AN ARTIST’S JOURNAL: “GERBIL FOOD”

(An article I wrote for Crafts/Business Magazine in 2005!)

I remember the first time I told my editor my rabbit was hanging out at my feet as we talked on the phone. “A wabbit! A wabbit?”, he exclaimed. “I gotta get a picture of that!  Send me a picture of you and the rabbit for the magazine!” I declined, of course. It’s hard enough for people to take a humor columnist seriously without sticking a bunny in the picture.

It got me thinking, though. How important a role do pets play in my creative process?

Animals are a recurring theme in my creative process. After all, my entire aesthetic is inspired by a little horse painted on a cave wall 15,000 years ago. But other odd animal moments come to mind….

For years, our only pet was an aged cat, which also happened to be the most annoying cat I’ve ever owned. Unfortunately, it was also the most long-lived, reaching the ripe old age of 17.

If you’ve ever owned a cat, you know the down-falls. Especially if you also happen to be a fiber artist. I laid out the first sweater I knit, lovingly pinning to a damp towel to dry overnight. In the morning, I found our cat had also paid tribute to it in the form of a massive hairball she’d upchucked on it. (From then on, all knit sweaters were laid out with a second towel on top of them.) Most fiber artists have tales of cats and dogs sleeping on comfy piles of fiber, leaving a matting of shed fur behind. Cats also know what you need to work on next: You will often find them sleeping on it.

It gets worse. One day we had a cat. The next, we had five fancy fan-tailed pigeons, a gecko named Greg, a hamster, two rabbits (aka Bunster, the bood bunny, and Bubble, the bad bunny), a guinea pig, and two cockatiels. I blame this all on my children. Oh at least the cat died, probably from shock.

Last spring I packed up my booth for a show. I discovered the aforementioned wily wabbit had gotten loose in the attic–and chewed the edges off my rubber floor tiles. “Do the bunny pellets bounce?” asked one curious craftsperon when I lamented on an online forum. I got a laugh on the forum, but not from my rubber mat company. I asked if I could buy six replacement mats rather than the twenty mat minimum they usually require. “My rabbit ate them,” I added brightly, hoping this unusual verison of “My dog ate my homework” might garner me some leeway. He didn’t think it was funny. Maybe he’s heard worse excuses.

Then the “bad bunny” used my fabric stash to create a nest. (Rabbits are incredibly secretive. I had no idea what she was up to til she popped out of a bookcase in front of me one day with a mouthful of straw and a furtive air about her.) The mess took days to clean up.

The guinea pig got loose in my studio. Do you have any idea how hard a guinea pig is to catch once they’ve had a taste of freedom? The search-and-rescue effort was monumental. At one point, four people were involved, including “beaters” (using brooms to swish him out from under furniture) and “entreaters” (enticing him with carrots and other lovely food bits.) Every time he emerged, everyone pounced on him. Bob the gerbil nearly died of a heart attack, but was finally captured and returned to his cage.

Why do I do it? Because I’m crazy, according to my husband. That was after I told him the good bunny chewed through my computer power cable. He worries I’ve become on of those nutty people you read about in the newspaper.

But there are also the times when one of the critters does something so delightfully silly I laugh out loud. Gone for a moment are the worries about filling a tough order or racing to meat a deadline. A respite from the desperate lack of ideas on my next jewelry design, the next mailing campaign, the next article to write. Right there, tugging at my pant leg, begging me to play, is the most beautiful bunny in the world. She thinks I’m marvelous. And she’ll almost anything for Cheerios.

For pure comic relief, pets are worth it. Add that they’re being something soft to pat, something warm and cuddly on the couch, something to bond with my children over, and you’ve got the perfect antidote to the sometimes odd and lonely life of a craftsperson.

My last day before I changed my studio name, I answered my business phone with a cheerful, “Durable Goods!” There was a pause on the other end, and an elderly voice quavered doubtfully, “Gerbil…Goods?” I laughed and said, “I think you dialed the wrong number.” “Well, obviously!” the woman snapped, and hung up. My father-in-law later said I should have gone for it. “Gerbil Goods of Keene, New Hamster” was just too good to pass up.

Thanks and a hat-tip to my editor with two magazines I wrote for, Larry Hornung, at The Crafts Report and Crafts/Business Magazine! There will be more posts like this.)

THE WISDOM I FOUND TODAY That REALLY Helped!

I subscribe to AvaCare Medical, a company that offers medical equipment that I’ve actually never used. I can’t even remember how I found them, it’s been years!

But I keep subscribing because every Monday, there’s a bit of insight and wisdom that always lifts my heart. And today is no exception.

Worry doesn’t take away tomorrow’s problems, it takes away today’s joy. 

Whoa Nelly! So true!

I dream every night, regardless of how often I wake up, and it’s hard for me to even remember those dreams. Most of them involve small problems that I’m running around trying to fix, difficult people I’m trying to deal with, etc. The dreams are an exciting, mostly just plodding through the night. And even after I wake up, I find it really really hard to remember what I was dreaming.

This morning when I woke up, I couldn’t remember that dream again. But I do remember that it was very frustrating. There was someone who was demanding something I couldn’t do, couldn’t find, couldn’t deal with, and all I really remember is I was wearing crappy clothes for crappy day and the person was demanding I go somewhere or do something that required something dressier. Which I didn’t have. And it was a really long dream, too. GAH!!!

So I woke up frustrated, confused, without even remembering why. I mean, usually I just wake up and go, what was I dreaming? Can’t remember.

I did have a few tasks on my to do list, and wasn’t getting anywhere dealing with them. I even ran to a nearby store that had the product I needed, and when I got there, they were sold out. Again, frustrating!

And then I read the AvaCare Medical post in my email.

I’ve been struggling with a lot of stuff in the past year so, and I won’t go into the details. They were depressing, I was sad, I was scared. But I finally got to a point where I realized that it’s something that is not under my control. And that whatever happens, I will be alright.

I love being at my studio, and I love love volunteering at The Legacy, an arts and crafts thrift shop in Sebastopol. I love making Pearl earrings, and I hardly ever sell any. But I do love to give them to people I encounter who are either doing something very kind for others, or having a very bad day. That makes me happy. I love doing crossword puzzles, and I love watching murder mysteries because they are problems that aren’t important to solve, and that calms me down too.

But that quote about how our worries today doesn’t help at all, it just destroys today… Really resonated with me.

So today I’m going to concentrate on setting side my worries, to realize that none of them are fatal, none of them are doom-ish, that letting them take over my brain is not helping.

I mean, I’ve known that for years, and I’m sure you know that too.

But that insight, that fretting can destroy everything right now, today, really woke me up.

It’s helping. And I hope it helps you today, too.

 

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Right now I’m sitting on my deck with my dog Nora, waiting for our neighbor’s dog Jackson to come over and play with her. One of the highlights of my day!

