Value? Process. Choice.

Value. Mess. Or both.

Once again, it’s been a second since I’ve posted. Too be honest, I’ve been afraid. Of writing and what to write.

I don’t have any fully or even partially-baked thoughts to share. Everything is a work-in-progress or even less. So my overarching thought has been, “Why share?” Is there any value in showing the mess? Is there anything useful in showing the steps along the way.

And the fear, of whether or not it’s worth sending something to your inbox – something that shows (or tells you) I am adrift (but paddling like hell), that fear, has kept me from writing. But then I got to thinking.

Aren’t we all making it up day by day and seeing what sticks against the wall? So, here we are. I decided to share a bit of the mess. Because maybe someone else is working through the mess too. And sometimes it’s nice to know you have a buddy that’s paddling like hell right along with you.

So, if I were my own best friend, I’d tell myself to share a bit of the mess. Because I’ve struggled and climbed and gutted my way to this point in my life, to realize, we’re all just making it up as we go along. Some of us are simply more shiny and polished than others.

Welcome to the unpolished mess. May you find value in it.

Behind the scenes – process.

I’m making art. I keep playing with different media and styles. I generally use brushes but you’d never know by looking at my hands at the end. I swear I’m not painting with my fingers.

I’m obsessed with texture. I’m also obsessed with using different tools I find around the house to make said texture. And color – I love lots of color. It’s a process. This whole making art, figuring out what you like, and playing with it – it’s a process (a really fun one). When’s the last time you played?

Making a choice.

I was listening to a podcast in which Gretchen Rubin was being interviewed. She had this great quote about “if you have a choice, choose the bigger life.” I think that’s what I’m doing right now with art. I’m choosing what feels like the bigger life to me.

Adding more color. And a little creativity. Sometimes some glitter. And it turns out, time spent on the page (even on the days when I don’t feel like drawing), that’s the bigger life, for me. What about you? If you can, are you choosing the bigger life?

Something extra.

I haven’t got a tattoo yet. Not because I don’t want one. Mostly because I haven’t felt strongly enough about something/anything to ink it on my body. But this idea of choosing the bigger life, this might be my first tattoo.

It holds up in so many places where I have to make decisions. Ice cream or salad? Sprinklers or yard work? Fluffy romance book or serious nonfiction read? Going out or watching baking shows on the couch? So far, when I choose what feels like the bigger life to me, it leads to really great adventures, memories, and frankly, a bigger life.

This blog is a hand-crafted, heart-centered piece of work written by a human (not AI). The writing is my own, as are the mistakes and (inevitable) typos. Thank you for supporting a human who writes things. And paints things.

Any products mentioned in this blog are things I wanted to share. I don’t receive any compensation. They are simply things I liked and/or choose to write about.