Joining in with Kat and some amazing fellow travelers in Blogging the Artist's Way.
When I first saw Kat mention that she was doing it, I was reluctant. I already have a writing practice (ok, so i've slacked off a little bit since i started the job), and I facilitate writing groups (so my thinking is: do i really need this?). Besides I went through The Artists Way years ago. (ok, so i did it solo. and i did stop doing everything but the morning pages after about the 5th week - but after having a practice of writing a few times a week for years, i got in the groove of writing [nearly] every day, and that habit has stuck ...). But the prevailing thought that kept me from wanting to take the plunge: I've got enough stuff going on in my life - I barely find enough time to blog much it is ... where's the room for this?
And that's what decided it for me.
There's not a lot of room (or i don't make a lot of room) for creative exploration and expression, but when I consider the things that are most important to me, my creative exploration and expression are damn high on the list. And I don't give them nearly the amount of time and attention that I'd like.
Now, in its relatively short life, this blog has been a pretty cool addition to my creative soup. I'm finding my blogging feet - so far my blog experience has been some combo of collage, internet pen pal-ing, sorta-autobiography, computer performance art, a different sort of writing practice, pop-culture deconstruction ... but I really don't know what the point is. Or if there is one. Or if there has to be.
So what I've decided for the time being is this: I'll play and let it unfold. And that's what I'm also doing with the re-thinking (remaking for the zillionth time) of my work-life ... and life in general right now. Trying to be organic about it. (trying not to be impatient)
(but damn ... haven't i figured it out yet? grrr.)
(breathe, breathe, breathe...)
... yes, just trying to let it unfold as best I can ... giving it room and space. (and structure too cause man, i need more than my share of that. like the blog title says: i spend a lot of time entertaining infinity: "hmm...well THIS option seems interesting. but what about that? ... on the other hand, i don't know. ooh, look; what was that sparkly thing? that's kinda interesting too...") ...
(but i digress...).
Oy...what was I saying? Ah yes, that in order to give things room to grow, I need to give it/me/them space and time. (with a little structure, duh.)
And so, Blogging the Artists Way. (perfect timing for my creative & personal exploration, wrapped in the frou-frou of 'just another thing I don't have time for...')
I'm already feeling slightly slack-ish about what I'm doing compared to all the other energy and postings I'm seeing on the other participating blogs out there. (and here's where i can hear the internalized voices of people in the 12 step rooms: "don't go comparing your insides to other people's outsides...") (and thank you for sharing. seriously.)
Cause I'm noticing a renewed energy already. Even with the modified artist dates I've had so far this week: the 30 minute walk along the Delaware River (which is about 10 minutes from my office - a really hidden treasure that i don't take near enough advantage of), and shopping for the ingredients to try out a new meal for dinner the other night - which I prepared while listening to an old Moody Blues album (i don't care if it's in cd format; they're still albums to me. [oh god, i really am o-l-d aren't i?]). YUM. These little 'dates' - even though I don't think they're exactly what Julia Cameron had in mind, I don't care. I'm making time, thinking of new ways to play and open up, and I'm making it work for me.
And making time to write every day again? Ohmygod, I love it. I've been sporadic with my writing practice since I started the job, and I miss it so much when I don't do it regularly (and emailing friends, much as it keeps me semi-sane, is not the same ...).
I know Julia Cameron alludes to a honeymoon period with the AW process, but if I'm just on the honeymoon - ya-fuckin'-hoo, I'm going to enjoy it. Feet in the air, champagne a bubblin' ... let's keep going like this till we can't keep going no more. (isn't that what honeymoons are for?)