I’m not gonna lie (you know me, I wouldn’t do that).

I’ve been pretty quiet of late. There’s a lot going on—sad, challenging, exciting, BIG, transformative, and more.

While I haven’t intended to hyper-focus on my projects, I notice that I have… I have become more of an essentialist. My big projects and training programs have my attention, I remain vigilant in taking care of myself—meditation (of some kind), reading from at least one book (making slow and yet steady progress in Between Two Kingdoms, Walking Each Other Home, and A Year to Live), engaging in art plus my daily painting of a 1 inch square, and keeping up with family and friends. I glance at social media and titrate news.

How about you? Where are you in this moment?

What routines or habits are supporting your mental, emotional, and physical health?

This past Sunday, I had an inkling that I needed to do something different—the psychic load of health issues and grief for me and many in my inner circle is quietly laying heavily on me—I whisked myself to a local state park and painted for an hour… though the experience felt outside of time. The absorption was complete and nourishing.

What happens for you when life feels so big that something different is needed to be able to work with all of it?

It was a first for me to just pack up and go. I didn’t question the nudge even though I didn’t recognize it. I’m glad I was listening… making art soothes me.

I hope you too are taking good care of yourself. Making good use of your support systems and habits—recognizing when time(s) call for extraordinary care and stepping into the opportunity to do so.

I believe that it’s no coincidence that I have turned to studying arts-assisted grief therapy… these are particularly challenging times. Being in the world of making and using art as a means of exploration and healing has enabled me to be more open to my own and others’ internal landscapes.