We are five months into 2021 (nearly six!), so it is time for a midyear check in. Have I kept the resolutions I made in January? Have I created new goals?
Writing and Sketching
I’m lumping every resolution involving writing and drawing into one category because I’d end up repeating myself otherwise. Here’s a quick summary of the lofty goals I had coming into 2021.
Drawing – get back to pre-pandemic levels of content (this includes High Castle projects).
Writing – finish writing Alice or Metropolis
I counted the number of drawings I posted on Instagram since January, and it is a tiny 24. Am I surprised by this? Nope. There is something to be said about the pandemic phenomenon popularly dubbed languishing. In my case, it was born out of the sameness of every day. It feels like a blur stretched across the vast expanse of space and time. Creativity thrives off of invigoration and the small, random happenstances that made pre-pandemic days stand out from each other.
Am I fighting this? Of course, but I’m not going to lie and put on a fake smile and say it’s an easy battle. It’s not. But I’ll be damned if I don’t at least try, even if it means just writing a single sentence at a time or sketching a wobbly line. Tiny steps toward progress are much better than doing nothing at all.
A Much Needed Morale Boost
Written two weeks ago – I feel that this is worth sharing
I went downtown today. It felt like venturing out into the wilderness. The adventure, even the mundane bits as I flashed my day pass to the driver and stepped onto the bus, boosted my mood and made me forget about everything for a while. I don’t know if it was enough to wake my creative senses, but it helped my overall state of being. I sincerely hope we have a swift return back to normalcy soon.
Working Out
Oddly enough, this is the one goal that I’ve kept. How did that happen!? Is this some sort of parallel universe? I kid, I kid!
I didn’t think it was possible or that I’d have the motivation, but here I am working out on the elliptical machine three days a week and wanting to up the ante.
The single most important tip I have for those thinking about picking up a workout routine is to daydream. You won’t feel the pain. Trust me. Live that extra life where you’re flying Starfuries, battling Thanos, or visiting the stars!
Other News
Seriously Geeky Sundays
Heather announced last week that this month marks the end of Seriously Geeky Sundays. It had a great run, and I am happy to have taken part in it. I met some wonderful people, so I just want to thank Heather for creating it and coming up with new prompts every week.
*hugs* I am so glad you enjoyed it and to have met you through SGS! I’ll be taking a little bit of time to get myself caught up on things and then I’ll have some new stuff coming out 😉
I wanted to say not to be too harsh on yourself especially regarding your art. Yes, 24 may be low for you but it’s still 24 more than 0. It’s still 24. You’ve got to look at it that way rather than looking at it as a failure because otherwise, you’re never going to win that battle with the ugly thoughts and feelings.
And I’ve seen those 24 drawings and they’ve been bloody gorgeous, so maybe instead of counting the number compare them in a different way? How much have you advanced in skill? Perhaps it isn’t that you’ve been struggling at all and it’s that you’ve actually been putting more time into each one and thus they’ve taken longer to produce, or you’re being pickier about your subject matter. I know from personal experience that I automatically look at myself when I notice something has changed like there is a big bright red arrow saying ‘it was her, she did it! it’s all her fault! (again!)’.
Thank you for such a thoughtful and kind reply. It means a lot to me. I am going to look deep within myself to see if that is indeed the case for drawing.
I look forward to what you have in store!