HOW TO OPEN STUDIO #27: Connect Your Audience With Other Artists!

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I only show four cards because others were already gone!

Last year, for our Sonoma County Art Trails open studio event, a fellow artist near me reached out with a terrific idea:

She suggested everyone in our area (about 5-7 people) bring their postcards (with all our contact information, etc.) to our exhibit at the Sebastopol Center for the Arts….

And share them with each other!

It was brilliant! Yes, I love people who make a point of coming to see MY work. But visitors also appreciated seeing the work of others within a few miles of my studio, and snatched up those postcards. In fact, so many visitors took cards, I had to reach out to these artists and ask them to bring MORE to SebArts!

Since I knew most of the people and their art, I was happy to share my enthusiasm for their artwork with my visitors.

And the visitors had encouragement to do some more exploring, too!

Shout-out to Trish Nugent for this idea! (I’m linking to her listing for Art at the Source this spring….)

It helps us have more conversations with visitors. It helps other artists. And the other participating artists help ME!

 

Thank you for visiting my studio! Here’s our next event…

It took me awhile to add all the new subscribers who came to our Sonoma County Art Trails this year. But I’m grateful for everyone who signed up for my newsletters–THANK YOU!!!

My next open studio event at the Barracks will be First Saturday in December, 12/6, from 11 to 4(ish) at 3883 Finley AVE (NOT the community center.) I’m in Bldg. 33, 33Arts. Studio Santa Rosa will be open across the parking lot, too.

I have to warn you….My studio is COLD! Especially in the winter. So bring a sweater! 😁 I’ll try to get my heaters working….

I also made a necklace for a friend who needed something to hold her eyeglasses. It worked! I made more large flat circles with polymer clay in shades of turquoise, pink, orange, brown, and green with big hole holes, and coordinating colors of waxed cotton cord that will be adjustable. I really enjoy making the polymer pieces, and I hope you enjoy them, too! (Photos below)

I’ll also have more of my less expensive jewelry pieces, in case you want to shop for the holidays: Handmade leather rings with mother-of-pearl buttons, pearl earrings, simple polymer artifact necklaces, etc. (More photos below)

And if you’re not up for shopping, or just overwhelmed by all the Black Friday/Cyber Monday/Givign Tuesday emails, simply enjoy browsing my happy creative space! In fact, if you, like me are totally overwhelmed with the hundreds of requests a day for donations in my email inbox, then take all the dollar signs out of this for now, and just breathe….

I’ve chosen some charities that are meaningful to me, for causes big and very small. Locally, I focus on anything I can do for homeless people, especially Sam Jones Hall (right across the field from our studio building) and for Catholic Charities, (who I just learned offers all kinds of services for all kinds of people who are struggling right now.)

And recently I met two neighbors in our neighborhood on Finley Avenue who know what it’s like to be homeless, and are now leading remarkable efforts to work with these people. They (and their families) are my (newest) heroes!

And in case homeless people still annoy you, check out this article I wrote three years ago about why, maybe, they annoy you. And how to find some compassion instead.

So do what you can, however you can.

Take exquisite care of yourself this season. Share the love, and keep a little hope in your heart.

And if you come to my studio this Saturday, know that I never ever hound anyone to buy something from me. My mission in life is to ensure that you see the value of YOUR creative energy, and to honor what works for YOU.

 

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New necklaces that can hold your eyeglasses!

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I LOVE MOP buttons!

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These are oldies but goodies, and I finally figured out what to make with them.

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My classic faux ivory necklaces.

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More necklaces in the works!

 

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Classic faux ivory

HOW CREATIVITY REALLY WORKS: It’s Not Always Simple. And PERSISTENCE works.

Just before we moved from New Hampshire to California, I took a fascinating workshop which helped so much with my creative work.

And now I can’t remember much of it…. (screaming emoji face here)

I googled “Theory U” and “Creative U”  (the basis of the workshop) and I can find things that kinda look like it. But I think our workshop leader had taken that process and transformed it into something makers/creatives (of all kinds!) can use to help themselves. (“Creative U” pulled up stuff that might be helpful for you, too, but it’s not the same thing at all.)

Short story: Creativity isn’t a straight path. It has its ups and downs. A LOT of downs. A LOT of downs….!

But if you persisit, you will find the way UP.

Okay, Theory U….

First, imagine a giant capital “U”.

Start from the upper left of the “U”. That’s when you get an idea, an inspiration, a project, that excites you.

You jump on board, thinking “I’ve got this!”

And you start to put into production.

As you dig deeper into your project/idea/inspiration, you hit little speed bumps in the road. (You are going DOWN the left side of the U.)

The more you dig, the deeper you dive–DOWN. You start to worry that you aren’t going to figure this out. You hit obstacle after obstacle. “This” doesn’t work. “That” doesn’t work.

It continues.

You finally hit the bottom of the U.

You feel like you’ll never figure this out. You’ll never get it done. It’s never gonna happen. You feel like a failure.

Most people give up at this point.

But…

If we persevere…

If we do trial-and-error instead of “I’m gonna get this PERFECTLY right out the door”…

If you experiment, have patience, take tiny baby steps forward…

We begin to go UP the right side of the U.

The more we experiment, the more open we are to our process…

The more we see a small light at the end of the tunnel.

Suddenly, we have hope in our heart that we can do this!

Every step forward creates our ability to see the next step, and the next, and the next…

And finally, we get there! To the top of the U!

You did it! You created your dream project! Ta da!!!!

Yay YOU!!!

Now for the second hard part….

Everytime we start a new path, we will have the same experience.

This experience will repeat itself. Every. Single. Time.

But once we see this, it’s not as harsh.

I had a project–actually, TWO projects–that I’d held in my heart for decades. I tried to figure everything out in my head, every single time.

It didn’t work.

And then Covid hit. And I had all the time in the world to figure it out with a different method: Trial-and-error.

Trial-and-error is frustrating. It takes time. It means trying something you’re sure will work and finding out it won’t.

And so you try something else, and something else, and you keep experimenting.

And finally, it does!

Thomas Edison didn’t invent the first lightbulb, but he created the first one that was reliable, able to be mass-produced, and affordable.

Thomas Edison is famously quoted as saying, ” I have not failed, I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”

The key to his success? Persistence.

That’s where my smaller shrine series began, and my migration series (herds of migrating animals–horses, bears, fish, otters, etc.–mounted on driftwood from the California coast.

I had all the time in the world to fail. Until I succeeded.

I wish I could offer more insights and wisdom into Creative U, but though I spent a lot of time trying to track down that workshop leader, the illustrations, my notes, etc. I can’t find them. (If I ever do, I’ll let you know!)

But the experience was so powerful, it still sticks. And Covid pulled it back to the surface again.

