Simply Sunday - May 28

Kites, index card art, writerly books, 80s music, Illustrate Your Week, and more

“True courage is like a kite; a contrary wind raises it higher.”–Jean Antoine Petit–Sennpetit–Senn

Good morning and happy Sunday!

As someone who always thinks things are “real,” things feel especially “real” these days. I think of a kite stuck in a tree where it is lodged, nestled, caught by wind and circumstance. There was, at some point, a dance, a spinning, belief and hope and a dream. There is something poetic about a kite stuck in a tree, the flash of red or yellow against earthy greens and browns, poetic, but also sad. We can piece together the unspoken story, a giddy running with the wind, the twist and flow of the diamond-studded tail. We can guess at the trajectory, map invisible dashed lines in the air to approximate the starting point, triangulate the moment. When did you last fly a kite? 

// I remember a little boy, one moment on a beach, and a kite in winds that lifted him from the ground as it pulled away.//

Once lodged, there may still be winds that blow through, and sometimes there is shaking from the bottom of the tree, an attempt at recovery. Rarely is that enough. A stuck kite becomes part of the landscape, sometimes only barely visible, flashes of color that were intended for sky.

Metaphors and images are all jumbled this week. Kites get stuck, forgotten, discarded. There is the sense that no matter how much things feel like they are blowing us around, we remain still, rooted to the ground, and yet caught in a tailspin at the same time. 

//Outer stillness in the face of chaos is the irony.//

I’m picturing a white, weathered fence post in a dusty, open field somewhere, wind blowing through. Why this image? I don’t know. Why would there be a single fence post? When I picture this post, it is with vivid blue skies and white clouds. It is crisp. It is bright. It is open. It is resigned and accepting and at peace. It is not a post in a storm. There is something about this post, standing…

Things are spinning us around, blowing through, a storm that has been brewing for years is just off the coast. Every day seems to bring new worry, new realization of a mountain of problems we don’t even begin to know how to solve. And there are words. New words. Simple words. Words put into the air that become part of the gathering clouds. Some people write those words, use those words to process, to gain attention, to reach out for help. I can’t. I can’t bring myself to write the words. Instead, I find myself mulling over kites and fence posts, islands and rocks and weeds and lichen and ivy that threatens to topple the fence. 

//Someday, the words will fall, leaves from the tree that holds a faded, once-red kite.//

I know there are countless kites that have been stuck, lost, and abandoned in trees. Everyone has a story. From the outside, these stories often look similar. But each is an individual story of the dance and of loss. 

//I strive for balance. I strive to remain still and strong. I find these words hard to write, even as layered and oblique as they are. I am grateful.//

Thankfully there are still those moments that are surreal or unexpected or whimsical. There are silly moments and jokes (even bad ones) and a dozen free donuts for graduates. Appreciating that there is a balance is important, and the illustrated journal becomes a place for capturing bits and pieces, the now and the then. 

//Am I the kite or the person who lost the kite? Or both?//

Knowing this week that I might not have time for a longer mailing, for an essay, or for something unexpected, I worried about how to fill this space. I started a small list, the short kind, the popular kind. I always think I will send you just five things, five small bullet points. But already, you’ve tumbled with a kite and been confused by the appearance of a lone post.

These are not finished words or images that have been fully crafted and honed and sorted out and put to a test of philosophers, syllogisms, and red herrings. Instead, this is the spilling and the spillage. I always hope that something reaches you, that the words bring whispers and echoes within, that you stop to think and remember, and that maybe you look to your creative habits and art as a grounding process, a point of balance. 

A few things today:

• Music from Air

• After Write for Life

• Prompts for Illustrate Your Week 22

• Reflecting on ICAD

• A note on subscriptions

Air and 80s Music

We watched Air, the new Ben Affleck movie (with Matt Damon and Jason Bateman) about Nike and the signing of Michael Jordan in 1984. I really enjoyed it, and I especially enjoyed the soundtrack. If you grew up in that timeframe, you might have found it nostalgic, too. I pulled up the playlist later. I didn’t know all of the songs (I wasn’t ever very cool), but some had resonance. Here are a few from the movie:

• “Money for Nothing” by Dire Straits

• “Legs” by ZZ Top

• “All I Need is a Miracle” by Mike + The Mechanics

• “Can’t Fight This Feeling” by REO Speedwagon

• “In a Big Country” by Big Country

• “Time After Time” by Cyndi Lauper

• “Born in the U.S.A.” by Bruce Springsteen

• “Good Feeling” by Violent Femmes

Tracking through the playlist, I started looking at other 80s lists and finding other songs that somehow take me back in that these melodies, snatches of lyrics, are a part of me, a part of years I have lost, but the music is an echo. I added a few picks to a playlist I am continuing to build. What are some of your favorite 80s tracks? 

