a very thin thread and took it upon himself to clean up the kitchen and put our son to bed even though he's not feeling good. With that time to myself I checked my email and watched a couple of episodes of Sex and the City before I went to bed. By the way I am very excited about this blog and very proud of my goddess friend Laura for doing this. Job well done!
Hello everyone! I just wrote this really long comment and then signed up with google only to have my message erase now that I am 'officially' a member of the blog. Oh well. Word to the wise....sign up first.
My name is Tina and I am Laura's friend from Goddard College. I live in Charleston, South Carolina. Let's see....what did I say...
To answer Laura's question about making time for myself, it depends on the time of year. Today my two children went to school (yipee!) so I will have a lot more time to myself. It was minimal this summer. It was also minimal in my studio. It was discouraging because I had a good rhythm going in my studio before the kids got out of school. Today I try and get back into my mindset. As Jess was saying, I think the key to getting this time is to have a good support net. My husband, friends, and grandparents really help out with the childcare. I often feel guilty when I say "ok, now it is my turn to do what I want". Somehow I fell into the role of the primary caregiver for my children (they are 3 and 5 years old) and looking around me at the playgrounds or among friends it seems that other women have done the same. I know that it is their choice too, I just wonder what the world would be like if father's were given flexible work schedules (and mothers!) and paternity leave. It makes me think that the women's movement has a lot more work to do. Recognizing and acting on what nourishes me makes me a happier person, but it is not without struggle to leave the kids. I still feel guilty like I should be home with them all the time (this sounds so self-righteous). I am getting over it and it comes out in a lot of my artwork as I work through it. This is an obstacle that keeps me from my studio/professional life. I wonder if anyone else joining this blog has a similar obstacle.
As Laura will tell you, I will talk your ear off about being a mother in contemporary culture, but I will leave for now to hear what all of you have to say. Looking forward to more posts!
Tina
Ahhh...my dear friend Laura. I have been wondering where in the universe you are! Your timing could not have been more perfect, of course not surprising at all now, is it?
Jess and Tina, my name is Tomasen and Laura and I worked together creating a course for teachers at her school in Deerfield where we looked at art and writing. I work for the English Department at the University of New Hampshire and have a teenager, 14 year old Emma who is going into High School and a son, Zachary, 11, who is going into Middle School. As I read your postings I can only say...time will help to allow you more time for yourself. My kids are off in their own worlds a lot and so that need to be there all of the time will wear off...slowly but surely! I find myself at the opposite end of the spectrum as my daughter will be goig to private school as a day student and so she will be gone from 8 in the morning to 8 or 9 at night...so I am experiencing that sense of empty nest!
Soooo....what does all this have to do with the question? Well, I liked learning more about who each of you were and I can say that this summer I was better about taking time for myself. While not a graphic artist I am a writer and so finding the time has always been one of those age old dilemmas that again, seems to get easier for me with age! This summer I have buckled down with a colleague and we are writing a book together. I know this sounds tough, but the idea of having the support and continual conversation around the project keeps us both motivated. It is like going to the gym. Nobody likes to go it alone, so if you bring someone along it is that much easier to make yourself go. That is why this blog is such a kewl idea Laura and I am honored to be a part of it!! Can't wait to read more!
Toodles to you all!
Hello all! My name is Liz and I worked with Laura for several years at Deerfield where I taught second grade. Now she and I are just good friends who share the common bond of leaving our ancestral home land of New Hampshire to explore the world... she to Conn. and I to California. As the stay-at-home mom of a 13 month old, I definitely identify with a lot of what Tina said. I have a lot of inner dialogue about where to draw the line between time for myself and what is best for my daughter. However, while she keeps me VERY busy these days as she enters the toddler stage of unrolling whole rolls of toilet paper and thinking that toilets are for splashing in, I think it is ultimatly myself that keeps me from being creative. I am not a professional artist or writer in any sense, but I have always been drawn to the creative side of things (and I have Laura to thank for always encouraging me in this!). I enjoy writing, scrapbooking, photography, jewlery making, and other crafts. But I find that I tend to have a perfectionist streak and never feel that what I have created is quite good enough. Ultimatly I guess this leads to some type of self-sensoring. Or perhaps it is that we as women are lead to believe by society that what we do is never quite good enough (... if we're working we should be staying home, if we're staying home we should be working, etc.) with an unrealistic and unachievable goals put forth for us. My greatest dream/goal has always been to write a novel, but somehow my ideas never seem good enough or I never find the time (kudos to you Tomasen!). But I do find that if I create something (whether visual or written) and immediately put it away without critiquing it, I have more appreciation for it when I come back to it later. I wonder if any of the rest of you struggle with letting your creativity "free" without worrying about it's "value"?
