Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Creative Every Day 2009

This has been one heckuva year. We moved across country, bought a house, watched the economy go bust, watched friends lose jobs, homes & family members. In my own home we have dealt with drug addiction (son's), rehab (son's), a new dog (life savior), a new job...and the list goes on and on.

On the upside, we voted in a new, and dare I say, biracial president who is MY AGE!!!!!! He's not perfect (smokes cigarettes), has kids with allergies (they're not perfect either) and has a wife with big hips! You just gotta love that family.

As for art...I felt like I was losing my Muse. She was getting darn sick and tired of doing art for everyone else, so she has taken many a holiday. It has caused me days in my studio feeling frustrated and depressed. When I needed her most, she bailed!

Many of my Round Robins and Tip-Ins are coming to an end in the next month. So I decided to make a New Year's resolution that I can live with. I'm going to take on the Creative Every Day 2009 Challenge (see link at right). I'm going to do it for ME. I'm going to do it to get emotionally, mentally and physically healthy. I think about all that I have given up and done for others this year while I have gone to hell in a hand basket (figuratively, that is).

Click on the link if you feel you want to do something for yourself this year. It doesn't need to be art; it can be photos, poetry, a list...anything. But it should all be based around a WORD that will be your guide for the year. My word is

RELEASE

I need to release my anger at my son. I need to release my resentment from my early "retirement" from a job I loved. I need to release my sadness from moving away from close friends. I also need to release my creative soul; I NEED to be free of the things that upset me the most...RELEASE them and let them go somewhere far, far away.

I'm typically a very upbeat person, so I can release positive energy when I want and release that negative energy when the poop hits the fan. But I just love this word...RELEASE...rolls off the tongue like a wave in the ocean...

So join me, won't you? Let me know if you decide to do this. I think it will be a positive trip for all of us. Pick that word or theme. Do something positive for yourself. Be Creative Every Day!!!

Have a happy, healthy and creative 2009!

Love,
sandee

6 comments:

peggy gatto said...

I am with you!

Jill said...

Happy New Year, Sandee! Maybe our muses are off on holiday together? LOL! Probably having glasses of wine on some beach...

The first word, for me, that came to mind was "Whatever" and I think that's just a reflection of being tired and worn out and doing the p/t single mom thing and working and my long commute...but I AM SO GRATEFUL to have those things in my life to complain about when so many others are losing those very things. So "grateful" would be my word for '09.

Joanne Huffman said...

Sandee, I have cut out many swaps and am much happier for it; I'm really with you on the creating art for yourself thing (although, I have to say the 8 days swap was one of the best I've ever been in and would do anything with this group again). I hope the new year brings you many great joys and small adventures.

Joanne

Andre' Gensburger said...

Hey Sandee, we miss you and wish that we could be there with you. It has been a helluva year. I refuse to just let go. Wanna chat?
Love Andre.

Kathryn Costa said...

I tip my hat off to you for making time for *YOU.* It sounds like you've had one heck of a 2008. Creating for yourself will be very healing. I love the word Release. I need to find my word for the year. Last year I moved some pretty big mountains. I have some mountains to move this year, but I'm interested in dancing and playing. I think I may have just discovered what that word shall be. Kaizen! Kaizen is the Japanese philosophy of taking small steps to work towards change. A friend who introduced me to the concept often signs off her e-mails with the words, "gentle steps." Thanks for letting me brainstorm in this little comment box.

Here's to finding our way in 2009!

Carol Stocker said...

Dear sweet Sandee....what a wonderful word...you're right "release" just rolls off the tongue AND when you think about it, it has so many meanings. Each definition might pertain to different aspects of your life...here are a just a few to inspire you; merchandise issued for sale or public showing, the act of liberating someone or something, let go of, free, let something fall or spill from a container, dismissal, to exhaust, eliminate, secrete, a device that when pressed will release part of a mechanism, an activity that frees or expresses creative energy or emotion, to part with a possession or right, to spill, to unblock.

Sandy, as you let things go, may you also find everything you are looking for. Hugs and love...your friend, Carol