Sarai, you have adopted a life wisdom. A life-wisdom moment came to me when we got a dog 30 years ago. Kelly stopped to sniff on walks, so knowing she was taking everything in I, being stopped, started noticing all the outdoor beauty.
I'm so glad you read the book! It was profound to me as well, and I tend to reread parts of it every year as a tune up. Can't wait to hear more about your journey!
Thank you so much for the rec! I listened to the audio book, which I really liked. I might buy a paper version to refer back to, like you. I'm going to write more about the declutter soon!
So good to have you back in which ever way you make it! I have loved reading your writing since back to your blogs posts for Collette. You have a unique and comforting voice that is special to hear. Thank you.
Welcome back! I was just thinking about this blog and wondering when, or if, you would come back to it. Your writing seems to reach out to touch and inspire me at all the right times and in all the right ways. We unexpectedly lost our ten year old Golden Retriever, Eli, on Sunday. "Aliveness" resonates because it reminds me there is joy after sadness, hope after despair and life after loss. Eli will live on in our hearts, even though right now the memories are mixed with tears. I'll work on my own renewal this winter so I can be full of "aliveness" come spring. Give Lucy and Gordy BIG hugs, and write again soon. Thank you.
A while ago... a few years?... I discovered that my "hobbies" were hanging over my head as to-do's. Obligations. They added to my anxiety. So decided to only do them if I wanted to. Most of the time I don't actually experience a desire to make something long enough to actually start it, which is an interesting feeling. Since my hobbies weren't connected in any way to a paid position, I haven't had any obligation to pick them up again. Unless, say, my teenager wanted to make an outfit for a concert and discovered halfway through that she didn't, in fact, have implicit knowledge of how to sew silky fabric on my machine. I'm still working on the guilt for having tools and stashes of various materials and media that I'm not using. However, now the teenager is shopping my stash for her own creative projects, so there's that. My energy seems to be elsewhere right now, other than in "making," and I guess that's going to be okay for a while.
Yeah, I've felt that from time to time. I truly enjoy making things with my hands, but since I do it so much for work (and then write about it, make videos about it, podcast about it), I have to take extra care to not turn it into an obligation. It's pretty hard to maintain joy with something if you secretly resent it.
Hey Sarai, lovely to receive your thoughtful post. I’ve missed these. Maybe change the bit at the bottom about receiving a post each week—in light of your new pace!
Sarai, you have adopted a life wisdom. A life-wisdom moment came to me when we got a dog 30 years ago. Kelly stopped to sniff on walks, so knowing she was taking everything in I, being stopped, started noticing all the outdoor beauty.
It's such a gift, the way animals reflect the world back to us.
I'm so glad you read the book! It was profound to me as well, and I tend to reread parts of it every year as a tune up. Can't wait to hear more about your journey!
Thank you so much for the rec! I listened to the audio book, which I really liked. I might buy a paper version to refer back to, like you. I'm going to write more about the declutter soon!
So glad to hear from you. I know I spend too much time in front of screens. I end up not doing what I really want to do.
They have a way of hijacking attention, that's for sure. I think we need a bit of a spirit of defiance.
So good to have you back in which ever way you make it! I have loved reading your writing since back to your blogs posts for Collette. You have a unique and comforting voice that is special to hear. Thank you.
Wow, thank you, Stella!
Welcome back! I was just thinking about this blog and wondering when, or if, you would come back to it. Your writing seems to reach out to touch and inspire me at all the right times and in all the right ways. We unexpectedly lost our ten year old Golden Retriever, Eli, on Sunday. "Aliveness" resonates because it reminds me there is joy after sadness, hope after despair and life after loss. Eli will live on in our hearts, even though right now the memories are mixed with tears. I'll work on my own renewal this winter so I can be full of "aliveness" come spring. Give Lucy and Gordy BIG hugs, and write again soon. Thank you.
I'm so sorry, Kim. It is so painful to lose a beloved pet. I wish you healing.
A while ago... a few years?... I discovered that my "hobbies" were hanging over my head as to-do's. Obligations. They added to my anxiety. So decided to only do them if I wanted to. Most of the time I don't actually experience a desire to make something long enough to actually start it, which is an interesting feeling. Since my hobbies weren't connected in any way to a paid position, I haven't had any obligation to pick them up again. Unless, say, my teenager wanted to make an outfit for a concert and discovered halfway through that she didn't, in fact, have implicit knowledge of how to sew silky fabric on my machine. I'm still working on the guilt for having tools and stashes of various materials and media that I'm not using. However, now the teenager is shopping my stash for her own creative projects, so there's that. My energy seems to be elsewhere right now, other than in "making," and I guess that's going to be okay for a while.
Yeah, I've felt that from time to time. I truly enjoy making things with my hands, but since I do it so much for work (and then write about it, make videos about it, podcast about it), I have to take extra care to not turn it into an obligation. It's pretty hard to maintain joy with something if you secretly resent it.
Hey Sarai, lovely to receive your thoughtful post. I’ve missed these. Maybe change the bit at the bottom about receiving a post each week—in light of your new pace!
Good point, I'll see what the new cadence is like and update appropriately!