In the Wake of Write for Life

Having finished the Write for Life read-along, I felt the empty space where the shared reading had been. I don’t typically read a lot of books like this. I am not new to writing, but I kept feeling that empty spot. I spent time looking for a similar next read. I scanned a number of book lists and looked at summaries of many “writerly” books or books on the craft of writing. Many are short, and nothing really jumped out as something that might work for a group. I tried to sort out what I enjoyed about the possibility of Write for Life, and I think it was related to the feeling that it was actionable, that there was a system, concrete things to try, and a count (six weeks). From a group perspective, the weekly format was particularly read-along-friendly. A read-along relies on the ability to have everyone read at the same time and check in, as opposed to a book club, where everyone meets up at the end of the month to talk about the book all at once. I think read-alongs invite us to read with more intentionality, more focus, and more reflection. 

I have pulled, reserved, and marked a number of titles on writing, creativity, and productivity. Many of the books I put on hold are books that I’ve read bits of before or know the highlights of even without having fully read them, titles like Atomic Habits, but they make my list right now. I think I’m going to read Stephen King's well-known On Writing first. I have The Writing Life by Annie Dillard out, too. I am not looking for answers and instruction. Instead, I find comfort in reading that is somehow parallel to my current mindset. I was going to share a list here, but I decided to hold it. If you have favorite non-fiction titles to recommend, or nonfiction picks that are on your “to read” list, please share in the comments. 

“I am a kite in a tornado, but I have a long string.”–Karen Marie Moning

Illustrate Your Week — Week 22

The new prompts for Week 22 have been posted.

Index-Card-A-Day (ICAD)

The Index-Card-a-Day (ICAD) challenge from Tammy at Daisy Yellow starts June 1. This is a great annual challenge and one that might surprise you! I encourage everyone looking for a daily challenge or looking to nurture a creative habit to do ICAD. If you have ever been curious about working on a series, this is a good challenge for that.

What am I doing this year?

Index-Card-A-Day (ICAD) 2023

Question—Goodbye May

What was the highlight of May for you? (I often find isolating a highlight difficult. If that’s you, I understand! But maybe there is a journal page in this question for you. Monthly reflection or recap pages can be really nice to close out a month.)

Spread the Love

I am always aware that I am a tiny, tiny fish and that the big fish swim together. Two substacks I read and hope you will also give a chance are:

• Trish Tails (daily comic)

• Becoming (weekly musings on life)

So much more made my list for this week, but this is so very, very long. 

I hope you have a beautiful Sunday and week and transition from May to June. 

Amy

A Note About Subscriptions—And a Thank You

Thank you to those who have continued to follow along even as I’ve been a bit absent in recent weeks. Thank you to those who sent positive thoughts when I mentioned I had an eye procedure last week. Thank you to those who have supported the CMP and my work for many years. Next week is a milestone week for me and the podcast. I haven’t taken a breath yet to really think about it. But I know it’s there, just beyond the borders of this “weekly” construct.

I quietly turned on subscriptions this week. I didn’t get all of the steps in place, but somehow, a few of you noticed, and I am so grateful for the belief you’ve shown in this substack and my writing. I have always been incredibly awkward about garnering support for my work. I know that I have to change my mindset. So, thank you.

I also know that subscription-based models are not for everyone and not possible for everyone. I am sensitive to that reality. I am grateful to those who choose to support with a paid subscription. There is no pressure to make that choice, and nothing has changed. I am grateful to everyone who has signed up so far to receive this mailing (and the free Illustrate Your Week prompts). 

If I had two “markers of growth” goals for the next 20+ days before my birthday, they would be to hit a certain next number here on the substack and also to hit a next number at Instagram. These are not “lofty” goals. Each would represent only very minor growth relative to others. But each would be a boost. 

If you can help by sharing the substack or my Instagram with friends who might find value or inspiration in following my art, reading my words, listening to my podcast, or trying Illustrate Your Week, I would appreciate it greatly.

Subscriptions not your thing? Donations are always appreciated.

(Please note: Links to books or tools referenced in posts are Amazon affiliate links that help support these projects.)