Yesterday I was scheduling coffee with a friend and a few appointment errands coming up and I had to turn my February day planner page over to MARCH. March?
February has been a recovery and restore month. Recovering from the cold-travel-flu sandwich, the over extending, the trade shows, the workshops, the family and friend visiting, the work deadlines, all of it which I adore and wouldn’t have any other way but it’s the teensy bit possible that I overdid it in the last several months. Which is why this February has been so sweet in a different way. I have cleared my schedule for painting, focusing on my company’s needs, and taking care of myself. For a short month, the days feel long. I get a lot done. I’m learning new painting skills. Investing in some online marketing skills I previously thought I couldn’t grasp. Addressing the money, honey. Following up on that to-do list I started in…a long time ago. Some movement is lightning fast and I can check it off the list. Some is slow and gradual like painting a thousand flowers and still feeling like a beginner. That’s ok. I keep going.
I painted these roses loose and fast with the remains of my palette. I had fun! Big strokes, flat hard canvas board, no rules, no expectations. I hesitated posting because “it’s not me” or “I don’t paint patterns” or “I don’t paint to the edges” or “it isn’t finished” popped in my head. Then I let it fade away. I like these roses for the very reason I’ve given myself time this month to paint a lot. To experiment with new brushes and paints and techniques. To invest in lessons on WordPress. To learn more about email marketing. To collaborate with a few retailers on new projects. Because I am stretching myself at a pace where the information is sinking in. I’m not rushing and dashing to the next thing, like cramming for a mid-term, passing, then forgetting everything the next day. (Who, moi?)
I’m going slow and this new way of learning and information gathering is great. I don’t know how often I will get a full month of sinking into work and space and alone time like this but I’m noticing its effects. I bought white tulips yesterday at Trader Joe’s. The big bunch. They’re in a glass vase in the living room opening up and flopping over. I bought them because I’ll be here to enjoy them. No rushing, no leaving, no zipping around missing the elegant everyday moments. xo