Time

There are so many things I want to do with my art.

Hooking stories and people from my life is probably number 1. Writing and publishing, a very close second. A small business owner is something I come back to in my imaginings everyday. A line of hand sewn products from widow dolls to crazy quilt ties is in my stash of ideas.

Developing and planning is and always has been a huge part of my life. The drain of every day living and bad habits of social media can sometimes steal away that very happy and comforting part of my thinking time.

I have also been rooted in grief for close to three years now. But, as Virginia Woolf says, “I am rooted, but I flow”, and perhaps one of the more unexpected parts of loss has been the finding of time, or shall I say the knowing of the importance of finding the time.

Time for creating.

Time for dreaming.

Time for thinking.

Time for being.

In this static state of healing and loss I have found the freedom to just be.

I have also discovered the power and importance of idea writing. Truthfully, and without too much guilt, I will tell you that often, as I arrive at work and shed layers of clothes and bags and paper, to sit with a second coffee, is when I jot down notes from the thoughts I have had while driving. Perhaps I will draw a rough sketch of something I have seen. It began as a way to process conversations, internally, that I could no longer share with my spouse in a morning text.

I had to find a replacement and thank you, God, I have. And while I could no doubt be using that time more efficiently in terms of work, I can tell you this: that brief time I spend with myself, when I need it, is beneficial to all those I come in contact with as the day progresses, for I am settled.

I often play music from personal playlists on my drive to and from work. It’s usually Elvis Presley compilations. His music has always brought a lot of comfort to me and he inspires me. He encourages me to plan and to prepare for my day. So, this year, I have decided to spend even more time with him by engaging in a routine letter writing activity with the king.

I would like it to be a daily routine. I would like to share excerpts of letters with you each week as I get into the groove of sharing experiences, ideas, and questions with my kingly confidante. I am pumped for this. It will be a departure from my original blog and I hope part of a larger website that will encompass all of my creative ideas.

Time, the taking of it, has brought me so many valuable tools such as hope, renewed faith, perspective, gratefulness, and joy.

These tools have come together, they have met, to settle me, so that I can be at peace.

Thank you for reading and sharing my writing. I hope you will continue to do so in this new and upcoming format.

Happy 2022.

Love Melissa xoxo