PS- What a great job you have done here, Laura! Such a fabulous idea... I knew it would come out great!
Hello all,
I am Brenda a friend of Laura's from Deerfield. We worked together for just a few years where she showed me the power and joy of collaboration and creating together.
Time stands still while it is passing. It grows while it stays the same. As I read the posts from others with young and then a bit older children I was reminded of how easy it is to lose yourself in all the roles we have chosen and their seeming requirements. It does take time to figure out how to be all those things - partner, wife, mother, teacher, daughter, sister... the number of life roles never become less. But it does come into perspective with practice. My daughters are both in college this year (I can't believe that!) and I find myself with time I never imagined could exist. I am able to dream and wonder. I am able to write and hope I will achieve my goal of writing and publishing a piece to share the beautiful energy of children learning. Liz talked about censoring her creativity. That is one of my greatest struggles. It is hard to be that brave. I know I will grow more if I go public, but what happens if the feedback isn't real... and on and on with the "what if's." I guess perhaps that is what Tomasen has moved beyond with her writing partner and something we may all gain from sharing here.
Laura, thanks for inviting me. Always an honor to be among your list of friends.
Hello,
My name is Ecastic Brigitte; as named by SARK....but since it did not fit me I changed it to EX-static (I will no longer be static)Laura and I went to her workshop in March and learned so much in one weekend. We have been friends since the Rivier College days, and have tried to motivate and inspire each other ever since. I realized I am a procrastinating perfectionist, therefore I hardley finish things I start.
As my only child will be starting high school next week and I am also teaching high school, I will need to manage my TIME, and make the time to create and honor myself. I am looking forward to a bit of structure since I have been away most of the summer and did not make the time for my photography and painting.
I am blessed to have remained friends with Laura and to have learned a bit about all of you!
Keep learning and GROWING :) Brigitte
Hi everyone! I am Danielle, a good friend of Laura's from NH. We met teaching in Deerfield, but our friendship has "blossomed" way beyond the doors of the school. Like Laura and Liz, I too have left my comfort zone in NH and took a risk. Last month I moved to Arizona and am not teaching right now. I have a new job enrolling students to a university, so when I leave work, I am actually done. A very new concept for me, having been a teacher and waiting tables simultaneously for the past 5 years.
I must say that I have always found it important to make time for myself, and always tried hard to make it happen. I do not have children, and moved from an apartment to a house that does not need much maintenence. What I have recently started to do for myself is to get up early to work out so that when I get out of work, the night is mine to do what I wish. I use this time to hang out with my sister who just moved to AZ as well, spend time with my husband, some of my new friends, read or just watch TV and relax.
I am excited to be a part of this blog because I do not explore my creativity often enough. WHen I get started, I love it, but I lack ideas much of the time. Tomasen got me thinking when she talked about her writing. I love to write and never found the time to do it when I was teaching. I guess I never saw writing as a creative outlet because there is no drawing, painting or pictures involved. I think I will try to explore writing again- it has been a long time. I also have scrap books waiting for me, and I love to scrapbook, I just never had the time. I really hope to make the most of my newfound time and find a new piece of myself.
Hello, I am new at this blogging thing, I actually just finished a comment and somehow managed to erase it so here I go again! Thanks Laura, for iniating this project because i love the idea of connecting with all you women out there and hearing what you have to say! I know quite a few of you from working at Deerfield Community School as a classroom support person. This will be my tenth year and the first year my youngest daughter Tanya won't be coming to school with me which will feel quite strange! She is starting high school (WOW) and my oldest daughter Emma is headed back for her second year at NHTI.
I know for a fact that when it comes to creative time for myself, i am a procrastinator and I need to make it a higher priority. I am hoping to turn Emma's old room into a mini studio. Having a place to create is very important to me. When I'm at school and in art class with the kids, I always struggle with what I will create. Collage is my comfort zone, I love cutting images up and rearranging them. Recently I have done some interesting work with collage on vases and I want to expand on that. I have done photography for many years, some of it freelance portrait work , most of it personal image making. This summer I haven't done enough creative work but I am always aware of needing to do it more often. If I can make time every day to take a walk or ride my bike, why is it so hard to make art the same priority? I look forward to reading all of your comments in the future!