I know so many people, people I care about so much, who get a brainstorm, who work so hard to get their creative work out into the world, only to hit a roadblock…and walk away. They are overwhelmed by failure, thinking they will never be “good enough”, never achieve their dreams.

It’s vital to know that it’s extremely rare to knock something out of the park on your first try, or your second, or, as in Edison’s case, your 10,000th try…

What’s also crucial is to undersand that everyone hits that roadblock.

And you can always go over, under, around…and through.

I started a new project this year, and it was tricky. But I also know now that if I experiment, if I try different things, if I explore different options, I’ll find my way.

And I did!

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Small Cabinets of Wonder! And somehow, I knew I could do it! (Eventually….)

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My original dream was a slab of wood that could go around corners, etc. in an art gallery or museum display. But I love driftwood, and “smaller” works for me, too. Er…but I DO have a giant piece of driftwood….hmmmmm…..

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My “Migrations Series” finally came true!

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Small shrines was a long-time-in-the-head project, too!

ART TRAILS OPEN STUDIOS TODAY! (This weekend and next…)

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER…I Hope!

I totally forgot to let you know, but I have another open studio this weekend and next….

There are three of us at 3840 Finley AVE Bldg. 33, 33Arts (NOT the Finley Community Center) who are participating in the new Santa Rosa Open Studios event this weekend, Saturday and Sunday, September 13 & 14, and next weekend, Saturday and Sunday, September 20 & 21. We’re shooting for 10-5.

I have new work, and I’ve redone my display areas, too!

Mor information, maps, etc. at https://sropenstudios.com/

Hope to see you there! Er…here!

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Small Cabinets of Wonder!

HONORING OUR PAST: What’s Old Is New Again

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From the beginning to today, my little horses have evolved in many ways. I love them all!

I know I’ve shared this story before, but I’m sharing it again!

Years ago, back in New Hampshire, I was with a dear friend, Ruth Parent. I was deep into my journey as a polymer clay artist. And I was frustrated with my oldest horses. (See the picture above.)

My earliest horses were very flat, and at first had only one side. Very tiny heads, big butts, etc. I’ve moved on to horses that were a little thicker, different proportions, etc.

I told Ruth that I was embarrassed by my older horses.

She said,”Did you love your older horses when you made them?”

I said yes.

She said, “Did your customers love them?”

I said yes.

She said, “Did you customers buy them?”

I said yes.

She said, “Then your current customers will love them, too.”

Welp, that discussion changed everything.

I had new appreciation for my older horses. And as the years go by, there were more changes, different designs, and more respect for my older work.

Some of them still annoyed me a little, though. And I finally figured out what the annoyance was.

They didn’t have tails!

So my latest project has been creating new little tails and applying them to almost all of my old horses.

Now I love them all even more!

Sadly, my friend died recently. I did get to say goodbye by phone, because I now live 3000 miles away. And I later found out that hundreds of people came to her home to say goodbye in her final days. She was an amazing force for good in the world.

Her wisdom and kindness live on in my heart.

And I hope this also encourages you to embrace your older work, too. So many many creatives hate their early work. As we get better with our skills, we may find it embarrassing to see how bad we were when we started out.

We need to understand that nothing in the world is perfect. We all start somewhere, find what we love, do the work that matters to us, and move forward in life.

And every single step of that process is what makes us who we are today.

Now go to your creative space today and make something. 🤗



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Now all my horses has tails!


 


 


 

	


	





	

		
		
YOUNG PEOPLE TODAY…Are Amazing!!
	


	
	
	

		
 


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Every photo, every image I’ve ever posted in my blog, came from my phone!


 


 


 


 


I’ve written articles before about “young people today”, including the series “Why Millennials Don’t Buy Our Art“. (I wrote the series for an online art marketing newsletter I wrote for for almost 12 years, and it was the one series that got the most vicious blowback I have ever gotten from anything I have ever written. (Why are so many older people so resentful of younger people?? Do we really believe we’re better than they are? Or is it because we’re scared they’re actually better than us?) I had to repeatedly ask my editor to remove the horrible comments, because I “don’t feed the trolls”.)


And now, today, this popped up in my head….


You know who else is always on their phone? Me! An old person.


Why?


Because my phone is a critical part of my life.


I start out every morning reading our local newspaper, the Press Democrat, in print. (We’ve always subscribed to local newspapers to support local journalism, for many many decades.)


But I love having the online versions too. First, extra comics! Extra crossword puzzles! (I love crossword puzzles because they help my mind settle. They are problems that are not important to solve.)


Then I check my emails, and that’s a gift, too. I get notifications from friends and family that have posted on various platforms. I see links to articles that are interesting, critical, entertaining, or insightful. They help me get my brain and my heart into a better spot, and a more powerful place.


Every single day, I learned something, discover something funny, entertaining, powerful. And then I share those articles online with others, so that they make enjoy or benefit from them, too.


And I have lots of apps on my phone. I can easily do remote deposits with my online banking app. I can identify songs I hear with Shazam, and then I can find them buy the CDs on websites on my phone, too. I can spellcheck, too. (Which I had to do with “millennials” because I always forget how many l’s and n’s are there….)


I have an app that allows me to communicate with my medical team when I have questions or issues going on. I can schedule appointments easily, and find directions to where they are. (They are all in about four or five locations, and my brain can’t remember who’s where.) And I use my maps app to get everywhere, because big cities are harder for me to navigate. (And because I can’t remember the best way to get there.)


I have an app for local wildfire alerts, apps to identify birds, plants, apps to pay bills, to search images, to locate earthquakes, to purchase items that aren’t available locally. I can get alerts and notifications about dangerous things to avoid,  watch out for, or prepare for. I can get notifications about what’s coming in my mailbox (the real mailbox!) every day. I can get reminders about appointments, events, and deadlines. I can take a picture of something and search for what it is online, where to buy something similar, or learn about its history.


I can look up the plots of my favorite TV murder mysteries to find out who killed someone. (Yes, I’m one of “those people”. I DON’T CARE, IT WORKS FOR ME.) I can also look up the actors who look extremely familiar, but I can’t remember who they are and find out who they are, and where I saw them in shows or movies.


I love shopping in real life, but it sure is a heck of a lot easier to order things online rather than running to five stores every day, only to find out they don’t have what I need in stock.


I was writing in my blort notebook* this morning when this idea popped up and realized I could blog about it. And guess what I’m doing right now?


Dictating this blog post on my phone.


(Yup, sometimes I also dictate texts and emails on my phone.)


When I come across a weird article online, I can look up information to see if it’s actually true or not. On my phone.


I’d rather read a real book, but if I couldn’t, I can read an ebook on my phone.


