It's nice to be reminded that the resistant to create is a "thing", not just my short coming. Beginning, especially again, can be so difficult and then you step in lightly, with the intention to simply do this one thing or that and boom you're in it. Past the surface tension and diving deep. But I forget it works that way in the moment. My first inclination is to bemoan the resistance with the "on no...it will ALWAYS be this way, I've lost it"!
I appreciate your words and love following along with your substack. Thank you for making day better.
nice to know it's not just me... As I watch the leaves begin to darken, curl up and drop to the ground, I am reminded that I, too, have "seasons." Sometimes the easiest way to start creativity flowing is to clean, sort and organize my studio.
It is nice to have a routine(comfort in knowing what comes next,at least. for me!) I was wondering if you could share your routines (because,frankly, I wonder how you get everything done)?
While reading this I realized I feel guilty for having ignored my creative work. That makes it even harder to get past that initial obstacle you describe. It does take energy which is in short supply right now.
But I can do one small thing such as cut out the pieces of my next printed sewing pattern. I can do that before I go to bed tonight. And tomorrow is soon enough to start tracing and altering the pieces for my individual body.
All wise words about getting started back up again. What a huge challenge the learning program seems to have been. Kudos to you for going and finishing. I hope you share snippets about how it has shaped anything for your business in the future. xx
Welcome back Sarai. I admire your persistence, and am comforted by it. I struggle so much with routines, have all my life. I wait, instead, for the internal pressure to do a particular thing overcomes my natural resistance. I think it is my way to deal with too many pressures ( internal and external), seeing which ones are real enough to listen and respond to. But seeing how my partner effectively uses routines to deal with everyday pressures has helped me set some routines of my own ( though I constantly have to remind myself what they are!!
Love the kindness with which you are coming back from hiatus. Cat videos + still inviting yourself forward into that stretching place of creative endeavors.
Such good advice here! My favorite helpful thought when I find myself avoiding something is “a little is better than nothing” and I’ve found that it really helps me get started on projects that have been intimidating me.
Sarai - I always enjoy your writing. I appreciate the way you express your feelings, and how you tend to perfectionism like so many of us do. Thanks for being a friend in the craft and sewing world. Lucy is precious. Pets make our lives so much better!
This is certainly apropos, as I'm trying to get it all back together after a really busy first almost 10 months of the year. I know I'm burned out and trying not to judge myself, but recovering is involving a lot of sitting and staring and scrolling through my phone. I've only had one activity that I've managed to keep up with, and I can spend as little as 10 minutes of the day on it, but after about a month and a half of inactivity, I'm really feeling the need to do more.
I'm in that chasm at this moment. .two weeks ago it was full steam ahead for fall/winter sewing..then last week it was putting the creative aside to get everything prepared to leave for a weekend with my husband..not an easy get away as my mother (102) lives with us and there's a lot of prep for the caretaker. So after a fantastic weekend of sleeping in, amazing meals and entertainment I'm in my workroom reading email and trying not to look at Pinterest, the best procrastination vampire in the world. Fortunately, I do rely heavily on routine- so it's just taking that first step lightly. For me it's all about organizing my way back into the creative forest. Where is my "To Do menu so that I can order up something that I can jump into? Do I have the supplies ready, the fabric washed, machines threaded etc etc etc.
I have really enjoyed your writing in Making Time and often save it as well as the Seamwork podcasts to use as breadcrumbs back to the creative forest!! Thank you xo
It's nice to be reminded that the resistant to create is a "thing", not just my short coming. Beginning, especially again, can be so difficult and then you step in lightly, with the intention to simply do this one thing or that and boom you're in it. Past the surface tension and diving deep. But I forget it works that way in the moment. My first inclination is to bemoan the resistance with the "on no...it will ALWAYS be this way, I've lost it"!
I appreciate your words and love following along with your substack. Thank you for making day better.
nice to know it's not just me... As I watch the leaves begin to darken, curl up and drop to the ground, I am reminded that I, too, have "seasons." Sometimes the easiest way to start creativity flowing is to clean, sort and organize my studio.
It is nice to have a routine(comfort in knowing what comes next,at least. for me!) I was wondering if you could share your routines (because,frankly, I wonder how you get everything done)?
While reading this I realized I feel guilty for having ignored my creative work. That makes it even harder to get past that initial obstacle you describe. It does take energy which is in short supply right now.
But I can do one small thing such as cut out the pieces of my next printed sewing pattern. I can do that before I go to bed tonight. And tomorrow is soon enough to start tracing and altering the pieces for my individual body.
Thank you, Sarai.
Lucy is beautiful. Send some apples here. Florida has a lack of apples.
Thank you for always encourage me
All wise words about getting started back up again. What a huge challenge the learning program seems to have been. Kudos to you for going and finishing. I hope you share snippets about how it has shaped anything for your business in the future. xx
Welcome back Sarai. I admire your persistence, and am comforted by it. I struggle so much with routines, have all my life. I wait, instead, for the internal pressure to do a particular thing overcomes my natural resistance. I think it is my way to deal with too many pressures ( internal and external), seeing which ones are real enough to listen and respond to. But seeing how my partner effectively uses routines to deal with everyday pressures has helped me set some routines of my own ( though I constantly have to remind myself what they are!!
What are apple plans?
Happy you are back, we missed you! ❤️
I haven't tried this recipe yet, but it looks like a delicious way to use some of your apple harvest https://alexandracooks.com/2009/11/06/balzano-apple-cake-revisited/?ck_subscriber_id=1869392933
Love the kindness with which you are coming back from hiatus. Cat videos + still inviting yourself forward into that stretching place of creative endeavors.
Such good advice here! My favorite helpful thought when I find myself avoiding something is “a little is better than nothing” and I’ve found that it really helps me get started on projects that have been intimidating me.
Sarai - I always enjoy your writing. I appreciate the way you express your feelings, and how you tend to perfectionism like so many of us do. Thanks for being a friend in the craft and sewing world. Lucy is precious. Pets make our lives so much better!
This is certainly apropos, as I'm trying to get it all back together after a really busy first almost 10 months of the year. I know I'm burned out and trying not to judge myself, but recovering is involving a lot of sitting and staring and scrolling through my phone. I've only had one activity that I've managed to keep up with, and I can spend as little as 10 minutes of the day on it, but after about a month and a half of inactivity, I'm really feeling the need to do more.
I'm in that chasm at this moment. .two weeks ago it was full steam ahead for fall/winter sewing..then last week it was putting the creative aside to get everything prepared to leave for a weekend with my husband..not an easy get away as my mother (102) lives with us and there's a lot of prep for the caretaker. So after a fantastic weekend of sleeping in, amazing meals and entertainment I'm in my workroom reading email and trying not to look at Pinterest, the best procrastination vampire in the world. Fortunately, I do rely heavily on routine- so it's just taking that first step lightly. For me it's all about organizing my way back into the creative forest. Where is my "To Do menu so that I can order up something that I can jump into? Do I have the supplies ready, the fabric washed, machines threaded etc etc etc.
I have really enjoyed your writing in Making Time and often save it as well as the Seamwork podcasts to use as breadcrumbs back to the creative forest!! Thank you xo
thank you for sharing those imperfect moments, heavy with self-imposed perfectionism built-in.....and getting back in the groove after a hiatus.