I enjoyed reading this post, and I could relate to so many parts of it.
I am in a funk as well, and I feel like it frequently happens this time of year. I think it used to be triggered by the end of the school year (I went from student to teacher), so the majority of my life has been based on that schedule. Even as a homeschool family, we are still affected to some degree. That sudden loss of routine has always left me feeling adrift and unsettled.
It is harder this year because I was already struggling with anxiety, depression, and extreme burnout before summer started.
As for my illustrated journal, I feel like I am barely skimming the surface of my life. I feel a strong need to get what I am feeling and experiencing out of my head, but it scares me, so I don’t. I think maybe reading some art therapy books might help.
I can picture things easily in my mind, but I get extremely frustrated that my fingers can’t do what my brain tells them to do!! Even though I can see the thing, I still need reference photos or drawings. It might be like needing captions on the tv, even though I can hear the words.
Please don’t take this the wrong way, but while I do find Temple Grandin fascinating, she espouses eugenics, to eliminate the autistics that have higher support needs, and can’t contribute to society in the traditional way (working a job, etc.)
You have inspired me to go back and reread “Syllabus,” and the book about comics is on my wish list. I have a TBR book on my nightstand called, “Stop Overthinking.” I should get to that.
The guitar?!! What a leap in size from the sweet ukulele. (I went the opposite - from trying the guitar in my teens...to a tenor ukulele in my 60s!) I do understand the feeling of wanting to try everything though. What next Amy? The piano :) Happy Sunday to you.
I love my rainbow multicolor pencil! The best ones imho have lead in a rainbow like a color wheel. I can easily jot down the most amazing rainbow shifts to fill corners of my journal. I have some that are like “confetti” color mix and those feel very chaotic.
Wow! If you haven’t seen Impromptu, you should watch it right away. I can get it for free on Hoopla, through my local library. It’s one of my all-time favorites. I got so caught up in researching rainbow pencils that I almost didn’t get to that part of your post.
My funk is that I really want to do some quilting, and then I feel like I have to write first. The woman for whom I’ve been making a quilt for like three years is coming to visit on Friday, and I’m hoping to have the backing done so that we can layer it. Because of the MS, it’s hard for me to do things like that by myself.
I don’t think I have seen it, Fran! Thank you for the recommendation. I really hope you are/were able to layer the quilt with your friend this week. That is a task better served by multiple hands anyway. I understand the pull to do other things - always a picking and choosing and a balancing.
I wanted to comment on your post earlier this week - but comments are off. I loved the chameleon intro.... and I really loved the magpie imagery. Happy writing.
I enjoyed reading this post, and I could relate to so many parts of it.
I am in a funk as well, and I feel like it frequently happens this time of year. I think it used to be triggered by the end of the school year (I went from student to teacher), so the majority of my life has been based on that schedule. Even as a homeschool family, we are still affected to some degree. That sudden loss of routine has always left me feeling adrift and unsettled.
It is harder this year because I was already struggling with anxiety, depression, and extreme burnout before summer started.
As for my illustrated journal, I feel like I am barely skimming the surface of my life. I feel a strong need to get what I am feeling and experiencing out of my head, but it scares me, so I don’t. I think maybe reading some art therapy books might help.
I can picture things easily in my mind, but I get extremely frustrated that my fingers can’t do what my brain tells them to do!! Even though I can see the thing, I still need reference photos or drawings. It might be like needing captions on the tv, even though I can hear the words.
Please don’t take this the wrong way, but while I do find Temple Grandin fascinating, she espouses eugenics, to eliminate the autistics that have higher support needs, and can’t contribute to society in the traditional way (working a job, etc.)
You have inspired me to go back and reread “Syllabus,” and the book about comics is on my wish list. I have a TBR book on my nightstand called, “Stop Overthinking.” I should get to that.
The guitar?!! What a leap in size from the sweet ukulele. (I went the opposite - from trying the guitar in my teens...to a tenor ukulele in my 60s!) I do understand the feeling of wanting to try everything though. What next Amy? The piano :) Happy Sunday to you.
I love my rainbow multicolor pencil! The best ones imho have lead in a rainbow like a color wheel. I can easily jot down the most amazing rainbow shifts to fill corners of my journal. I have some that are like “confetti” color mix and those feel very chaotic.
Wow! If you haven’t seen Impromptu, you should watch it right away. I can get it for free on Hoopla, through my local library. It’s one of my all-time favorites. I got so caught up in researching rainbow pencils that I almost didn’t get to that part of your post.
My funk is that I really want to do some quilting, and then I feel like I have to write first. The woman for whom I’ve been making a quilt for like three years is coming to visit on Friday, and I’m hoping to have the backing done so that we can layer it. Because of the MS, it’s hard for me to do things like that by myself.
I don’t think I have seen it, Fran! Thank you for the recommendation. I really hope you are/were able to layer the quilt with your friend this week. That is a task better served by multiple hands anyway. I understand the pull to do other things - always a picking and choosing and a balancing.
I wanted to comment on your post earlier this week - but comments are off. I loved the chameleon intro.... and I really loved the magpie imagery. Happy writing.