Since 2013 I have been discovering the artist within me. Growing up I was into sports playing hockey, lacrosse, ringette, and so many other sports. I continued to play lacrosse until the age of 60. I loved sports they brought me great joy, nurtured wonderful friendships and they allowed me to release my pent-up feelings. There were so many fabulous memories created as a result of playing sports that I will treasure forever.
I never saw myself or even considered that I could be an artist of any kind. But in the last few years, I have come to love art as much as I love sports. Art allows me to go to a place that takes me away for hours and hours at a time. A space where I am free of any negative feelings, a place where I do not worry about anything or have any cares. I am focused on the process and am grateful.
My grandfather who loved to dabble in artistic endeavours encouraged me to expand my mind and keep learning which I did throughout my life and continue to do so to this day. I love learning thanks to my Papa. He did not invite me to join him in his art, which I love to do with my own adult children, but I am grateful for his influence. I hope that someday my children will look back and see that I modeled a way to have fun, play, escape the worries of the world, and be their own kind of creative whatever that means for them.
Today I get to enjoy some sort of artistic endeavour almost daily. I am rereading The Artists Way on audio this time, which I read when it first came out over 30 years ago. If you haven’t read it, it’s a wonderful inspiring book that allows the artist in you to come out. Even though I was not an artist at the time I can see that the book influenced me in many ways throughout my life.
So for those of you who think I am not an artist, I am not a … trust that you can and believe that the gifts you have are meant to be shared. I am no longer afraid of failure, as a result of my etmooc experience in 2013, now I focus on the process and enjoy the journey. If you overcome your fears in one area ( join an online group focused on tech) you will overcome your fears in all other areas of your life with the collaboration and support of others. I keep learning and am constantly growing open to knowing that I am a work in progress and will be until the day I die.
The artist within me is alive and knows that I must continue to stay centered allowing new ideas and creative experiences to flow through me. I can’t wait to see what happens next. I hope you will too. Nurture the artist within.
Counsellor Talk : Connecting with those who want to make a difference. 