Being present. Although Im in love with being in flow with creativity, I too need to prioritize stopping. Whenever I pause, I get to savor life’s grander gifts. Breath, sensations, lightness.
Thank you for this reminder. I'm currently creating a worm bin so we can use their castings for the veggie garden. Nothing like watching red wigglers turn kitchen scraps into black gold to teach me about slowing down. ;)
Swimming. Today it clicked. I am the water. I am the same substance that this water is made of. Today was the first day after months of “lessons” that I can say “ I can swim “. The water only reflects. The water will absolutely hold what I offer. To drop me would be to drop itself
So inspirational---looking for pottery lessons in my area because my oldest daughter and I desperately need a bonding activity! Pottery is such a wonderful metaphor for presence because the “wheel is spinning and you can’t slow down” aspect....you have to meet it in the moment.
I have been learning how to paint with watercolours for about 6 months. It’s the slowest I take to do anything, it clears my mind, I slow down and I know I’m fully present.
Beginner’s mind. Yes! I too am working on embracing a beginner’s mind so that I can be present in my moments. I took a beginner pottery “class” (a try before you buy) and was so frustrated by the experience because it wasn’t what I thought it would be nor was I able to create a piece that I thought represented me. Why was this so hard? How could I create such an ugly piece?
I was so focused on the outcome that:
*I failed to be a part of the experience.
*I failed to acknowledge that I was new at this.
I allowed:
*myself to be disappointed by something that I knew very little about but believed that I should.
*my belief in how things “should be”
*my attachment to an outcome to squeeze presence and connection like a constrictor snake does with its prey.
In my misshapen vessel I have learned a lot. She may not be pretty but she is representative of the now. My vessel is now providing a home for a beautiful succulent and she doesn’t look too bad. I am shopping for a series of pottery wheel classes so that I can try again with a beginner’s mind. My beginner’s mind is my friend. Letting go of expectations and a need to control an outcome is what I am working so that I can fully embrace her.
I’ve recently been getting into learning how to really draw and illustrate lately, and it’s been a journey! I’ve always been known as the artist as a kid and would win coloring contests and such... but when it comes to telling a story with a drawing or making simplistic art or truly finding my style?
Totally lost on me. My current drawings look generic.
So I’ve been working on stretching myself and learning storytelling through visual art and simplistic styles and it’s been HARD to be okay with being new at this.
I found a Skillshare class that’s been perfect for me learning about color theory and ways to draw a portrait that tells a story... and I even slowed it down more and was testing all my procreate brushes until something clicked, playing with colors... eventually I’ll try again with drawing the actual portrait (doing the thumbnails for now), but it’s becoming more fun the slower I go!
We’ll see when I try drawing if I can release expectations, haha!
Being present. Although Im in love with being in flow with creativity, I too need to prioritize stopping. Whenever I pause, I get to savor life’s grander gifts. Breath, sensations, lightness.
LOOOVVVEEEE!!!!!
Thank you for this reminder. I'm currently creating a worm bin so we can use their castings for the veggie garden. Nothing like watching red wigglers turn kitchen scraps into black gold to teach me about slowing down. ;)
Swimming. Today it clicked. I am the water. I am the same substance that this water is made of. Today was the first day after months of “lessons” that I can say “ I can swim “. The water only reflects. The water will absolutely hold what I offer. To drop me would be to drop itself
So inspirational---looking for pottery lessons in my area because my oldest daughter and I desperately need a bonding activity! Pottery is such a wonderful metaphor for presence because the “wheel is spinning and you can’t slow down” aspect....you have to meet it in the moment.
Thanks for sharing this story. Slowing down is something I struggle with at times and this story was beautiful. Gratitude 🙏
The older I get I’m learning to slow down and stop and “smell the roses “ for me that simply means enjoy what I am doing and focus on that ..
GORGEOUS. I find myself constantly having to remind myself to slow down. Life moves way too quickly!
I’m working on meditating daily and being more conscious with my thoughts, pausing before reacting impulsively
A wonderful read. Thank you for sharing!
I have been learning how to paint with watercolours for about 6 months. It’s the slowest I take to do anything, it clears my mind, I slow down and I know I’m fully present.
MATRIARCH OF HEALING!!!!!!! I love this!! and you!!!
Beginner’s mind. Yes! I too am working on embracing a beginner’s mind so that I can be present in my moments. I took a beginner pottery “class” (a try before you buy) and was so frustrated by the experience because it wasn’t what I thought it would be nor was I able to create a piece that I thought represented me. Why was this so hard? How could I create such an ugly piece?
I was so focused on the outcome that:
*I failed to be a part of the experience.
*I failed to acknowledge that I was new at this.
I allowed:
*myself to be disappointed by something that I knew very little about but believed that I should.
*my belief in how things “should be”
*my attachment to an outcome to squeeze presence and connection like a constrictor snake does with its prey.
In my misshapen vessel I have learned a lot. She may not be pretty but she is representative of the now. My vessel is now providing a home for a beautiful succulent and she doesn’t look too bad. I am shopping for a series of pottery wheel classes so that I can try again with a beginner’s mind. My beginner’s mind is my friend. Letting go of expectations and a need to control an outcome is what I am working so that I can fully embrace her.
Thank you for this post, space and community.
I’ve recently been getting into learning how to really draw and illustrate lately, and it’s been a journey! I’ve always been known as the artist as a kid and would win coloring contests and such... but when it comes to telling a story with a drawing or making simplistic art or truly finding my style?
Totally lost on me. My current drawings look generic.
So I’ve been working on stretching myself and learning storytelling through visual art and simplistic styles and it’s been HARD to be okay with being new at this.
I found a Skillshare class that’s been perfect for me learning about color theory and ways to draw a portrait that tells a story... and I even slowed it down more and was testing all my procreate brushes until something clicked, playing with colors... eventually I’ll try again with drawing the actual portrait (doing the thumbnails for now), but it’s becoming more fun the slower I go!
We’ll see when I try drawing if I can release expectations, haha!
Loving my pieces and this context for them... thank you 🌹
There is powering in pausing and slowing down!!