on noticing…
November 21st, 2004
…what I’ve done.
I do a lot. I do. I’m sure my image of myself has always been of someone who does very little. Perhaps that’s why I have always been so driven. Perhaps that’s why I’ve ended up with ME/CFS. I’m changing that. I’m learning the importance of noticing (and noting) what I’ve done.
Rather than always focusing on what is left to do, we need to give ourselves a hand for what we’ve already done.
Julia Cameron, Walking in this World, P 204.
This is another important step for me in learning about Sustainable Creativity. My list might include “had a bath”, it might include “cooked my breakfast,” it might include “took a long nap,” or even “made a drawing,” or “sent The Beany to the printers,” or “had tea from my new teapot.” All count. All make a difference. All are part of me being creative.
Yesterday I bought a notebook especially to keep my list in. Every night, energy allowing, I’m going to remember what I’ve done and NOTICE that I do do things. That I am living my life.
November 21st, 2004 at 5:49 pm
Thanks for that reminder to stop and notice what we have done. I have that problem too. I think I have so much to do and I don’t get enough done. Today included already a small drawing, 3 pages in my morning pages journal, making pecan waffles for me and Keith and now reading all my emails and responding to most of them…. Now its time to get on with the Sketch Crawl for this afternoon. I still have a few hours of energy left for some nice creative things. Rainy Sundays….Cheers
Frederick
November 21st, 2004 at 6:14 pm
What an idea. I’m so conscious of what I have not done (difficult to ignore as it piles up around me) — I will try this, instead.
November 21st, 2004 at 6:16 pm
Thank you again for this topic… i need to stop comparing now to way back then, the time before CFS/ME. And need to give myself credit for what i actually get done in the day. Sure my list might not look very exciting…… take a bath, do the washing up, change the kitty litter, talk to neighbour….. but when i add it up at the end of the day i’m pleasantly surprised at how much i manage to do.
November 22nd, 2004 at 8:35 pm
If you’ll forgive my abundant use of space: There’s a manifesto i adopted some time ago which can be accomplished by anyone regardless of perceived limitations:
“To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not, rich; to listen to stars and birds, babes and sages, with open heart; to study hard; to think quietly, act frankly, talk gently, await occasions, hurry never; in a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common - this is my symphony.” William Henry Channing
The above is meant as nothing more than a bit of sharing. But. How wonderful to live content with small means and hurry never… don’t you think? This is my first visit but not, i hope you’ll allow, my last. Have a lovely week living your own symphony.
December 13th, 2004 at 6:41 pm
Hi Michael
I enjoy reading your blog when I can, was diagnosed with ME/CFS a couple of months back and although I cannot draw, just wanted to tell you that you have given me a push to find out about creativity to enable me to find a different focus than the person I used to be ( workoholic!).
So thanks for that, also enjoy your booklist that is a great idea.
Bye for now
Anne