Life has felt really strange lately- honestly I have had a rough couple of weeks- I have had one foot in my work life and another in my life as an artist- quite honestly it has taken a toll on me- transitioning into a new job, working on art, trying to catch up with stuff, maintaining a personal life, keeping up my work-out routine...it feels like too much at times. I have had a number of “melt downs” the latest being on Friday when I locked myself out of the house as I was getting ready for work in the morning. I completely FREAKEd out and when that happens I typically call my mom- so while I was waiting 2 hours for my husband to come home to let me in I called my mom and lost it- she always gives good advice and she talked me down and ended our conversation by telling me to try not “pull the whole list out” which is what happens when I melt down- the whole list comes out with everything that feels wrong in my world. Unfortunately my list was already out and has been out for the last two weeks and quite honestly it is bringing me down! I have spent far too many hours questioning, aching and feeling overwhelmed and after a couple of hours shedding tears on friday I decided this had to end. I don't have a lot of answers right now but I do know that I have lots to be thankful for and like I have always done in times of struggle- I return to my core and I let myself get lost in creating and while I had lots of projects to work on this weekend I found time to get my hands dirty and spent time painting big (my fave!) and painting for the mere purpose of the process and it actually made me feel better :) Now it is Monday and I am not sure if the 2 hour cry on Friday made me feel better or if I just needed to reach the bottom of my internal struggle and just give up on thinking so much and embrace the now. 
Sunday, August 17, 2008
The List
Life has felt really strange lately- honestly I have had a rough couple of weeks- I have had one foot in my work life and another in my life as an artist- quite honestly it has taken a toll on me- transitioning into a new job, working on art, trying to catch up with stuff, maintaining a personal life, keeping up my work-out routine...it feels like too much at times. I have had a number of “melt downs” the latest being on Friday when I locked myself out of the house as I was getting ready for work in the morning. I completely FREAKEd out and when that happens I typically call my mom- so while I was waiting 2 hours for my husband to come home to let me in I called my mom and lost it- she always gives good advice and she talked me down and ended our conversation by telling me to try not “pull the whole list out” which is what happens when I melt down- the whole list comes out with everything that feels wrong in my world. Unfortunately my list was already out and has been out for the last two weeks and quite honestly it is bringing me down! I have spent far too many hours questioning, aching and feeling overwhelmed and after a couple of hours shedding tears on friday I decided this had to end. I don't have a lot of answers right now but I do know that I have lots to be thankful for and like I have always done in times of struggle- I return to my core and I let myself get lost in creating and while I had lots of projects to work on this weekend I found time to get my hands dirty and spent time painting big (my fave!) and painting for the mere purpose of the process and it actually made me feel better :) Now it is Monday and I am not sure if the 2 hour cry on Friday made me feel better or if I just needed to reach the bottom of my internal struggle and just give up on thinking so much and embrace the now.
I KNOW this feeling Alisa and it's scary, isn't it? I really think sometimes you need to just cry but also like your Mum said, just get back to basics and take it down a notch. I find when I am overwhelmed in this way I make a list of things I need to do - in no particular order and with no deadline written next to it.
ReplyDeleteFor example:
1. Art assignment.
2. Management assignment.
3. Laundry.
4. Make art for fun.
5. Unpack suitcase from holiday (yes the one I got home from in July)
6. Ring doctor to make appointment
7. Go shopping and buy cool fabric and make a new skirt.
etc ect you get the idea
Big stuff and little stuff, with room to add stuff if I need. Then as I do each thing, regardless of how long it takes, you just get a big fat black texta and cross it off. Taking things one step at a time. I know this is what I do when I am feeling overwhelmed (which is, like, ALL the TIME!) and I always add fun stuff to my TO DO list so I don't get overwhelmed all over again.
Keep your chin up girl, this has been a big year for you and you're doing GREAT.
xo
Your such a "human" LOL i feel that us artists have extra stress on us than other people because we try to balance our need for art as well as life, we have it extra hard. Angelica
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