Finding an Art Friend

Yesterday I had the chance to talk at length with someone about some of the really "out there" ideas I have of projects I want to do. For well over an hour, she just let me go in a scattershot manner, covering galaxies of genres, narrow the focus for a while, then launch off into another dimension all together. No arched eyebrows, no grimaces of polite uncertainty, no sighs of impending heartbreak---she would hear the excitement in my voice, and ask me another question to give me a chance to hear my own passion when describing it. "Details, give me details," she said, like what can I do tomorrow (today) to get this in motion, who can I call right away, have I added a completion list in the sketch book to go along with all of the lists of potentialities I add there every day? After the first 45 minutes, I had uncovered enough ground to actually reveal what the big goal is for me, the 'not playing it safe' goal, and she just gasped--"Now I have goosebumps, now we're getting somewhere, how long has this been hiding in you?"

I'm jazzed, invigorated, ready to go, en fuego, re-prioritized, break out the art supplies!

The other thing I realized (again) is how essential it is to have a parallel reflection in your world when you are striking out on a new path. Not a yesman, or polite nodding and hand patting, but a source of enthusiasm, someone who understands how important this new venture is to you, and is a safe chat spot in the whirlwind of day to day life. The whole idea of 'coaching' comes to mind, and I did consider that, but sometimes it's even simpler than that, like making a new friend in your new area of exploration, or diving into something together with a friend who is also wanting to shake it up and plant a new flag. The ground rule has to be that staying the same is not the goal or default setting, wanting to be vividly creative is life-enriching and fun!

Okay, 'Art Friend', what does that mean? Does that sound too woo-woo? I'll branch it out---
Writer's Group, Work-out Buddy, Yoga Pal, KnitWits, you get the idea. Someone to speak the jargon with, swap the verbal shorthand, provide the knowing glances, call with breathless messages, open cafe meetings with the best question, "How fabulous are you today?" by getting to the good stuff right away, the new passion? And, I'm sorry, talking about something other than spouses, pets, kids, can we please? So many dimensions, so little time devoted to them.

In my pursuit of all things creative, artistic, exciting, and colorful, and being on a knit-fast, I have been surfing the creative sites for visual snacks and positive reinforcement, inspiration, and pure envy or idea-harvesting. So here are some places to visit that can show us how it looks when the flow is a river and we're doin' it for ourselves (in public) and loving it.

For we who have dreamed of having our own little shop: Reform School Rules

Places where the made by hand of all kinds holds first place: Craftster, whip up, Etsy

Quirky, wonderful, colorful, mad-wild art sites: River Bend, Soule Mama, Junk Market, more to follow...

Gotta go be Groovy Rhubarb, then do some more writing---it's a rainy chilly summer day here in Portland, and I'm actually grateful, no porch time today, no watering, all craft, all artful work all day today.

(serious knitting jonesin' goin' on here, no trips to Yarn Garden, go to Yarn Harlot's site instead)

Life Coach 101

Maybe I have needy friends. Maybe I pontificate way too much. Perhaps my vision is 20-20 when I'm butting in on what isn't my business. Or, frankly, I've been a boss a long time too long and I just am used to telling people what to do. And expecting them to do it.

Two different friends today told me I should be a Life Coach. Was this in the paper this morning, a "Living" section article on this topic? And...I didn't initiate either of these calls. They called me. Two separate hours spent on the most beautiful day of 2007 so far, pointing out strengths, offering alternative ways of looking at things, stating the obvious elephant location, brainstorming, firing up, listening, re-framing and redefining...then I spent 3 hours spinning my wheels on craigslist looking for a job. I even finally scanned the retail category, out of open-mindedness and not wanting to miss the perfect yarn store manager's job. My windows were opened wide, my neighbors were out working in their garden, the sun was feeding my tomato starts, and I'm inside flogging Craig for work. Because these two friends marvelled so at my happy demeanor to such an extent that they almost sounded concerned, that I wasn't worried about job-hunting.

Should I be? Is this my elephant? Should I not be happy? I'm a bit confused.

Finding a free on-demand movie I've never seen with Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee is enough to make me happy. Walking into the Cup & Saucer and getting a booth makes me happy. I'm pretty easy that way. Having the time to write out a long multi-layered dream over coffee in the morning is true happiness. Perhaps I need a Life Coach. What elephant?

Craigslist has dozens of jobs that sound too much like the job I was relieved to be relieved of.
Out-of-box thinking has me looking at every sub-heading, just to be fair to the process, when even I know it is wasting a lot of time, I'm not a machinist. But look at the starting wage...

So I did this little game today, once I shut down the computer and went outside to pick more weeds, chat with neighbors, and breathe fresh, sun-charged breezes. If I was calling my friend Laura, to bounce ideas off her unemployed, coffee-nated head, what would she tell me?

Well, first, would she answer the phone? (Yes! Now she knows it's ME!)

She'd listen, to see if I was still stuck in the same exact place, or have I moved a smidge or a lot since the last time? How do I sound? Open to suggestions, or needing to vent and rant? Is this about working, or about finding meaning to my life from this point? Should we discuss money?
Any clear insights in the last week or so? Any shifts in priorities lately, like hours desired, days desired, prefered locations, bus or car, any whims to explore? How long before I absolutely have to have income? Am I enjoying my time off?

(She sounds like a great Life Coach. Wow, who knew?)

.......to be continued.........