Cultivating the Soul

I caught up briefly with a friend on Sunday who I rarely get to see these days. In the short 10 minutes we chatted she managed to send quite a few wise words and thoughts my way. I can only pray I have half as wise, peaceful and calming an effect on people as she has on me!

 

I shared my guilt at making time for this creative thing I've rediscovered since the challenge in May - the seed of this blog. She shared 2 things: firstly, that the work I produce will be of benefit to others, whether I ever know it, and will work towards future friendships, projects, opportunities etc.

 

Secondly, that these few hours I (guiltily) grab over 3 days each week are a time to cultivate what I am doing. That word 'cultivate' stuck with me. It hit me smack between the eyes, actually! Look up cultivate in the dictionary and phrases like 'prepare for use', 'fertilise', 'maintain' define it. I absolutely believe we need our souls cultivated - regularly - but I'm very bad at doing it. We all have a use, we all need to self-maintain (like putting our oxygen mask on first before helping others) and the focus of what we are aiming at, striving for, being, really being, often gets lost.

 

My word for 2014 was 'Enough'. I wanted to learn the meaning of enough in all areas of my life. That was personal to me. It helped a lot to ponder and meditate on that word all year.

 

Now for 2015 I think I will choose 'cultivate'.

 

I choose to cultivate my creativity. I choose to cultivate my soul.

 

 

Christmas was crazy time, of course. But I am grasping moments to inspire me, moments that bring peace, or love, or smiles.

 

Ribbons in our hair

 

 

Washi tape - LOVE it! Never use it, just collect it to look at. Fact.

 

Obsessively looking at the work of illustrators I admire:
(Source: Tyrannosaurus Drip by Julia Donaldson, Image by David Roberts)

 

Collecting beautiful things that may look like mess but are really fantastic inspirational patterns:

 

 

Using my beautiful new watercolour brushes and getting to know my paints:

 

Actually drawing. No excuses. Just practice, practice, practice.

 

 

I need to cultivate. 2014 was bumpy for many reasons.

Find a word and try it too - thanks for reading! x

 

The demands of a 6-year-old

My daughter has never been particularly demanding in terms of 'stuff' she wants. But when a teacher is leaving, and it's Christmastime, and she just happens to be in 'Owls' Class, I think I can stretch to a short production-line of little sketches.

 

Five of her teachers received this little guy on their Christmas card this year, individually hand drawn by me. Cass was very pleased. Phew! (And I was relieved it was only five!)

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone!

 

Practicing people

Sorry for the long absence! I tried another blog set-up but I missed this one.

So I'm back, with a history of messy.

Messy is good. It's part of getting there - so I keep telling myself!!

 

 

Among a million other things, I've been practicing people.