monday mood : love what you do

Mondays are particularly difficult for me. I need the day to clean the slate and mentally prepare for the week ahead. I’m moody on Mondays because I feel like I’m always starting the week from behind.

To give myself a little jolt on a sluggish Monday morning, I’m starting the day with a pep talk of sorts, lessons learned, and experiences that will hopefully help me get through my day, and with some luck, through my week.

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A few weekends ago, my Big Guy played a travel ball tournament where they were matched up against older and more experienced baseball teams. Those teams went on to win gold and silver in the division. We lost by an average of 10 runs. Having suffered such a great loss, they still walked out of the dugout with their chins up, knowing that for a little bit, they kept up with the best teams. As the boys regrouped to remember their favorite plays in the game, I noticed that my son looked a bit down. I headed over to give him the “you did your best and that’s all that matters” chat but when I asked him about it, he responded, “I wish we could play more innings or had another game today.” Win or lose, he was happy to have the opportunity to play the game that he loves.

That weekend was a reminder to love what I do just because I get to do it.

The best part about Paper Musings is having the chance to create. I sketch ideas, work on new illustrations, find new ways to play with everyday materials, and piece together new embellishments. I have been creating with a timeline so I can introduce designs every few months to coincide with the Market shows in January and June and smaller seasonal shows in March and October. However, designing with a looming deadline, albeit one that I impose on myself, can be pretty stifling. I have been in a creative funk.

Then I was reminded that I should be doing what I love simply because I have the opportunity to do it. I didn’t worry about it being perfect or if it would sell. I sat at my desk and enjoyed the process of drawing and then having a completed design that was previously floating around in my head.

I apologize for being absent from twitter and the blog as of late. With a little help around the house (thanks mom and dad), I was able to finish seven designs that may be part of a new collection. I’ve got a ways to go, but it’s a start. Doing a bit every day will eventually get me to my goal. Designing because I love the process…. well, that’s my chance to play.

monday mood: on the way to a dream

Mondays are particularly difficult for me. I need the day to clean the slate and mentally prepare for the week ahead. I’m moody on Mondays because I feel like I’m always starting the week from behind.

To give myself a little jolt on a sluggish Monday morning, I’m starting the day with a pep talk of sorts, lessons learned, and experiences that will hopefully help me get through my day, and with some luck, through my week.

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I was enchanted by this photo titled “follow” by fresh snapped photos from the moment it was introduced in the photo of the day series on paisley wallpaper.

This picture tells the story of my journey and echoes my favorite quote.

“Sometimes on a way to a dream, you get lost and find a better one” – unknown

And I’m proud to have it as an addition for my wall as I try to reclaim my office.

I’d like to say that I have a plan for my life, for my business, for Monday. Truth is, I only have guidelines. I don’t have any concrete steps where I do A then B and I’ll get to C. What plans I did have never really came to fruition. Don’t get me wrong, having a plan is important and working hard toward that goal will be the only way to ever achieve it. But somehow while working toward C, I end up somewhere like Q.

I never dreamed of Q. It was not even on the map. I planned on finishing grad school and teaching, but instead I am running my own stationery business. I did not know this option existed, but looking back, there have been hints in this direction. I never followed the signs and simply forged ahead with grad school. That is until a giant neon flashing billboard in my head stopped me in my tracks. I wish I could say that it was like the bright flashing lights of winning a Vegas jackpot accompanied by a loud ding, ding, ding and an “I got it!” moment.

It was more of a big WHAT. ARE. YOU. DOING?! moment. Answer: No idea.

The only thing I knew for sure was that I did not want to continue doing what I was doing. That one moment of clarity allowed me to be lost for a while and to find my better dream.

Like the wooden path that is clearly focused in the first few steps, sometimes the only thing I can be sure of is what is directly in front of me. The rest of the journey has a bit of meandering, without a clear destination. Accordingly, the path there becomes out of focus.

So this week, I am going to be grateful that I have stumbled upon my little path and stay focused on and enjoy what I do now instead of worrying about where I should be. What I have now is more than I’ve ever imagined. And although I don’t know the destination, I am sure that it is a place that I have yet to dream.

Happy Monday!