“But now I realize that the only way to find your voice is to use it. It’s hardwired, built into you. Talk about the things you love. Your voice will follow." Austin Kleon "Show Your Work!"

“But now I realize that the only way to find your voice is to use it. It’s hardwired, built into you. Talk about the things you love. Your voice will follow.” Austin Kleon “Show Your Work!”

I’ve been watching announcements and feeling collective anticipation for The 100 Days Project amongst the online artist community that I follow.  I could tell it was a thing.  Truth is, I by and large, ignore those types of group activities.  I tend to go find my own way.  Mainly, because I will not be rushed.  I typically don’t like other people’s structure or pace and at 51, I’m unapologetic about that.  For crying out loud, I get paid dollars to help people identify their way of walking in the world.  I create my own containers for creating.  And, quite frankly, I’ve been “making” consistently, as in daily, for several years now.   So I was cool skipping over the beautiful watercolor letters that were persistently showing up in my feeds.

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And then my friend Cynthia posted this about her 100 Day Project:

“…At first I wanted something deep that would teach me something new or stretch my ability. However, I have a lot of soul work happening now and in lot of growing on the technical side as well. So I decided to keep it simple and ground into an practice that keeps me centered.”

Cynthia is 100% authentic.  It’s one of my favorite things about her.  Her words and way are her own.  Hers is one of the voices that I let in.  So I listened.

Something deep that would teach me something new or stretch my ability. 

That phrase got my attention.

The thing that she put down, called out to me.  It asked me to pick it up.  I had already been chewing on the idea.  I’d saved a screen shot of the project.  I had a scribbled note in my journal.  I was experiencing a persistent noticing.

This morning it struck me again.

Something deep that would teach me something new or stretch my ability. 

What would stretch my ability?

SHARING

I don’t struggle with the making; I struggle with the sharing.

My discipline-infused practice is overflowing with soul work and teaching and pages and paintings, but it’s not out in the world.

So, for the next 100 days, I’m going to share.

My precious creative practice allows me to shake off angst and distill Joy, Beauty and Gratitude down to a healing elixir for my soul.

I make pages and move paint and write words every damn day.  I observe my soul and the world I live in.  My practice keeps me sane and oriented.

I established my practice because I needed to heal.  And I’ve been keeping it to myself because I’m private and because rejection sucks and because honestly, it doesn’t always occur to me to share the process.

The impulse to keep to yourself what you have learned is not only shameful, it is destructive. Anything you do not give freely and abundantly becomes lost to you. You open your safe and find ashes.” —Annie Dillard

Good word, Annie Dillard.  Good word.  The healing season is over.  It’s time to move.  To share.  To activate and risk.  I’m going to unwrap whatever daily product there is from it’s private, perfectionistic wrapper and offer it to you.  I’m going to take my practice

[and my heart and soul] and turn it inside out like the pockets of my favorite jeans.  I expect some days there will be nothing but a handful of metaphorical lint and other days there will be treasure.

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Today I:

  • shared morning coffee with two of the Brilliants.
  • wrote 3 pages of the true ramblings of my heart and mind with a black pen on brown craft paper.
  • arranged flowers from my garden [purple iris in several shades, some of which smell like grape kool aid]

Iris in April

  • took photos of said flowers
  • shared my first #100sharesproject post.

Feel free to follow this project.  Or create a focus of your own.  Or not.  What do you need?  What will serve you in this season.   My deepest heart’s desire is that you know your Self and tend to your soul.

Listen deep.

Make your thing.

Inhale some inspiration.

BE in your life,

Betsy