Even AI has its purposes. It can be a useful tool, but what I’ve realized that for most of us, it is simply scooping up the most popular content on the internet to provide answers.


For example,a young person visited my studio a few months ago, and I asked them what they knew about cave art. They shared decades-old information that is no longer true. I asked them where they had gotten that information, and they said from their teacher. I asked where their teacher got it, and they said AI.


I shared with them the newer version of who actually created prehistoric art, thanks to new discoveries and insights, and suggested they might share that with their teacher. They were so excited to hear that the newer theories show that women were the shamans and artists that created this art, that these were community events, that the animals painted in prehistoric art were not the animals these people hunted. They had symbolic meaning and importance. It wasn’t men and boys and hunting magic, it was entire communities that that gathered together to participate in these ceremonies.


So hopefully, AI will get better at sharing truth.


So yeah, phones can be distracting, overuse of phones can cause us to overlook what’s actually happening around us, and if we’re not careful, it can share all kinds of false information.


But I am so grateful to have a tiny little computer I can carry in my pocket anywhere I go, where I can look up information, read stories, play games, communicate with others, find new music, and places to purchase that music online.


Yes, phones can be distracting, and keep us from enjoying the beauty and good in the world around us. But phones can also helps us determine what is good, what is true, what is useful, and and what is a good way forward.


So let’s stop being afraid of what other people can do that does not harm us, nor them, in any way. Let’s be aware of the downside of bad tech, and be open to the upside of good tech.


Let’s be grateful for the little gadget in our purse/pocket that can help us find our way home in the dark.


*”Blort” comes from a good friend I had in high school and it means a way to gritch (her word!) and complain and get crap out of my head onto paper. And once I get that out of my head, I feel a little better, and that’s when I start listing the things I’m grateful for, each day. (“Gratitude list”) (Just realizing I can’t remember where “blort” actually came from. Chris, too?)


 

	


	





	

		
		
MAKE ROOM FOR YOUR ART #5: More Friends Helping Friends!
	


	
	
	

		
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Don’t ask why I had so many cowboy boots, I can’t even wear them anymore!


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My studio, the last week of packing up and moving out.


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One of our three shipping containers we used!


We moved to California in 2014, eleven years ago this September! We sold our home, and then had thirty days to pack up everything, sell what we couldn’t take, and move.


I had a huge art studio in the barn attached to our beautiful two-story house, and the barn had an attic, too! Studio was stuffed to the gills with my display, workspaces, and supplies, and the attic was, too. (With other supplies and display items for shows, not workspaces. Too cold in the winter!)


One friend, the one I helped find studio space for in their home, set the mark right from the beginning, with their very wise insight.


They’d come by for a quick visit, and I took them up to my barn attic, lamenting that going through hundreds of boxes was nerve-racking and confusing. I would go to unpack another box, and realize it was empty, over and over and over. Such a waste of time!


They commented that when they’d gone through a move, they’d learned to MOVE THE EMPTY BOXES to a different spot, together.


Doh! Such a simple and amazing insight! And it really helped.


Another friend was an expert at this, and they offered some rare insights, too.


I had (and still have) a lot of stuff! And because I have multiple workspaces and lots of projects, I tend to have lots of the same tools and materials. Makes it easier to find a pair of scissors when you have ten (er….twenty) of them. (I have small, medium, and large scissors, LOTS of them. And I still lose/misplace/find them all the time.)


Friend would pick up something and say, “Do you REALLY need this item, Luann? Really??”


I’d think for a moment, and then say, “Yeah, I guess I don’t.” It would go into the yard sale pile, the donation pile, or the curbside “free” pile.


They did this about fifty times. And sometimes, like with the scissors, I’d go, “YES, I NEED THEM!”


Friend would put it down and say, “Okay!” No argument, no pressure.


(With the scissors, I kept about half of them, and guess what? Now I have even more….) (NO, I’m not getting rid of them!!)


Another person I did not know that well. They were a EMT at the time, had purchased some of my art, and they had a week off. They reached out to ask if I could use some help. (YES PLEASE!!!!)


They spent their entire week off helping me pack and move. (Yes, I gave them more art!)


I have more stories about this, but aging brain isn’t working, so I’ve reached out to some of the folks that helped me to remind me.


My point is, some people showed up for a very brief time, less than an hour. Some people helped me for a day.


And some people helped me for a week, or for many weeks.


I will be grateful forever for these people who showed up.


They kept me sane, they kept me grounded, they made me laugh, they brought cookies. They were essential for helping me get all that stuff taken care of in an unbelievably short amount of time.


This is what friends do.


Not all friendships are alike, of course. One of my favorite phrases about friendship is “A reason, a season, a lifetime.” I may have shared this before, but I can’t remember, so here it is again:




The phrase “a reason, a season, or a lifetime“ refers to the different types of relationships people experience in life.


    

  • 

    A reason: Some people come into our lives to teach us lessons or help us through specific challenges.
    

    • 

  • 

    A season: Others are meant to be in our lives for a limited time, bringing joy or experiences but not lasting forever.
    

    • 

  • 

    

    A lifetime: Finally, some relationships are enduring and provide lifelong support and companionship. 
    

    

    This concept highlights the transient nature of relationships and the importance of recognizing their purpose in our lives.
    

    

    • 





So once again, friends have many different roles in our life. Not everyone will be there in the same way, but that’s okay.


The point is, every single one of those people helped me get through an extremely challenging time in my life.


We can all be a force of good in the world (which we all need now more than ever!) But know that there are huge actions, and small ones, and every single one is a gift for all of us.

	


	





	

		
		
MAKE ROOM FOR YOUR ART #4: Let YOUR inspiration, inspire others!
	


	
	
	

		
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Horse in progress


Announcing our very first First Saturday Open Studio event on Saturday (doh!) July 5 from 10-5 at the Barracks!


There are two buildings of art studios at 3840 Finley Avenue here in Santa Rosa, CA. The one across the parking lot from me, Studio Santa Rosa, has had open studios every single month since I’ve been here.


Well, now our building, 33Arts, is going to join them!


So hope you can come see lots of artists at one location this weekend! (After you recover from the fireworks….)


There’s one caveat in my studio: It’s a hot mess. You’re gonna see all my materials, tools, messy workstations, etc. sort of conglomerated so you’ll be able to walk around. (Some visitors ask, “Do you actually do any work in here??” Um…yes. Every. Single. Day.) I like my mess. It’s interesting, it’s engaging, and usually people are intrigued by it! (I do make it safe to explore…..)


You’ll be able to touch my artwork, pick things up, try on jewelry, and enjoy my creative space!


Here’s what inspired this latest post:


Some artists won’t be able to participate this Saturday. Work, schedules, etc. But some assume that, if they don’t have enough art ready to sell, it’s not worth the effort.


YES IT IS!!!


