36 Things: A Status Update

I'm going to be 37 tomorrow. To mark the occasion I thought it would be fun to review the status of last year's list of 36 things I wanted to do before I turned 37 (can someone please tell me where the year went?!):

1. run 5K
2. host a Creative Salon
3. update my resume
4.create my freelancing Web site and business card - Moo cards printed, URL bought and site under construction
5. save $5000
6. take a solo trip - it doesn't have to be far - A day trip to Montreal to catch the Van Dongen exhibit at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.
7. show my artwork at a local café, restaurant or gallery - I showed at not one but two places: my hair salon and, though it's not local, at the Vision of Squam art show. Hurray!
8. go hiking somewhere new - A new to me trail at Mer Bleue Bog; Algonquin Park; Acadia National Park in Bar Harbor, Maine.
9. lose 10 pounds
10. find a pair of tall black boots - They're black, they're tall and they're kickass sexy!
11. hike Gatineau Park's Wolf trail again
12. volunteer
13. write a personal essay - maybe even submit it for publication
14. self-publish a book on Blurb about my Urban Living Experiment
15. clean/upgrade my PC - Yup.
16. see a Cirque du Soleil performance
17. get married (squee!) - Squee!
18. bake a batch of Mom's chocolate chip cookies
19. research and profile ten female artists on my blog - past and present
20. publish a resource list on my blog (creativity, personal finance, writing, starting a business, etc.)
21. meet three people active in the local arts community - One I kept in touch with and two others I have their card and chatted with them during a seminar on art and market readiness, so half a point for this one.
22. start a Creative Living Experiment blog - Voici!
23. re-read The Omnivore's Dilemma
24. go swimming - I waded in to my waist so I'll give myself a half point for this one.
25. go dancing - Yup, with the girls at Gracie's.
26. go on a solo date on a summer terrace with a book
27. write my morning pages at least four times a week - I can't say for sure that I averaged four times, but I think it was close.
28. visit NYC with D.
29. go dancing with D.
30. go canoeing - On Bennett Lake during our week at the cottage. It was bliss there.
31. make Mom's meat pie - Yup and yum.
32. take a drawing or painting class - Abstract Painting and I loved it; workshops at Squam
33. go to a Bluesfest concert - Blue Rodeo, KISS & a few more
34. have my photo taken for my Web site/creative business - Although the photo shoot was just for fun, I'd definitely use some of the photos on my Web site!
35. do something with my mandala series - I don't know what yet
36. paint/collage at least once a week

Despite only having done about half of what I set out to do I am happy with the results. In addition to what's on the list I did so much more and for the most part, all was in the spirit of creating the life I want. That for me is success.

I intend to put forward another list this year and it will probably be just as aggressive, 'cause that's just how I roll. I strongly believe that if I write it down there's much more of a chance I'll make it happen. Besides, I've not much to lose by doing so but oh so much to gain.

Stay tuned...

A Good Bad Week (or Sunday Gratefuls)

This past week at work was rough and left me drained on most days, sapped of energy to do anything other than crash in bed or in front of the TV. That made it a bad week.

But it was a good week too, 'cause even if work was draining so many good things transpired for which I am grateful:

• sharing powerful moments of hope and tears with a friend over sunny weather drinks on a gray February day
• finding a house to rent that meets most of the criteria D. and I listed on on our wish list, seeing it, sleeping on our decision to go ahead with it then signing the lease
• after acknowledging that work isn't going so well, finding the courage to talk to my boss about switching projects, confronting my fears of failure and letting people down because I know it's the right thing to do
• celebrating another friend's major milestone, witnessing how powerfully inspiring one can be by simply doing the right thing one day at a time
• getting an unexpected $150 back-pay cheque (woohoo!)
  
• curling up with D. and Cassie on a Sunday morning to watch Montgomery Clift in a Hitchcock movie that was filmed in one of my favourite places, Old Québec City, and being inspired by Hitchcock's cinematography to fish out my photos of Old Québec and play with post-processing
• finding a pair of sexy tall black boots that fit my, ahem, thicker calves (#10 on the list) and a bonus pair of funky tall rain boots
• opening myself to the possibility that I still have some healing to do from my separation six years ago and that it's OK
  
• reading about the hiking trails of New Brunswick, identifying which ones we could explore during the summer vacation we're considering and getting pumped about hiking again
• for the first time in months (years?), feeling a soupçon of the confidence and zest for life I felt when I was on sabbatical in my funky little apartment downtown

If those aren't enough to make this bad week good I don't know what possibly could.

Till the next time...

A Vision of Squam and #7 on The List

When I saw this picture I started crying. I was overwhelmed with feelings of joy, relief, validation, pride, belonging, recognition and disbelief.

My painting is the 5th one on the top row and it's on this poster, for an art show, at a real gallery, surrounded by artwork created by teachers and peers who attended Squam Art Workshops in 2008. And it doesn't stick out like a sore thumb. It's a major personal achievement.

For those in or near the Rochester NH area, here are the specifics for a show that promises to be lovely all around thanks to a few very dedicated women with a grand vision:

• Who: art by Squam 2008 teachers and attendees; show put together by visionary Liz, and Susan and Mary-Jo from artstream studios
  
• What: A Vision of Squam art show
• When: Sept. 1-30, 2009, official opening is Sept. 11 from 5pm-7pm
• Where: artstream gallery, 56 North Main Street, Rochester, New Hampshire
• Why: to celebrate the spirit of Squam Art Workshops
  

Local shmocal, I'm crossing #7 off my list.

Signing In...

... to say I'm back, but not quite sure how to put the past week & a half into words.

In the meantime here are a few favourite post-party pics taken the morning after, and a gorgeous teaser picture of D & I taken by the amazing photographer-friend-woman-Squamsister Kirsten.

discarded photo booth prop: sequined Minnie ears

cakeless cake toppers Oscar (Wilde) and Frida (Kahlo)

no-wash dishes rented for the occasion

guest note garland (in lieu of a guest book)

And the teaser pic:

And I almost forgot, I get to cross #17 off my list. ;-)

New Digs, New Focus

Welcome to my new space - #22 on my list!

This site has been percolating in my mind and soul since January 2007. I played with names (Renaissance Rambles, Simple Living Experiment, Authentic Living Experiment), but the Universe has a way of working its magic and the past six months have led me to embark on a Creative Living Experiment as in creating-the-life-I-want, a life true to me.

There will be tweaking and playing with the layout in weeks to come, adding my blogroll and other tidbits. Content will be similar to that of my Urban Living Experiment with maybe an added focus on my journey in creating meaningful work, writing and the visual arts.

Being the renaissance soul that I am (a poetic way of saying that I’m focus-challenged) I suspect you’ll also find pieces about simple and frugal living, nature, books, financial independence and productivity. Add to that the odd pondering, grateful, wedding update, photo recap, movie review, local event, hiking or outdoor expedition, Life’s Big Questions (LBQs) and whatever tickles my fancy, and you’ll have well-rounded entertainment at your fingertips!

My original blogging goals of observing life in and around me, writing regularly and documenting my experiment remain.

I’ve added a fourth goal to use Creative Living Experiment as a vehicle to learn more about my interests and share what I’ve learned with others – a partially selfish goal with the hopes that it will prod me to expand my mind and life experience. I encourage you to take what you like and leave the rest.

Creative Living Experiment is a continued journey, a switch in focus from healing past hurts to creating new love and life. It’s a sequel to my Urban Living Experiment and the few years that came before it. I look forward to seeing where it leads me.

Thank you for being here. I do hope you’ll join me and see where it may lead you.

Love & hugs,

Steph

xox