By the way, Hi Liz, Danielle and Tomasen! Lori
hi everyone, i just met laura this past spring through a group called women's voices in new london, ct. she couldn't have come into my life at a better time...and i'm excited to be a part of this - as a way to explore, and to seek inspriration and insight. it's nice to meet you all!
it's just me, my boyfriend and black cat, sage, in a small apt. in ct., so things are pretty quiet, except for the train that zooms by our backyard!
i have always felt a need to express myself creatively - either through a class or working on my own. - but i find the classes are great motivation and kind of force me to make the time for myself.
i just finished a short printmaking class with women's voices and have been working on linocuts. this fall i'm enrolled me in a stained glass class which will be a whole new adventure for me.
like liz and brenda, i sometimes find i have that side that struggles with feeling confidant in my work and finding my artistic voice.. i've just started reading "the artist's way" - just in my first week, (laura's rec. :) and have found myself thinking about things i haven't considered and definitely making time for myself in writing morning pages..hope you all have a great weekend!
Cheers to all. I am Laura's cousin most commonly known as Suzy. I really enjoyed reading your posts. This is my first blog experience. I am very excited to be a part of such a thoughtful and creative group.
I am single and have no kids and have no good reason to not make time for myself. I make time for myself most every morning. Laura introduced me to the Artist's Way too. (Aimee you will love it!) I have not finished the book but during my starts and stops reading, I have continued to love and write my morning pages most every day. I notice a sour attitude if I have to miss a session.
Hi Danielle- congrats on your move! Your courage is inspiring as is your commitment to early morning exercise.
I also like to exercise, I am beginning photography classes in a couple of weeks and I am an avid gardener. I think I am subtle artist. I would like to continue learning about different art mediums. I find that spending time with myself fills me up. I have recently begun meditating and have found it to be a new avenue for exploration and would recommend it highly.
Tomasen, good for you on the writing...your name is very unique and I am almost certain you are friends with my beautifully artistic sister Michelle Kling? :)
I look foward to knowing all of you lovely artists.
Great work LV!
Hello Everyone! This is my first blog experience as well, but I am excited about being a part of it and getting to know all of you. I've been friends with Laura for a few years now, but our friendship is just beginning to really blossom. I am recently single after a 5 year relationship but feel stronger than ever, oddly enough. At this time in my life I am definately making time for myself, as I am emjoying discovering who I am now and what it is I truly want. I have moved from NH to Plum Island, MA this summer and really I'm just enjoying living in such a beautiful place and meeting new people. I'm taking it all in for what it is and enjoying every moment. The sunsets are amazing and so are the wild flowers. Some days I even have the beach almost to myself. I feel very blesssed right now and am eager to continue on my path to discovery.
I look forward to reading all your blogs and learning more about you.
Laura, I think this is a wonderful and inspiring idea.
HI all, it's LeighAnn, an old Deerfield buddy/Goddess friend of Laura's. I FINALLY made the time to read all of your comments, and I just am thrilled by Laura's blog. As always, Laura is quite the FABULOUS inspiration. So, making time for yourself??? Boy, that's a tough one. But, after having two kids (Aidan, 3 and Hannah, 1),I am on the track to doing so. I am back to teaching after a great summer (today actually), but I am determined to make everything work. I started working out again this summer and have found that mornings are the best thing for our family. I truly LOVE to be up and taking care of ME before the day starts. I have also loved beading, so have tried hard to make that something that I can share with friends and use as a way to show my creativity. As Laura knows (and Liz), I am a very thoughtful artist (or should I say slow?). Whichever it is, I need to take the time I can to feel good about creating. That's really what's important to me right now. Feeling good about me.... Thanks, Ladies, I really look forward to further discussions!
Suzy~
I am wondering how you started meditating and what you are learning by doing it. I have always found it difficult to quiet my thoughts.
Jess~
I loved how you wrote about going downtown in Portsmouth to visit the shops and galleries. That is such a good way to take care of yourself and seek inspiration at the same time. What are your favorite places?
Tina~
With all that you have on your plate I have always had such a deep admiration for the ways in which you nourish yourself. One of the things that I have found particularly inspiring is your "daily dose" project. I was wondering if you would mind talking more about it, or letting us know when it is posted on your website?
Tomasen~
I am so excited that you are a part of this conversation! I cannot believe where the time has gone, but we have always had that "serindipitous kharma". I was wondering if you would mind talking more about your collaboration with your colleague. How did it start? What made you "buckle down" and start doing it?
Danielle~
I was excited to hear you talk about writing. It was something that you have mentioned many times on our long drives to Deerfield together. If you were looking for help getting started or for resources I am sure that Tomasen and Brenda would be great sources of inspiration.
Liz~
Your post hit me on many levels and I have some thoughts that I still need to formulate and will post in the future, so be prepared. One thing that I didn't know about you was that you have always wanted to write a novel. I think that is great! It might be something that you can do in the rare, quiet moments that Bella is sleeping (again, Tomasen and Brenda would be great resources). I have always found you very talented and wonder what might happen if you put your "censor" to bed when you put Bella down for a rest.