My mission in life, with my art, is to share my creation story, how/when I realized I had to do this work, to make ME happy. Not to make money, not to become rich and famous, but to do the work that’s important to me, my health, my sanity.


It’s also my mission to share how doing this work heals me, restores me to my best self.


And so I share the WHY over the HOW, the JOY over the SALES…and encourage others to do the same.


We all have creative energy in us, and all that matters is that it’s something that makes us feel…alive. Seen. Restored.


I wrote back to this wonderful artist, acknowledging that it might not be “worth” their time. But also gently suggesting that a) they could use that time to make more work, if it’s not busy; (Most visitors LOVE to see an artist at work!) and b) share their story, their work, their inspiration, etc. with others.


I’m always working on something during these events, even if it’s “just” sorting beads. (Which I find very soothing!) And yeah, it’s nice when I have a sale. But that’s not why I do the work I do.


And if, during these events, I inspire ONE PERSON to see themselves, to see the value of the work they do that matters to them, that makes them able to deal with everything else in life, then my work is done.


Make room for your art. The world needs it!


 

	


	





	

		
		
MAKE ROOM FOR YOUR ART Part 3: This Is How Friends Can Help!
	


	
	
	

		
 


 


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My Migration Series reminds me that we are all unique individuals, but we also need community.


I love that some folks found my last post about making room (literally!) for your art helpful!


I saw some comments on other platforms that cleaning and organizing a space can be overwhelming, and so can even trying to FIND a space in our homes. Hey, I can help with that, too!


I was going to list all my previous experiences with this, but I don’t want a TL:DR thing. So I start with a new series instead!


A friend needed help with painting a room in their house. We were taking a martial arts class together when she mentioned this, and BOOM! a few of us offered to help! We showed up, moved the stuff, covered the floow, primed and painted the room in one afternoon. (Had some beer and pizza afterwards, too. REWARDS!)


As we were hanging out, we realized that a) group help made everything easier and happier, and b) we could pay it forward by helping other folks in our group with THEIR too-big-to-take-on projects, too!


All five of us ended up completing projects that we’d dreaded for months/years, we all had a great time hanging out together, and it felt really good to be of help to others.


I was the one person who didn’t really need help at the time. My studio was all set up and so was our home. Until….


I walked into our teenage kiddo’s room one day (we tried to always respect our kid’s privacy) to leave something for him, and realized their room was a blank. Mattress on the floor, minimal clothing but no place to put them, no decor, etc. Old, battered wallpaper. No curtains. It was bleak.


I decided to surprise them.


I found a bed frame, a small dresser, artwork they would (hopefully!) like, a rug, curtains, paint, etc. And then I called in the corps.


While the kid was in school, we went to work. There was a lot to put together, and we had to finish it before they came home.


Unfortunately, they had to come home earlier than expected. I reached out to a friend around the corner and asked if they could come up with a task my KID could help with, and they agreed. So when Kiddo came to the door, I told them Neighbor needed help with something and to go help them. Kiddo was angry about that, but knew the good neighbor and went to their house.


We ramped it up and got it all done by the time they got back.


Now first…Neighbor noticed Kiddo was hungry, and made some cookies them. Anger eased, kindness again prevailed.


Next, Kiddo joined us for beer and pizza (okay, not of age, they drank some pop.) They seemed really happy with the new decor: Simple but cozy, attractive, and fitting their taste.


A few months later, Kiddo had a hissy fit about something, and I started to say something, but hesitated.


They said with a sneer, “Yeah, I bet you thought if I had a pretty room it would change everything.”


I said quietly, “No. I thought if you saw how many people cared about you, that THAT would change something.”


They were silent and never complained about that again.


So the lessons here are, a GROUP of friends/acquaintances can work miracles, saving us time/energy/dread and giving us hope/accomplishment/and laughter.


And knowing that people around us can be happy to help? Pure gold.

	


	





	

		
		
MAKE ROOM FOR YOUR ART Part 2: A Friend Can Help!
	


	
	
	

		
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It was a friend in Keene NH who helped me figure out a project that I’d carried in my heart forever! Thank you, Gary Spykman!!!!


Years ago, back in NH, I had a talented, funny,  awesome friend who didn’t have a studio. They were wistful about mine, so I offered to come and take a look at THEIR home, and see what we could come up with.


My jaw dropped when I got there. They had a good-sized home, with a full-sized basement that had good lighting, good floors, and tons of space.


The problem was, their partner was a professional artist, a real artist, with the best room in the basement for themselves.


And the other problem? Friend didn’t think they were a real artist. And so they didn’t “deserve” a space of their own. (Screaming face emoji here….)


Their partner was a good person, just clueless at the time about my friend’s wistful wishes for a space. So I dug in.


First, we cleared and consolidated the basement. One of my superpowers is squishing lots of stuff into small spaces, so we were able to create a lot more OPEN space.


But we realized that the partner’s room had the best light and space.


AND I realized that the partner’s room was big enough for TWO people. It could be consolidated, too, if partner was okay with that? (They were!)


So I suggested we move most of the supplies/tools, furniture that weren’t in daily use, into other spaces in the basement. Still easily accessible. (We set up shelves and cabinets right outside the room.)


Now that the basement was more organized, that was feasible! Everything was still totally accessible, but everything didn’t have to be in that room all the time.


Then we set up a small but highly-efficient space in the room for my friend. I can’t remember all the details now, but it gave them both room to do their work, without intruding on the other’s time. (Their media were different, and friend’s required a lot LESS room.)


Why didn’t my friend figure this out for themselves? Welp, it’s a pattern we all have. We try to figure EVERYTHING out ahead of time. (My personal Achilles heel….!!) We get stuck with what won’t work. Or we unconsciously believe our partner/family members deserve more than we do.


So the power of friendship can be the gift of seeing what others CAN’T see in the moment. We (your friends and acquaintances) come from outside, looking in, and going, “What if…?”


So if you’re struggling with “how the heck can I…”, check in with someone you trust to walk you through it.


Your new creative space may be right in front of you!


 

	


	





	

		
		
MAKE ROOM FOR YOUR ART  Life is short, get going with it!
	


	
	
	

		
 


 


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My studio at 33Arts, with a sampling of my new little shrines.


Here’s another blast from the past, a blog article I wrote on December 24, 2004, from my Radio Userland blog site. (It’s kind dead now, but my husband figured out a way to save my posts, and this is a good one!


MAKE SPACE FOR YOUR ART Life is short, get going with it!


Making space for yourself….


I heard it again this week. Someone confided in me that they were an artist, but didn’t have a studio.


They were waiting for a studio, or giving up a studio, or putting off setting up a studio.


I cringe, because I remember….


I remember the kitchen table thing, having to clear my work because it was time for dinner, the baskets of materials all over the house, all of it.


