I dragged my feet all the way to the computer.
You know. When you were little and shy, grownups came visiting and your parents dictated that you display good manners by coming out of hiding to greet them. That kind of feeling.
I'm learning about goal setting, a la Julia Bickerstaff at The Business Bakery. Set a goal, decide paths, do micro actions. Ready, get set, go! You have 100 days to the finish line. One of the paths to my chosen goal is blog writing. When I mapped out micro actions, blogging fell on day 50. I've abandoned the habit of writing regularly, and coming back to it feels awkward. Today is day 50, so here I am, hearing that little Julia voice calling to me.
My life has had some not-so-recent upheavals. It happens to everyone, but for some reason it hit me hard and it's taking me the longest time to get back on my feet. I used to be very sure of who I am and where I was going. Often now I feel like Mary, Mary, quite contrary. I only know what I don't want, then I change my mind. I'm going through a period of intense self-doubt and I'm convinced no one is the least bit interested in me and my small life. Drama queen.
What would a person like that blog about? I used to blog about my work as a teddy bear maker, but that doesn't define me any longer. I'm a dabbler without a specialty. My life is mundane and much of what I start goes unfinished or ends up in the dustbin.
One of my daily pleasures is reading the blogs of other artists. I've been following many of them for so long that they feel like friends. While reading, and agonizing about my own lack of writing inspiration, I realized something. They all write about the process of their work - failed, uncomplete, or masterpieces. They also write about how they experience life, often hilariously, whether it's a bout of stomach flu, home renovations, or random phenomenon. Artists don't only produce a body of work, they represent humanity in their creations and the way they preceive the world. Knowing an artist's thoughts can help to develop a better understanding of their work, which means that their art is easier to relate to, which makes it popular. In these days of blogging, how privileged we are to get glimpses into artists' daily lives, and what a powerful tool blogging is in the hands of artists.
I'm not going to call myself Artist . I'm a dabbler in search of a specialty. I choose to be a Hobbyist. Borrowing from the wicked Jane Laverick, if you take hobby, put a stick on the O and turn the Bs upside down, it will make you happy. I'm doing what I do, because it makes me happy.
Or am I a Happyist?
I came out of hiding and wrote a blog post. I survived it.
