The prompt from Kat McNally, prompter from August Moon -
Day 2: right now
What is it that you do now?
Today, we’re going to look at where we are, exactly as we are, right now. Grab a pen and a piece of paper; sit down in front of a screen with a keyboard; or dictate into one of those fancy smart phone apps!
Tell us what fills your weeks, days and hours.
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ycled paint center? Check into it -
This has been a summer of house-love. Literally.
I’ve been hating/loving upgrading my house, doing long overdue projects and wooing my house back into the wonderfulness I know she is.
This investment of time has tested me: at a time of year I usually enjoy galavanting about, I’ve been remarkably staid. This made for a grumbling, sweating Julie. It has been interesting to witness my time investment now that the workmen have gone and it has been up to me to deal with painting, scraping, restoring and deciding what stays and what goes now that things are slowly moving back into place.
Every room in my house had holes in the wall of varying sizes and shapes. There was a time I wanted to cry, everyday
I am not rushing in to eliminate the chaos.
I’ve found that tends to simply create more chaos in the long term.
I am intentionally taking my time, allowing the romance between me and these four walls to heat up. It is warm, after all, as I am in Bakersfield without air conditioning when the weather is frequently over 100 degrees, but a new AC Unit is most likely in the offings later this month.
I try not to think about it, though, because it wouldn’t be the first time for me to be disappointed.
Using the 25 year old + wallpaper I tore off the bedroom walls as media for another art project & a poem
The thing is, though, the fixings were on the inside of the walls - the replaced electricity - so there isn’t much to see yet there is: there is new recessed lighting and fancy (for me) dimmers. There are pretty light fixtures and now, in the back bedroom that hasn’t been tastefully loved for more than twenty years that is now freshly painted and looking more loved than it has in the two decades we have “known” each other.
Today I napped. This is rare. I literally fell on the couch with Samuel on the other couch and I slept. And slept. And slept and now I’m still sleepy.
Today I didn’t create much art. I did write two blog posts which is sort of practical art, yes? I did not, however, work on mixed media or art journaling or painting on canvas. I did go to an estate sale and collect material for future projects.
Must have that stash.
Two of my daughters, posing playfully - I always aim to enjoy my children, to love them well & to have them know they are secure in my love.
I invest quite a bit of time in relationships, friendships. I tend to put my friends ahead of myself as I put my children ahead of myself, almost always. This week I told my daughter Katherine about something I went out of my way to do for a friend and she said, “Mom, you really should get the Friend of the Year award.”
I try to keep on “martyr watch” because that is when I know I’ve gone too far.
I’m considering starting an almost conventional new job. I alluded to that very tangentially yesterday. It would mean spending four hours daily writing, but not writing necessarily what I want to write.
Like I said, I’m considering it. Seeing how it fits and seeing if we (possible employer and I) can meet in a place that is good for both of us. I am ready to negotiate. Their first idea of a salary was met with hearty disdain. I was surprised by my own disgust and my willingness to tell the man he was pretty much out of his mind.
We’ll see what we can work out and if it fits for me.
It feels good to be in the space of detachment, absolutely.
I spend time daily creating for challenges on Instagram and on my blog. I have discovered challenges really help grow my creative flow. They help me to see differently, like I have heard drawing does.
Comedy & Tragedy: the intention is for passionate performances, well received.
I need to increase the amount of time I spend on theater pursuits. I have two short plays I am directing and then there is the Scottish play which starts rehearsal in two weeks. I need to start memorizing. I want to do well and I want it to flow rather than perplex me.
Today I noticed the light slant differently as the sun set which told me autumn is coming. It felt so extraordinary to notice, like my personal sun-whisper, “It’s been a summer of blistering sweaty house-love and soon you will be wrapped in a quilt of love-in-return.”
The slanted light felt like a new beginning.
I’m going to continue to study my time. This quarter is bound to be a blessing rich one, especially when I reconsider my intention from yesterday’s post:
My intention: to allow each of these moments in my near history to be experienced as sacred and holy, to approach them with an open boldness and a willingness to feel whatever is calling to be felt and to create with passionate attachment.
How do you spend your time?
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Kat McNally, that lovely lady and gently nudging creative muse is hosting #augustmoon2014 and I'm playing along once again! There is a link in the graphic above and this little blurb is hot wired in, too! Join the contemplative writing joy!
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Julie Jordan Scott is a writer, performance poet, Mommy and mixed-media artist. Coming soon - more creativity camps, playgrounds and workshops to grow yourself artistically (and hey, just for fun!)
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