I’m sitting in a coffee shop with my sketchbook, drawing the mugs hanging above the counter. I take out my water pen and rub it over the graphite pencil sketch to make it look more artsy. That feels pleasurable, and I sigh. I finally understand what my writing clients have been experiencing for years. They have gone from ... continue reading
How NOT to do a Creative Sabbatical
I had been looking forward to a week-long creative sabbatical for quite a while. It was time to begin my vision for the upcoming year. I saw myself slipping into the silence, doing some inspirational reading and writing, and listening as insights from my muse poured in. It seemed so simple. I began the first day, lit a ... continue reading
Losing Our GPS, Finding Ourselves
Several years ago, I did something I’ve never done before. I got in my car and headed West. I had no set plan or timetable. There were no major catastrophes happening in my life. But I was still transitioning between an old me with kids at home to a new empty nest me, and I had no idea how that looked. Also, I had been kind ... continue reading
Gifting Yourself with Blissful Space
“What makes a fire burn Is space between the logs, A breathing space. Too much of a good thing, Too many logs Packed in too tight Can douse the flames Almost as surely As a pail of water would.” How many logs are you packing in this holiday season? In my recent mini-retreat, women shared some of the things they ... continue reading
Smashing Through Our Blocks
I still remember washing dishes and hearing a loud crash outside the house. Hands still wet, I ran out to the driveway to find my husband perched atop a stepladder, boombox blaring, hurling ceramic pots he had made onto the driveway (I don’t think that’s what they mean when they say “hand thrown" pots!). Just ... continue reading