I’ve heard amazing stories over the years about the lengths people…usually women!…will go to, to put off their art. I’ve benn there and done that, so I do understand. I know what it’s like to feel like I’m not good enough, to feel I don’t have time, to feel like it’s too selfish to want more…


Does this sound like you?


If so, I hope I can be that tiny voice that gives you hope and reminds you who–and what–your are.


You are an artist. Make space for that!


I had such a voice when I was first started out. I was fortunate to attend a workshop led by Deborah Kruger years ago, called “Empowerment for Women in the Arts”.  You can read more about Deborah and see her amazing fiber artwork at https://deborahkruger.com/ 


It’s hard to tell what has to happen first for someone to get started on their path. Maybe it’s different for everyone. For me, it was believing it was possible for me to BE an artist. My exact words of insight were, “I realized today I have to be an artist, or I’ll die. I don’t even care if I’m a good artist anymore. I just have to be one.” The studio followed. (I told that to my husband when he came from work that day, and he said, “What do you need?” I replied, “A space I don’t have to clear for dinner.” Thank you, Jon!)


But a studio IS important. It is the promise you make to yourself to be the artist you’ve always dreamed of being, a promise made physical, and real.


Most people thing of a studio as a huge, lofty room with skylights, filled with everything you need to make art. That’s a DREAM studio, to be sure!


But I think of a studio as any place your dedicate to your desire to be an artist. Whether you sing, write, dance, paint, collage, knit, garden, it’s any space you care out of your life, your home, and your time, to be the artist you dream of being.


It can’t be a space that has to be cleaned or put away when other people need it. It’s got to be a place that stays “set up”. Not only so you can jump in and get started on your work with a moment’s notice, but so when you look at it, you are reminded prfoundly that just as that space is always ready for you, so is your dream. It’s always ready for you to pick up, jump in, and get started.


Look around you. When I visit someone’s home, I can always find the place dedicated to the children (and their jillions of toys), a space dedicated to the TV, a space dedicated to a beloved pet, an office for the partner who can work from home.


Surely, out of all these spaces dedicated to the needs of others, and dedicated to things, there can also be a place for…your art?


If your children “need” a separate room to play in, surely there is a table, a closet, a corner in your house where YOU can play, too? If your partner has a place for their interest/hobbies/collections/work, there surely is a place for YOU and your interests? Look at the “guest room” set aside for use once or twice a year. What is more important, a once-a-year guest’s ultimate comfort, or the daily joy in your heart that comes from making art? (Or at least know it’s there when you’re ready?)


Be selfish this year. Go on, it won’t kill you! Find a place for YOU. And your art, whatever your art is! (Creativity doesn’t fit into a tiny box. We all have creativity in ourselves, and all that matters is that it matters to US.)


Make a physicial place for it in your life, however you can.


I promise you this: You will never regret it. Ever.

	


	





	

		
		
THERE’S NO GUARANTEED WAY TO SUCCESS So Stop Asking!
	


	
	
	

		
 


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When I’m here, in my studio, I’m so grateful I HAVE a studio! And wonderful building managers, and good people around me. And a social security check to pay my rent….


I’ve enjoyed posting answers to some questions on Quora.com. I’m always happy to share advice, insights, and encouragement.


But some of them are hair-tearing. And I just can’t go there anymore. I’m now very picky about which questions I respond to.


Since I blog, and have responded in the past to a few questions about how to start a blog, I get a LOT of requests that I have no interest in:


How can I make money with my blog? How do I write viral blog content? How do I get a big readership with my blog? I want to be a famous blogger! How do I start?


Seriously, I want to scream.


I know there are tons of articles, books, etc. assuring us that there are steps for success in every medium, occupation, path, career, etc. Everywhere we go, we see promotions like these. How to make a million dollars. How to be successful. How to increase your followers/readership/sales. Blah blah blah, etc. etc. etc.


Look if there were a sure-fire recipe for success, a precise road to follow to be famous and famous, wouldn’t we ALL be successful/rich/famous?


My advice stays grounded and encouraging. No way am I gonna promise you success, fame, fortune. Because…


It’s not about having an audience. It’s about having a voice.


I can’t remember who told me this, years ago, but boy has it stuck.*


A voice in the world…. YOUR say, about what’s important to YOU. Sharing what works for YOU. And encouraging others to having THEIR say in the world.


It’s about honesty and integrity. Perseverance. Writing about what’s important to YOU, what makes YOU happy, what keeps YOU going, and WHY.**


I write because it helps work through my own sh…..crap. It’s how I get from a feeling of despair or hopeless, into a feeling of hope and gratitude for what I CAN do, and what I ALREADY have.


I write because often, when I share what I’ve gone through, what I’ve learned, and what I’m grateful for, others write back and share how much my words helped THEM.


Am I a perfect person? Heck no! But if I have helped one other person in the world get to a better place in their heart, encouraged one person in the world to pursue their creative work, shown one person in the world what’s possible, then all of this is worth it to me.


And as my health improves, slightly/slowly but steadily, coming back to my blog has been an effin’ miracle. I feel at home again.


So thank you to all the people who have reached out to wish me well (back atcha!!), to those who have shared that my words have helped THEM, to the people who have shared their own insights, thoughts, experiences….


THANK YOU!!


Now go home and make/write/share stuff.


*Ironically, here’s what AI said about my quote: “The quote “It’s not about having an audience, it’s about having a voice” emphasizes the importance of expressing one’s authentic self and sharing one’s unique perspective, regardless of whether anyone is listening. It suggests that true meaning lies in the act of communication itself, rather than in achieving external validation or recognition.” Good work, AI!! (Seriously!)


**Okay, please don’t share recipes from Hannibal Lecter. Unless you’re a comedian, and joking. Even then…..just….no. Please.


 


 


 


 

	


	





	

		
		
A LEAP OF FAITH: More Wisdom from Scram-lets
	


	
	
	

		
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My entry for Restore Recreations, a fund-raiser for Habitat for Humanity, using items I’ve bought at Restore Mktplace and thrift shops, and things I’ve made.


I’m the puzzle girl. I love crossword puzzles (easy ones!), KrossWord puzzles, Jumble puzzles and Scram-Lets. Er…as long as they’re not TOO hard to figure out…. Horoscopes? Not something I see as “science”, but sometimes the wisdom in the readings can offer good insights and inspiration, too.


Lately I’ve been saving some of these after I realized if they resonate with me, they might resonate with YOU. So today, a quote from a Scram-Lets:


“Sometimes your only means of transportation is a leap of faith.”


I love this!


My whole creation process changed directions during the Pandemic. I went from trying to figure out new projects in my head, to figuring stuff out through trial-and-error.


And that’s what happened with this newest project, an item I recently made to donate to Habitat for Humanity for a fundraiser event.*


I had one plan, which changed constantly along the way, finally ending with something that was better that I’d originally planned.




