This morning, I got up feeling empowered to get my morning pages completed and an artist walk in before getting to work.  It felt like an essential to-do that I could not miss in order to set my day up for success.  At present, I’ve embarked on completing the Artist Way.  For those of you not familiar with it, it’s a 12-week program designed to unblock creativity.  This is something that I’ve wanted to do for a while and frankly have not made it a priority.  However, after deciding that my creativity is indeed blocked (yes, I said it), I decided to take the Artist Way course directly from the author Julia Cameron at Omega in Rhinebeck, New York.  It was something that I was looking forward to for a long time.  Similar to how I was looking forward to seeing the movie Eat, Pray, Love this weekend. Anyway, I digress as that’s another story in itself. 

According to Julia herself and her book, there are 3 basic tools to unlocking your creativity.  Those tools are 1) 3 pages of morning pages each day as soon as you wake up; 2) an artist walk – 20 minutes; and 3) an artist date – a creativity date with yourself (solo).

On a mission to become reacquainted with my creative self, I’ve been on par with morning pages and wanted to up my game with the artist walk.  All weekend long I wanted to take a walk but my body had other plans as I fought off a cold that found me in bed for most of Saturday.  Sunday was no better as I got dressed but simply could not make it out either.  But this morning, I awoke with renewed vigor as I feverishly wrote my morning pages and geared up for the artist walk.  I was blessed to have missed the morning rain as I took to the streets of Norwalk for a walk.  I was comfortable and feeling good about myself until I passed a window and got a peek of myself.  What was I wearing? Oh geez, it wasn’t great.  My Quinnipiac sweatshirt, my favorite grey sweats, a visor and my hair in pin curls.  Clearly my walk was more important that getting dolled up for the walk although I have encountered a few folks who’ve commented on seeing me walking around Norwalk.  Oh well, as time progresses a more attractive me will emerge while walking.  For the moment, I’m working on a more attractive me on the inside so that’s what’s important. 

I thoroughly enjoyed my walk.  Julia says that you shouldn’t bring a cell phone, a recorder, or a note pad.  Just bring yourself and enjoy the beauty of nature with your thoughts.  You will remember what you need to remember from the walk.  It reminded me of the time when I was on sabbatical and I would go for 2 hour walks in amazement of the things that I was missing as I moved at a rapid pace through life.  The walk slows you down to notice.  So today, my wish for you is to treat yourself to an artist walk with yourself.  You will be amazed at how light you feel afterwards and perhaps more prepared for the rat race of a day that awaits you.  Happy Monday All.

~Simone