Hello, Subscriber First Name,

I wasn’t sure I was going to write to you today.

This morning before I got out of bed, I decided I wasn’t.

On and off lately, I’ve been feeling as if I have nothing left to say — that I’ve already said it all.

I ran up against this when I wrote the beginning-of-the-year post on my blog last week. Looking back at posts from past years I saw myself writing about the same thoughts and feelings and ideas again and again. There’s a seasonal cycle to what I share and maybe I’ve exhausted it?

Part of the problem is that I’ve been feeling overwhelmed by all the NOISE. I don’t want to add to it. My inbox can be a loud place. I imagine yours can, too. I don’t want what I share to make it louder.

The art I’ve been making is a bit strange and in-progress. I don’t know where these explorations will lead (if anywhere).

While journaling and returning to my sketchbooks and journals and notebooks from the past couple of years, I’ve discovered that I haven’t always been brave enough to allow myself to truly make a mess. I haven’t given myself enough time to figure things out, to “wander and wonder” (as I wrote on my studio door this morning).

This sort of work takes time. It’s messy and strange. Sometimes there isn’t a tangible result at the end.

But I’ve been yearning for it.

This is why I decided to write to you today. Not to share the answers or to show you the way or to reveal secrets to success, but to remind you it’s ok not to have the answers. It’s ok to make a mess. It’s ok to take your time.

I don’t think our world needs more success. I think it needs more joy.

Follow yours.

A creative prompt:

JOY!

Spend some time considering joy. Write in your journal. Play in your sketchbook. Take your camera out on a walk.

What does joy mean to you? What brings you joy? In what ways are you limiting your joy? How can you create more joy in your life? How can you share more joy?

Some inspiration:

• Creativity is balm for the soul.

• Antje Howard is hosting a Guided Drawing Journey to help those affected by the LA fires. She “will explore ways to express, release, and process the emotions that come up in high-stress situations with the help of a guided Neurographica Drawing process.” It’s free for anyone affected by the fires and Antje will be donating 100% of the proceeds.

• What thoughtful ponderings on vocations and occupations and how our creative endeavors fit within it all.

• Are you joining Ann Wood’s stitch book challenge?

• Lorene Edwards Forkner shares the fragility of creative worlds built with social media.

• In case you need a reminder, you don’t have to document and share everything (and maybe it’s better if you don’t).

• I loved getting to see the projects and custom touches in inventor Simone Giertz’s home.

• My friend Karen is creating mood boards for each month in her planner. What a fun idea!

• Maybe you need some more mood board/vision board inspiration? Louise Gale is here to help!

Houseplants are one of the things that bring me joy, especially in winter. (I’ve written about them again and again on my blog and right now I’m working on a houseplant post for my Substack — look for it next Saturday).

Houseplants are part of my seasonal cycle of inspiration and they show up in my art and writing year after year. I guess I’m not tired of sharing them just yet.

Take good care, my friend.

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