Also, I’ve always avoided coasting on the artwork of other cultures, but when I saw a pie spatula with a zebra’s head on it, I couldn’t resist! Still, I hesitated until I read a recent article in National Geographic magazine on how all forms of modern and almost-modern humans originated in Africa.


My tag reads, “We are all one person.”


To me, this means we all belong here, we all deserve love and respect (okay, except for CERTAIN PEOPLE right now) and that we all have a place in the world.


This, too, is why I don’t do sit-ins or protest gatherings. Just not my thing. Instead, I’ve been making a major effort to gather and donate items for the Sam Jones Hall homeless shelter across the field from my studio. I’ve reached out to Buy Nothing groups and on NextDoor to gather bedding, clothing, etc. for the shelter.


It’s not only made ME feel like I’m helping the world to be a better place. It’s helping  everyone who reached out to offer me stuff to donate.


Some of the backstories these donating people shared were heartbreakingly beautiful, too.


So a leap of faith got me through a creative crisis.


A leap of faith helped me find a way to help others that works for me. 


A leap of faith helps me see how important it is to do the work of my heart, no matter how much (or how little) money I make, no matter how famous (or not so famous) my work makes me.


I do the work of my heart because it heals ME.


And when I share it with others, with the stories that inspired me, the hard times that took me down, the little daily miracles that helped me back up…


I know I’m doing the right thing for them,too.


So, no judging yourself.


Don’t do what you love, expecting the money will follow.


Do what you love, because it makes you the best person you can be in the world.


Take that leap of faith. Because you need to believe in yourself.


And that is what will help us all make the world a better place, for everyone.


* Habitat for Humanity Restore is located at 1201 Piner RD #500 in Santa Rosa. Click the link to see the details, the rewards**, etc. you’ll get just by participating! The event will have food trucks, live music, and hopefull lots of buyers, too.


**Restore Recreations will give you up to $40 for the materials you purchase from them to make your artwork, and a $50 gift certificate for donating! Very unusual for donations, and very much appreciated!!!


 

	


	





	

		
		
PEARL EARRINGS and the Gift of Kindness
	


	
	
	

		
Small acts of kindness make the world a better place.


And doing small acts of kindness make US better people!


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My messy desktop. I LOVE IT!!!!


 


 


 


 


I love making pearl earrings!


I have a sh**load….er…a ton of pearls. I can’t stop buying them! I have them in almost every size, shape, and color.


But they’ve never sold very quickly. Didn’t stop me from making them, though, because it’s a very soothing, restorative activity for me.


When I worked as a volunteer at a local non-profit hospice facility in Keene NH, I created a grief writing workshop for people who were struggling with long-term grief, the kind that’s hard to get through for a long, long time. It was amazing, and supportive, and heart-felt. I learned so much!


And at the last day, I brought in pearls to give away to the participants. (Just pearls, in different shapes, sizes, and colors.) Because pearls are formed in oysters when a small grain of sand gets inside their shell, and creates pain, and distress. In reaction, the oyster coats the bit of sand with layers of nacre, over and over, to ease the pain.


It was the perfect metaphor for how we get through (not over!) our grief.


After we moved to California, we had a horrible wildfire that destroyed over 5,000 homes in our part of the county. Same thing. I, and many other artists, gave away some of artwork to give those people a little joy, and maybe a little hope in their arts.


That started a “thing” for me. I put my pearl earrings in a little box and keep them in my purse.


And when someone is having a hard day, or when I see someone go out of their way to be kind to others, I offer them a pair of pearl earrings.


They react with shock (in a good way), with gratitude, and with joy.


And it lifts my heart to be such a small force for good in the world.


Here’s my favorite story:


I volunteer at an arts-and-crafts thrift store, and there’s a young person  who I admire for their courage, artistry, and wonderful personality. I’ve given out hundreds of earrings to people in various agencies, including this store, and offered them a pair of earrings, too.


But they said they didn’t wear earrings, so I offered to make them a pearl necklace.


Then I realized they were still eagerly looking through the earrings, and they picked out a pair and asked if they could have those.


I asked them why they wanted earrings they wouldn’t wear. Would they give them to someone else? (Which was fine with me.)


No, they said. And words to this effect….


When someone gives them something, they appreciate it so much, they keep them where they can see item every day. They set up a display of these gifts, no matter if it’s something they can use or not, or even if they’re not that wild about them, or can’t use them. (Ears not pierced, in my case!)


Because…


It means someone cares enough about them, values them, as a person.


And every day, they look at that display, and remember that care and love.


I almost cried.


I told them to take two pairs.


It was the most mature, insightful, profound response I’ve ever heard. And it made ME happy!


I know now that almost everyone feels that way about out-of-the-blue gifts, thank-you’s, gratitude. And every time we “see” the good work, acts of kindness, perseverence, in others, they know we see them.


I’m never gonna stop making pearl earrings.


What is YOUR gift to the world?


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Love my pearls!


 


 


 


 

	


	





	

		
		
TODAY’S SCRAM-LET WISDOM: Finding My Way Through the Setbacks
	


	
	
	

		
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My Migration series took decades in my head, but came to fruition quickly through trial-and-error!


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Small shrines was a long-time-in-the-head project, too!


Yup, I love word puzzles! Especially crosswords, Kriss Kross, Zig Zag Word Search, and…anagrams! Jumble and Scram-lets. (Not so much the extremely difficult ones, though…. Not enough brain space anymore.)


I love Scram-lets because they often carry, not just humor, but also a note of insight and wisdom. And this one inspired my column today….


“My teacher told me that doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will.”


It really stuck with me because…welp, I’ve already shared this, but’s it’s popped up again.


I get stuck when I can’t figure something out in my head. When I feel I have to anticipate all the roadblocks, construction, solutions, before I even start a new project.


And that has often held me back for years. YEARS!


As a good friend once said to me, “I love my life lessons! I love them so much, I learn them again and again and again and….” (Thank you, Melinda Labarge!)


Anyhoo, coming across this wisdom AGAIN made me realize it’s probably pretty common. And something we have to get back to again. And again.


It’s not because we’re “failures”. It’s because some of us are wired this way.


And the only way to break through is to put down that doubt, that hesitation, that feeling that we aren’t “good enough” and simply TRY.


That was the big gift during Covid for me. Finally realizing I finally had solitude, no commitments, and TIME to figure out the projects that had sat in the attic of my head-and-heart for years. Trial-and-error. My greatest success story!


So if you find yourself wonking yourself over the head for not making progress on a project, think deep about what’s really holding you back.


Lack of time? Full of perfection?


Or….doubt?


Failure works better than these “reasons” because we learn through experimentation and effort WHAT WORKS and what doesn’t. And every part that DOESN’T work, simply clears the deck for something new.