Brenda~
I deeply appreciate your brave thoughts and insight! You have inspired me on so many levels and I can only dream of you sharing that artistic part of yourself with us.
"With big risk, comes great reward" (I am not sure who said this)
I had this quote on my sketchjournal last year as I was trying to figure things out in my life~going back to school, leaving Deerfield, becoming a wife, selling my home, leaving all that I had ever known, etc..
This quote is so true because what I have risked I have gained ten fold and couldn't be happier. Be brave my friend!
Ex-Static Brigitte~
This is the year for you, I can feel it! You were doing so well with your micromovements and would be a great inspiration to us all. Keep them up my friend.
Lori~
Your words resonated with me and gave me an idea for a longer post in the future, so expect more to come...Maybe you could start with "an Artful walk?"
Aimee~
Brigitte and I have always found taking classes is a great way to dedicate that time to our creative self. I think that we are all lacking confidence and that this is a safe place to explore and see them grow. I believe that you will continue to see things differently as you continue reading the "Artists Way" and I can hardly wait to hear about your journey!
Kim~
I loved how you wrote, "I'm taking it all in for what it is and enjoying every moment." You are in such a great place to share what you are doing and seeing.
I will look forward to hearing more about your journey...
Leigh Ann~
You have done so much to nourish yourself in the past six months or so! You are a true inspiration. The changes you have made for yourself give you a new glow and it is exciting to see. I know that others will be inspired by your forward movements. Feel free to elaborate more...
*I am hoping that you all will feel comfortable "talking" and asking questions to the group/and or individuals that resonate with you as we start our "conversation". We have so much to learn from each other.
Hello Ladies...It is now more than a week since I last posting, saying that I want to write more. I have not done this yet. I guess maybe that is the censor that I am putting up. I think that I should have something to write about, and I don't. The type of writing I would like to work on is more of story writing (whether personal or fictional), but I should start by just doing more journaling, and writing about what I see and feel and let thse thoughts be the seeds to my stories.
I have also been inspired by those of you who write about your gardens and such. Moving from New England to the desert has made me think about the lack of a "garden" that I see on a daily basis. I would like to learn to appreciate and educate myself more about the desert plants. Although they are not as colorful, there is something special about how these plants can survive in the dry hot desert. I have started to appreciate the vast lands out here that I can see for miles. My drive home from work everyday is truly beautiful- but in a different way than New England beauty. So taking from this blog, I think I will try to start writing about my surroundings (even though it is REALLY HOT to sit outside and write) and see where these ideas lead me in my creative journey. I look forward to the weather cooling, and being more able to explore my new environment. In time, I look forward to sharing my writing, and would love to see what other people are doing.
Kim- Good for you for feeling so strong after ending a long relationship. Do you think that moving to a new place is really what is helping you to stay strong?
Suzy- So good to see you on here! I think that is so great that you are doing the morning pages. Knowing a bit about it from Laura, I applaud your committment to that!
Hi Lori! Send my love to Deerfield!
Having 2 kids and one foster child, the days are always too short, but I manage to make time for myself. I do yoga once a week with an instuctor from England. Can you believe she moved here to the northern part of Norway from Manchester? I also spend time with my four horses, that is something that really gives me energy. If I want to bee a bit creative I knit. Unfortunately I used to be alot more creative, but I decided to make more room/time for my animals instead. They give me alot, also excersise. Thanks Laura for inviting me to this blog!
You are most welcome Karianne! I was soooo excited to hear from you. It will be interesting to hear your perspective on things from outside of the country. I have always thought that you lived creatively! As I recall you are always baking and decorating, along with all of your other responsibilities. How are you enjoying yoga? What kind of yoga does she teach? Laura
Hello, Laura, and all these wonderful women who are in her life. To Laura, Suzy, and Karianne, I am Aunt Annette. I expect that I hold the dubious honor of being the eldest in the group. I wish that I could say, "the wise elder", but I see that, though you are young, you have already learnt some very important life lessons, such as taking care of yourself, especially the inner you. For myself, I like to walk, read,
participate in groups with common interests, and spend time with family. These things invigorate, inspire, and relax me. Although I am not creative, I love and appreciate it in others. I treasure a painting that Karianne's husband did for my husband and myself and, for a long, long time I have admired Laura's multifaceted creativity. Suzy is quite the philospher and thinker, and has suggested some valuably stimulating books for the mind and soul. I deeply admire all you young women who are taking the time to share of yourself through this blog. Kudos, Laura.
Aunt Annette
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