Wanna feel better about your creating space?

I am lucky. I have a room of my own, just as Virginia Woolf prescribed. It used to be the little bedroom (tiny boxroom that even the realtors called half a bedroom!), then it morphed into the junk room. Ever since the single bed went though, it has been designated a room for me to use as I will and there is a table in there for me to sew. It has seen so many cycles of big sort out - creative use - too messy to use - time for the big sort out again.

We live in a small space in London. I have many interests, and I have done 5 years of university while we've lived here. The walls are bursting at the seams. But we love it. When I left work, my first priority was to declutter everything, but it has been discouraging, when small steps are swallowed up by the intimidating whole.

But I am lucky, I have a room of my own and by damn, I'm going to use it. Today I'd had enough. Why? Maybe because Zenia just moved and it is so much fun setting up a new space. Maybe because I just got back from Artfest and realised that without my space I am less productive. Maybe it's because I am going to IKEA tomorrow and I can buy some stuff to help. Whatever it is, it's not a good idea on a day when you are feeling utterly crappy with some random bug.

So in the name of fresh starts, I am coming clean. This is my space, stripped back to bare bones.Artspace
And in the name of full disclosure, here is something worse. This is everything I had to move from the floor, the table, the window sill, and the chair, to even get it looking like this. Bear in mind please that this is also everything I need to put back, give away or throw out. I am going to handle the shelves one at a time, I didn't dare go any further once the bed was covered.
Artspace_clutter
Now I am going to put some music on, get a wet cloth and see what I can do!

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On my mind this beautiful day...

It's a beautiful day. My work is done. Maybe today I'll get through some things on the list:

  • secret baking
  • felting some bowls
  • a 'waxy layers' collage inspired by Judy Wise (techniques) and Shimelle (content)
  • taxes (no they're not late, or early, they asked me for some retrospectively)
  • moleskine exchange
  • artfest posts
  • upload photos

That'll do for now...

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Compassion

Towards the end of our visit in Seattle, the Dalai Lama was there for Seeds of Compassion gathering. The 5 day gathering was planned to focus world attention on the following:

• Our communities need thoughtful, creative adults who are actively engaged citizens.
• Our global society needs people equipped to communicate across cultures and address differences through understanding and collaborative problem solving.
             • These qualities must take root in early childhood.
• When children build from strong foundations emotionally, socially and cognitively, they can develop into compassionate adults.

The points above were taken from the Seeds of Compassion website. Please spend some time there, where you will find ideas for practising compassion in your daily life, broadcasts from the event, resources for sharing and teaching compassion and more info.

I am currently reading When Things Fall Apart and listening to How to Meditate both by Pema Chodron. She is a Buddhist nun working out of Nova Scotia and her story is fascinating. I find her books easy to read, although the ideas she puts forth are quite complex at times, and her voice on the CD is human and accessible, not stagey at all. I've also got The Wisdom of No Escape lined up.

This week, from the Seeds of Compassion website, something to try:

when you meet friends and strangers. Do it discreetly and try to do all the steps with the same person. With your attention geared to the other person, tell yourself:  

— Step 1: “Just like me, this person is seeking happiness in his/her life.” 
  — Step 2: “Just like me, this person is trying to avoid suffering in his/her life.”
  — Step 3: “Just like me, this person has known sadness, loneliness and despair.” 
  — Step 4: “Just like me, this person is seeking to fill his/her needs.” 
  — Step 5: “Just like me, this person is learning about life.” 

See if it changes how you relate to them and see if it changes how you feel in your skin and in your world. Let us know how it goes.

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