"Turk" the Tuxedo Cat I met on my walk today. He is eating grass next to my sketchbook. |
One of my favorite things to do is wander older neighborhoods. I love old houses and I love gardens, and the two often go hand-in-hand. I try to go on these journeys mid-week, because, while I love talking to people and making new friends, these wanderings are more for quiet solitude and peacefulness in my heart. I find that mid-week, most of these neighborhoods are relatively quiet and empty, except for the fantastic neighborhood cats who always come out to greet me and get lots of love and pets.
I always bring my sketchbook so I can sketch interesting shapes, that will later work their way (or not) into my paintings (a great tool I learned from the fantastic Flora Bowley, whose Brave Intuitive You: Bloom True e-course, I am currently taking). Today I sketched stone walls and acorns and fence posts and growing gourds, just to name a few.
Tree Pods and Old Houses. |
I had to go to the doctor today, and that always stresses me out. I am so glad that I gave myself this gift to go walking beforehand. I had an intention to do this every week, especially before the rainy-season started, and yet here we are in October and I have only made these walks twice this Summer/Fall! Why do I deny myself this simple, easy, free experience? I think there is a very fierce voice in my head that thinks I don't "deserve" to space out and walk around for a few hours. It's this very old voice that is a fierce task-master. This voice (I call her "Greta" and picture her as a giant German Mistress) often yells at me to "work harder" and whatever I do is never enough for her. I'm trying to not listen to her and follow my deeper, soulful instincts that call me to walk and dream and draw.
Gorgeous stairs leading to a very secluded house. Dare I climb them? |
Oak Hill Park, Petaluma, CA |
What's a simple, easy gift of peace and creativity you can give yourself this week?