"Don't Believe What They Say"
This is a recent diddy I created in my beloved Art Journal.
No video for this one. Just me, my thoughts, and the truth of my paint brush.
I'm going to be honest here.
I used to be a huge reader of blogs. Every morning I'd sit down with a long list of my faves and catch up on the daily musings of my bloggy friends and those that I admire. I'd leave comments and even carry on the conversation further sometimes through emails.
But, in March, I took a two month computer break and left the whole bloggy world behind.
I realized in that time that the world...the bloggy world to be exact...still carried on without me. So, when I decided to return to Dirty Footprints Studio, I dropped my morning bloggy ritual for a running practice instead.
Now, every-so-often I get on those blog surfing kicks again....but the same thing seems to happen, which prompted my bloggy break in the first place---INFORMATION OVERLOAD. And not just information overload...TOO MUCH Creative Juicy ideas, inspiration, self-help-this-&-that, gorgeous images, and fantastic things others are doing. I start to find myself comparing myself to these awesome individuals. I start to pressure myself that I should be doing something else--expressing something else--even sometimes believing something else--just because what I am reading and seeing seems to make such a connection with me.
The problem is that we have too much information at our finger tips. Too much.
I believe it's necessary, for me at least, to limit what I take in. Even if what I am taking in IS all fantastically Creative Juicy...I still need to limit my intake. It's kind of like a smoothie. A real fabulous smoothie has just the right combination of ingredients to make a delicious treat. If you throw in all the fruits and veggies you got sitting in the frig--yes, it will be full of nutrients, but no, it won't make your mouth and your senses come alive like a smoothie should.
So, that's kind of the story behind this art journal page I posted here. I don't need to believe all the wonderful ways of living, of creating, of being super-duper-awesome is right for me. I can take in a little--play around with it, meditate on it, and reflect on how it can enhance my own life....but when it comes down to it...my Creative Juicy Life is perfect and precious and worth the time and space to just live it, breathe it, and when I fancy to---share it here with you.
Peace & Love.
Posts
18 comments:
I so understand and appreciate how you feel about the Juiciness of Blogland. I also agree about the info. overload on every possible subject in the world right at our finger tips. I too have done the comparing thing and still catch myself doing it again every once in a while until I step back and say to myself "You are enough just as you are today."
In my life, I have been needing a community of like minded people, of seekers, of life lovers, open to the idea that Love is the answer to every question, as I have learned and know and want to live by.
In Blogland, I found that community. I am now working on making that community come out of the ether and into my real life but the joys and companionship and LOVE I have shared in Blogland has given me the courage and the wings I needed to start that part of my life work. I am so grateful for all that it has brought me, every single day...
It brought me you, after all...;)
You are a magnificent child of light, Connie ! Shine on....
By now you may have noticed I looooooooove your work :D and it sounds so strange that you would doubt yourself as I see you as one of the most talented and coolest bloggers out there.
About the limit, I have my favourites in Bloglines, which avoids my going to places that have not been updated and even so I limit the number of suscriptions. The number I chose is one that sounds right for me and if I want to add one over it, then one must go first.
Connie, you are echoing what I have felt so many times. I am drawn in, then I pull back, then I am drawn in again and there are times it is so overwhelming to the point that all I am doing is reading and feeling "juiced" but then there is no time for me to do anything with my own juice! I very much needed to read your thoughts today, to feel good about me and what I do and how I do it. ♥
You are so right Connie---
I feel overwhelmed sometimes, no matter how much I'm enjoying or learning or gleaning from the blogs I read. Just because it's there, doesn't mean I have to digest it all.
We love you; we know you're there; we feel your presence even if you're not sticking in your two cents! :D
Jenz
Blogging can be a neat place to socialize at one’s own convenience, it can become a problem when it is what someone lives for…
Blogs the writing/posting/reading of, are for edification of one’s own life and for the most part should be viewed as just that. Real life is what we are meant to live in full enjoyment of beauty and learning from that which is not always so beautiful. People that understand this share what they like and absorb what is good for them and toss the rest into the virtual e-trash. Always let your peace, your creatively guide you to where you need to be.
I think you have made a valuable discovery! (And I like your comparison to the ingredients of a smoothy!) Living a life means being limited in many ways, even to juicy things that would otherwise seem to fit us perfectly. You have often shared your choices in how you consciously craft your life and I was glad to hear how blogginess fit (or didn't) into your world. Your self awareness is both healthy and an inspiration to the rest of us out there who adore you and are grateful for what you choose to share with us.
I'm having my lunch break at work, and How do I spend it? blogging :O
YES, I was just telling my husband, that I have to make a physical effort to detach myself from the pc and go create. What I've decided is to dedicate 15-30 mins in the evenings to blog, reply, and suchs. It's great to be able to find wonderful artists all over the world, but each one has fantastic blog with many other blogs that THEY follow that are equally fantastic... head spinning... it is overwhelming.
Thank you!
Yes I really need to start a new schedule for the computer because I think I am wasting my time in the day. I could be doing so many other things instead of reading blogs and looking at things! It's too much! Then I feel bad if I don't comment on other's blogs and that people are upset so they don't read mine. Not sure. Anyways love this post!
A beautiful share of your honesty in your creation.
I too have moments like this, and have moments of stepping back from the blog world.
The truth is that we can put as much or as little into it, as overall it is our choice and experience in the making and we know when to stop ourselfs from being too involved. Even if we don't discipline ourselfs to, we are still learning about ourselfs and where we are, or want to be.
Your blog is inspirational and I too feel like sharing only when I feel with the world.
Happy Creative Every Day Month.
It is a pleasure to meet you, and take it easy in you. :)
I have several blogs - actually only a handful - that I visit on a daily basis. They are mix of thought provoking, entertainment, inspiration. I have definately spent hours exploring blogs and their list of intersting blogs. My own list of Interesting Blogs list is very very long and gets longer all the time. But I rarely get to all of them on a regular basis - I'll just visit occasionally and check in.
One of the things I used to participate in a lot were art challenges of one sort or another - there are a LOT of them out there. But I as I said on my blog they were actually keeping me from creating more freely or learning. So that is one thing I don't do. Although I do participate with The Big Draw and Leah's AEDM each year - that's it.
Like all things it requires balance and figuring out what works and what doesn't. But I wouldn't want to miss some of the people I've encountered in blogland.
I think Kim Mailhot summed up my feelings exactly! And everyone has their own creative path that leads them wherever it leads them ... one day to the next! You are just following yours and we all appreciate, admire and respect that!
Right now my path is partly spending time in blogland mostly because I stumbled across THIS one. I could spend years here even if you never post anything else! You are such an inspiration! I'm grateful for anything you are inspired to share with others!
Respectfully,
Lisa
Yes! I know just what you mean.
Balance is so important.
Not only do I need to step back from the blog trolling, but sometimes I need to take a step back from other stimulating things:
The tv, the kids, my own art making, cleaning house, my husband... food!
Too much of any good thing is just that - TOO MUCH!
The journal spread is gorgeous!
Great journal spread...I can totally understand the situation. I love surfing blogs and getting inspiration, but it can definitely be information overload. I think sometimes it's just too much!
Thank you for the validation. Ohhh, you have spoken my feelings better than I understood them.
I can't create in mess either. It drives me nuts.
I agree. It all becomes overwhelming to me. And then all the ideas I had sorta paralyze and I feel stuck.
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