Soooo much wisdom in Scram-lets!


What gets YOU into the game again? Share in the comments!


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Here’s a Scram-Lets puzzle!

	


	





	

		
		
THIS MIGHT HELP YOU GET THROUGH
	


	
	
	

		
 


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Even in prehistoric times, people were fearful and afraid. And they found a way through. A little hope in the dark….


These are scary times. No….TERRIFYING times. And it could get worse.


And my first thoughts, every day, are this: Anne Frank: The Diary of A Young Girl”


I chose this link to a book review because of this sentence:


Discovered in the attic in which she spent the last years of her life, Anne Frank’s remarkable diary has become a world classic—a powerful reminder of the horrors of war and an eloquent testament to the human spirit.




Yes, I’m just as frantic as you are. But I choose, every day, to stop looking for ways to panic, and to look for….hope.


Even the smallest action, the tiniest act to support the agencies and people who are fighting back, can help. Even the smallest step to helping other people caught up in this, can help.


Here is a list of resources, articles of what we can do, and what helps me:


First, Joan Westberg wrote a beautiful, powerful piece about how to get our hearts and minds out of the chaos, and focus on actually doing something: Your World is Burning Down. Here’s What You Can Actually Do About It


Robert Reich, professor and former United States Secretary of Labor, posted a terrific column listing the most important agencies we can support right now:  What You Can Do: Ten Ways to Resist Trump II


Think about which issues are affecting us locally, and support the organizations being attacked. This article I wrote about homeless people sets the strategy of deciding what ones we can identify with–and act on them! (It doesn’t have to be homeless people, but it’s still a good cause, too.)      Not All Homeless People


What I’ve been doing:


Adding to my (small) monthly donations to organizations that really help. Everything from journalism (Pro Publica, activism (ACLU),  Center for Biological Diversity, etc. We don’t need to donate thousands, or hundreds of dollars. Even $5 a month helps. And encourage friends, cohorts, and family to do the same.


Sharing this with other people. Trying to walk my partner through his anxiety, which DOES NOT HELP, him nor our country. I send him articles that address this and offer insights, suggestions, and comfort. (Share those, too.) Robert Brezsny, astrologer, has excellent insights to deal with our pain right now: What Should We Do With Our Suffering? (Okay, a longtime friend/reader/artist found the link!! Thank you, Elaine Luther!!!)


Buddha says there are two kinds of suffering: the kind that leads to more suffering and the kind that brings an end to suffering. —Terry Tempest Williams


(Okay, I don’t believe in astrology, but it often opens new ways to think about my day. And Brezsny is very wordy, but this actually helped Jon.)


Mr. Rogers had something to say about this, too: Look for the helpers 


Last, but not least, think about the creative work you do. It’s never pointless. Even if it just helps you get your heart to a better place, that’s healing. And so often, the story behind our work is powerful, too. Here’s mine:  An Ancient Story for Modern Times


In addition to donating to national organizations that are working for the good, I’ve been organizing opportunities for people to donate clothing, bedding (including pillows, which most thrift stores can’t accept), for a local homeless shelter for people who have chosen to transist to housing. And a manager at a thrift shop I volunteer at has been knitting hats to donate there, too! (A LOT of hats!)


I’ve been encouraging people for years to honor their creative work, whatever it is, because it helps us deal with everything else in life. It’s not about the money. It’s about our joy, our self-respect, and our mental health.


I recently started volunteering to teach one-off craft classes for an agency that assists kids who might be struggling. As a former….er…still-current perfectionist….it’s hard to not over-obsess about what’s possible, but so far it’s going well.


I’m doing a lot of doggy-sitting most mornings for neighbors whose schedules have become hectic, and I’m lovin’ it! (So does OUR dog!)


There more, but….


That’s enough for today. And of course, no need to dive into all of these suggestions at once.


But if you need a little hope in your heart, and courage to do the right thing, I hope this helps.


And pass it on to anyone you think would benefit from it, too!

	


	





	

		
		
EVERYTHING’S GETTING (A LITTLE) BETTER! Sleep Stuff For You
	


	
	
	

		
2024 was my least favorite year ever. Sooooooo many (not fatal) health issues….


But things are getting better, and I’m so grateful for that!


Today I’m gonna focus on my CPAP machine. When I first shared having issues sleeping, I made an appointment with a nurse practioner in the sleep department. (She is amazing! If you have access to Sutter health in Santa Rosa, and need help with this, reach out to me and I’ll send you her contact info.)


I shared that I was scared of the test, based on really old testing procedures, and scared of having to go on a CPAP machine, based on same, and based on horrible ads on the internet about how awful they are.


But I plowed through, supported by my NP that things have changed. I found that the testing process is now easy-peasy. You do it at home, in your own bed, with a monitoring device that looks like a plastic wrist watch. It sends the data to the facility and they analyze it easily.


And using the CPAP machine is not only really helpful, it’s not nearly as hard to get used to as I expected.


Yes, it takes time. But it just got better week by week, month by month.


I want to thank each and every person who reached out to me when I shared my fears, the people who reassured me that, yes, it takes some time to get used to. (About six months.) There were some adaptations and stuff I had to experiment with. But yes, six months later, it’s easy-peasy to use, has had an enormous benefit to my sleep (my incidents of apnea went from 44 an hour to…..less than one.)


I’ve joined that gang! I now encourage others to get the testing, and to be patient with the process, too! Turns out so many people have exactly the thoughts and fears I had, and I walk them through the process, break the myths, and share my experience. (And recommend my NP, too.) IT’S WORTH THE EFFORT. IT HELPS!


And here’s another thing that really really helped:


I was worried because I still wake up several times at night. (I finally realized this has always been a thing for me, and I thought it was something terrible. And I’ve rarely ever awakened in the morning feeling “rested”.)


Then this week I found this article Interesting Facts: Debunking 5 Common Myths About Aging


This article really lifted my heart about so many of the things we all worry about as we age. And it turns out it doesn’t matter so much that I don’t get 8 straight hours of sleep, as long as I sleep enough!


Long story short (is it too late to say this is “short”??) things aren’t as bad as I thought they were….


There’s plenty of stuff going on in the world right now, and I’ve come across more great articles about the wrong ways to deal with that, and the right way to face it. More on that soon.


Because my goal now is to get back to sharing experiences, insights, and hope that I can share with YOU, to help you get YOUR life back.


I’ll circle back with a good image for this article in a bit. I set it aside so I could WRITE SOMETHING today, instead of focusing on pictures.


But the very fact that I WANT TO WRITE is what matters to me, today.


And I hope wherever you are in the crazy world right now, you do what matters to YOU. Because that helps us be our best self, helps us do the work and support the causes that will make the world a better place, for all of us.