Hello, August and hello, you.
I kinda feel like there’s so much to tell that I don’t know where to begin. And you might say, well, begin at the beginning. But I’m not sure I know where that beginning actually is. There’s been lots swirling in my mind and heart for so many days (weeks) (months) (years) that the beginnings and endings are no longer clear. And I guess that’s okay, is just the tapestry of my life, of any life... do you ever feel this, too??
One beginning I can tell you about (which includes an ending) is that I’m stepping away from teaching yoga locally. This decision has been a long time coming and, while it wasn’t exactly fraught, it also didn’t come easy. I have loved teaching yoga, have loved (a lot) my students and the small studio where I taught. There is much I’m going to miss in this stepping away. But this stepping away (this ending) is very much a beginning.
It’s a beginning which will allow my head and heart more focused time on writing, on drawing, on photography – on creative expression. These creative practices have always happened in slivers and pockets which, to be honest, have served me well. I’m quite sure that the initial need to work in slivers of time (a necessity of being a mama of little ones) has informed, not just the way I create, but also the way I move through life. My shared practices of paying attention, of feeling grateful, of opening to the tiny moments – all of that grew from quick moments at my desk or behind the lens. I love working in slivers, love the freedom that comes with keeping things small, manageable, and sustainable. But/and it’s time for more.
I’m fortunate to be in a phase of life where I can take a few months for more. I plan to continue with online gatherings (for starters, see below for what’s up next in September). Alongside that... I hope to find a rhythm of writing and sketching, a bit of painting, some photography.
And also: I want to make something.
More specifically, I want to make something that YOU can hold.
This isn’t intended to be a teaser and is far from a launch of anything. I simply want to let you know that this is where I’m at: here, beginning. I hope you’ll join me for the ride. My (loose) plan is to make a book... a chapbook is the thought I carry in my heart right now, probably a limited edition, a small collection of writings paired with images. These images might be colored pencil drawings or paintings; they might be photographs; they might be both. The particulars of this thing I want you to hold are fuzzy, but the desire to make something you can hold is strong and has been with me a very long while. It’s time.
So, an ending of sorts. And a beginning.
Let’s see how this unfolds, eh?
