Monday, June 19, 2017

A Hobby Makes You Happy

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.

17 comments:

  1. Awww Megan, you know Mom and I will love hearing what your currently up to. And not to worry about the changing mind thing I do it like 20 times a day. I have to force myself to advertise or it simply wont get done.
    Lots of Love from the Mad House on the bay.

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    1. Thank you Monique! We don't get to visit and chat nearly enough. If we lived close together, we would be kicking around craft ideas all day long.

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    2. That is soo soo true! Next visit will have to be longer <3 My evil little craft brain currently has tons of ideas on it. Heheheh

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  2. Congrats on sticking with the 100 day goal - keep going!!
    I love hearing about the interesting little things you are thinking about doing, doing or abandoning :) so please keep sharing xx
    Stay happy xxx

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    1. Thank you Dawn. Thank you for being the one who introduced me to 100 Day Goal, and for being the partner who kicks my butt every morning so I don't backslide.

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  3. Hi Megan...
    I feel much the same as you. Bear artist does not define me anymore, even though I still make bears. I just started a 100 day challenge much like yours, without even knowing that such a thing existed. Last week I decided this was going to be the summer in which I work on accomplishing my dreams and I set the number of days to 100. Imagine my surprise when I read your blog just now...
    I hope you achieve what you hope to achieve and that the things you don't want will give clarity about what you do want. Hugs, Ellen

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    1. Dear Ellen. I learned so much about bear making and running my bear business from you. We are growing and evolving. When we started making teddy bears, it was a craft in its infancy. We virtually wrote the handbook for it! Now it's time to move on, and apply our minds and skill to new things. I will never stop making teddy bears though, I still love them!
      The next 100DayGoal starts on 1 September. There's a free-to-join option if you don't want to do the whole course with bells and whistles. I highly recommend it!

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  4. I too have lost the tag of Doll maker and have become, like you, a Jack of all trades, master of none! One thing I can say about you is that despite not wanting to write,you show that you are an excellent writer and express yourself in a coherent and interesting way even when you think you have nothing to say!
    Take care and stay strong
    Hugs cheryl

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    1. Thank you for the kind words, Cheryl. I love reading your writings too!

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  5. Meagan, enough of that chatter. We have been blogging friends for how many years now, and you truly are an ARTIST. You are a great writer and I always enjoy reading your posts - sometimes I don't comment, but I read.

    Now, pick yourself up, dust off those self doubt cobwebs and enjoy yourself. Life is so short, we are here for how long?

    You are Megan, and you are unique, gifted, witty and a truly beautiful person with a beautiful soul.

    Hugs

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    1. Big hug back Joyce, and one for Prudence too! I love reading your blog and your FB posts.
      Don't worry, I'm not depressed. I just wandered off into the woods and lost my way a bit. It's time to come back.

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  6. What a Great Post Megan! I enjoyed reading it from beginning to end and would have to agree, that reading about "the process of becoming" is far more interesting than only viewing the photos. :)

    elizabeth

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    1. Thank you Elizabeth! Reading your blog regularly is one of the things that has inspired me to start writing about my creative process. You do such interesting things, with the most amazing results.

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  7. Thank you Meagan for always being an inspiration.
    I love your work and your creativity.
    I always look forward to reading your posts, there are always words of wisdom sowed through your writing.

    Hugs
    Liz

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  8. Hi Megan! I really enjoyed your post, I love the hobby to happy thing! I've recently decided to think of myself as an artist over simply a designer and maker, because I feel like it allows me to embrace a more creative mindset. That being said, I am a chronic dabbler too! I have about fifty gazillion projects on the go, a draw of two year-old unfinished pieces and ideas to do more everyday. I am happiest when I am dabbling in so many things, even if it can be a bit overwhelming at times :-) Megan

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    1. Dear Dolly. I love reading your posts. You are funny, imaginative, and your photographs are beautiful. Don't get me started on unfinished projects! Some of mine date back twenty years. Don't feel guilty about them. Invariably a day comes when inspiration strikes, and they get pulled out and completed. Ha ha, when that happens I will have blog post material for a year.
      Keep creating and experimenting, you are an ARTIST!

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