I'm Learning to Fly!

I just signed up for Kelly Rae Roberts' e-course, Flying Lessons!  I am really excited about this.  I wanted to take it, wasn't sure I should let myself spend the money...you know the drill.  But I really like her art and her writing, and she's probably not going to be able to teach this again for quite a while (having a baby + just moved, so for really good, happy reasons).  So I decided to go for it.  And judging by how excited I am, it was a good move to make.  I can't wait until Sunday when class starts!

I also signed up--finally!--for Jessica Wesolek's The Art of Digital Photography workshop.  I've been trying to take this for a few years now, and each time I thought I'd be able to, something came up and made me think I shouldn't spend the money.  Well, this time I've spent the money so I can't miss out again, so there!  This class starts July 30, but I wanted to be sure to get in.

And tomorrow, to round out the preparation for summer adventures, I'm buying new hiking boots.  I have been lamenting the fact that my physical self is not up to the adventures I want to have.  I live in Portland, Oregon, one of the most beautiful, adventure friendly places in the world, and yet I can't get out and move around and participate.  My wonderful boyfriend offered to help me get started so I can go on some of the adventures I crave (see this post for a bit more on that). We started with a test walk to see how much I can do.  We bought books on hikes in our area so we can plan increasingly lengthy hikes, and we've put up an adventure wall (you can see a section of it below) to plan adventures and commemorate adventures as they take place.  I am going to be adventure girl after all!

That's probably quite enough for now.  Stay tuned for further excitement and adventures, though, because it's all coming my way!

Don't Box Me In!

I'm thinking about boxes.  Being in boxes.  Thinking outside the box.  I'm doing an art experiment at MuseCraft to help me reach outside some of my personal boxes.  I think I want to write about stretching outside my limits a little more than the scope of the experiment will allow, so I'm going to start a series of posts over here.

Anyone else feeling like they want to break out of their boxes?  I'd love to get a conversation about it started.

Of course, boxes aren't all bad.  Presents come in boxes, after all.  But you have to open the box and take what's inside out before you can really enjoy it.  Staying inside the box does not lead to doing great things or having wonderful adventures.  So, the boxes have to go!  Or they at least have to be opened up.

Of course, I'm making all of this up as I go along, thinking of what I want to do and what I want to say with no real plan in mind just yet.  This is stuff that has to do with exploring and thriving and living and adventures and all the things I am working to bring into my life.  This is something I feel sure I need to be working on.  But where to start?

I'm going to start with some questions:

• What boxes have I put myself in?
• What do I want to do but never actually try?
• Why don't I try the things I want to do?

 I'm going to make those questions the topic of my next few blog posts.  I don't want this one to turn into a novel, and I want to give this topic some time and consideration.  So for now, I'll leave this as is, and I'll find out what starts happening when I climb up and start peeking over the top of this box.

Wishcasting Wednesday

It's Wishcasting Wednesday again at Jamie Ridler Studios.  This week's question is "What do you wish to experience?"

I wish to experience energy and strength and confidence to go on adventures.  I wish to experience enough energy and drive to find a starting point to build these things in my life.  I really want to go on adventures!

Reinventing Myself

I am a writer. It's true. But if I’m a writer, why is this blog so sparse and spotty? Neglect. Procrastination. Not acknowledging that this is writing, too. But it is. This is important. It feeds my need to string words together. It keeps the pump primed so words can flow just as surely as freewriting or journaling or doing writing exercises or working on a story.

I’m mentioning this because right now I’m doing a lot of reinventing in my life. I am reinventing how I approach writing. I am reinventing what sorts of writing “count” toward being a writer. I am reinventing myself as writing teacher, website owner, blogger, author, creative encourager, observer, creative person. I am actively reaching out, manipulating my world, creating the life I want to be in the middle of.

It is exhilarating. Exciting and scary and uncertain, a lot like being at the highest point on a roller coaster, but without the assurance that you’re on a track that will take you through the thrills and land you where you want to be. But this is all right.

Uncertainty is part of life for everyone; there are no sure bets. I will have no less uncertainty in my life if I stick with a dull day job I don’t like and never spread my wings. The uncertainty would just not be quite so tied in with the deeper parts of me. But where’s the thrill in that?

This next bit feels a little silly, especially because, at least for right now, I am mostly talking to myself here. But I’m going to write it anyway.

I hereby rededicate this blog and myself. I promise myself that I will write—here, in my journal, on my computer, everywhere. I will accept and nourish and cherish myself as a writer.

What will I write here? Probably a lot about word counts, maybe lack of word count in the beginning as I settle into my new schedules and routines. Lots about books I’ve read, articles I’m looking at, things I’m thinking about writing, courses I’m thinking of taking or teaching. And in November, I'll write about NaNoWriMo.

I will write about my journey, even when I don’t seem to be moving forward. I will write on Tuesdays and Thursdays and sometimes other random times. I will write here and everywhere, and I will make it an adventure. I hope some of you will join me on the trip.