Chapter 2 of The Artist's Way:
One topic was staying away from negative people who are uncomfortable with our creativity and who try to shame us and diminish our artistic impulses. The book suggests drawing out a circle of safety, putting those things that need to be protected inside the circle, along with those people who love and accept and support us. On the outside of the circle goes threats to our creativity. It's good to be reminded who is supportive and who is not supportive. There's nothing worse than sharing your creative vision with the most negative, pessimistic person you know. There just won't be a good outcome, so it's best to avoid that interchange.
Another theme was reconnecting to who we really are, tapping into our imagination and yearnings and memories of the past.
For one of my exercises, I chose to make a list of 10 things I like to do, especially those I have not done in a while. At the top of the page: Horseback riding.
So, I ask myself, why have I not ridden a horse in three years, ever since I moved from the ranch in California to New Orleans? (That's Bill, my beautiful, late Thoroughbred you see above. What a kind and magnificent creature!)
I have so many great excuses why I haven't ridden a horse in a long time! I live in a city now. I no longer have my own horse. I'm not that good at it.
But it turns out the biggest reason is that I know people who are really into horses, who own a bunch of horses and go riding all the time. They pretty much know just about everything.
So I have a habit, when confronted by someone else's expertise, to just take that big chunk of my passion and set it aside as if it's not worthy. The subtle agreement I've made with myself is that I won't do anything that someone else can do better.
Of course, that eliminates just about all the joys of life, doesn't it?
So my task is to contact the Equest Farm stables in New Orleans City Park and sign up for some horseback riding lessons. It starts with a $45 evaluation lesson to determine how skilled or unskilled I am and then to set up a series of weekly lessons.
I could cry I'm so happy about this.
Again, the Artist's Way program works its magic as I start to reclaim the wholeness of myself. It's a sweet, sweet journey.
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