Ten.One Thousand, Four Hundred & Twelve

1. Waking up with the birds.

2. Early morning light.

3. These candied kumquats though.

4. Barely 10 am and I am already tired from the day. What else do I need to do?

5. The stretching is deep and good and cleansing.

6. The house is small but cute. There are garden beds and a vineyard view. It’s quiet. I should like it more than I do. I know he will not like “it doesn’t feel right,” for an answer.

7. The more he says it, the more nervous I get.

8. I give them each a rootbeer candy from the deli.

9. The weather is absolutely perfect.

10. Lovina for dinner. Ceviche. Little gems salad. Levain with the silkiest butter. Pork bolognese with truffle butter. Flourless cake with espresso ice cream and cherries.

11. So tired.

Ten.One Thousand, Three Hundred & Twenty-Four

1. How do I make sure that even though I am working today, I find ways to rest?

2. This really is my most favorite room in the house: only cream and white, the deep wood tones of the desk. I could leave the walls bare. Maybe I would consider black and white line drawings. It feels like a cloud.

3. Bright, bright sun.

4. I laugh at the cards because they are exactly right. Your power comes from your gifts, they say. Mother Earth is calling you to reconnect…use her energy to aid you, they say. Don’t worry so much…remember to take a break because the cemeteries are filled with people who thought they were indispensable, they say.

5. Laundry and laughs.

6. The weather is almost perfect.

7. These aren’t 6-bottle. Sigh. Another thing to fix next week.

8. This is a good group. I’d love it if all of my tastings were like this.

9. He does the driving. I will never take this for granted.

10. Daydreaming about tomorrow. Remembering to stay present to what is happening today.

Practice Makes Progress

Tomorrow I’m heading to a local studio to do some headshots. It just felt like time to dive back into photographing people, but this time, with more trust in my own vision. Trust comes with practice. Just like writing, it is the act of doing that refines one’s voice and craft. As I continue to explore my relationship with my art and creativity through Jacquelyn Tierny’s The Art of Slow, I’m remembering that part of growing is also spending time reflecting on the failures and appreciating the successes. To not be embarrassed about the old work, but to take pride in who you’ve become since then.

I’m still nervous and sweaty before each session (my husband tells me I just need to get hold of some confidence), but I hope that will fade as time moves on. Practice makes progress, right? So here’s to being devoted to the art of Practice. Of making room for mistakes and mess, play and exploration, wonder and surprise. Of making room for the art I know I can make.

For now, a little stroll down memory lane. *Thank you to everyone who ever trusted me and continues to do so.