Try Something New - December Challenge Update

The first two weeks of my Try Something new challenge has passed.......

Week 1
In the first week of the challenge I began to feel slightly despondent wasn't sure why.  It was something I wanted to do, I still got up and wrote a minimum of 100 words, more often than not doing 500+ words, but there was still a feeling of a dark cloud hanging over me and I was dissatisfied.  I realised there were a few reasons for these feelings:

• I didn't take stock of the previous challenge in November.   I had been doing my walking one and the Art every day month challenge and dove right into another one, and perhaps I needed a break. It's important to really acknowledge for yourself what you are doing and how far you have come.
• I had got a cold the last week of the November so was feeling under the weather and didn't offer myself any tender loving care! Being kind to yourself is the only way you can get through, you have to be flexible!
• I didn't celebrate the achievement of completing the November challenge, it's those little things that keep us going.....Celebrations are key for the end of a challenge, you have to recognise the achievement that you have  made, you have to acknowledge it.

• I had assumed that there would be bells and fireworks and massive revelation and deep insight into my life, and whilst I learnt many things, again its the small changes that we make that will give us the long term achievements.  Revelation can come in small packages and many of the aha moments can be attributed to outstanding discoveries.  Write down what you learn and look back over time.

I had also felt quite insecure and wasn't sure I could write under the spotlight and the public commitment that I had made, so I got myself all worked up as I approached the December challenge.  Reminding yourself why you are doing the challenge is key, for me there were a series of short stories that I wanted to write and this seemed a great way to find that time that eluded me and see the results.  As long as you remember why you are doing it you won't get phased out comparing yourself to others, and keep showing up for you....  I've got a few other challenges and things that I'd like to try over the coming year.....

I recognised where the insecure feelings were coming from and was able to face the feeling and see what really lay behind the tiredness, anxiety or disinterest.  I may never write a short story again after this, but at least I know I tried and I can cross another thing off that very long list of things I'd like to try. I went out to write in a different location on Monday and had a pick me up!

Week 2
At the end of the 2nd week I am feeling more confident and enjoying sitting down and putting pen to paper and come up with a story.  In the first week I was writing a story a day and managed to do 8000 words!  this week some of the stories and becoming longer than I anticipated and I have done in total 12,110 words and I am on my 8th story.  Seeing it in print like that really does feel like an achievement as I have far exceeded the 1500 words that it could have been had I stuck to the minimum words, I will stop being so hard on myself and enjoy the process more!  I am not going to worry about doing any images yet or editing until I have finish.

I am still walking, I'm not up at 6am but and have fallen into a 'when it suits' routine which provides a good place to break from work and get a fresh perspective.

I am really looking forward to hearing what you have found challenging this month and ways in which you have planned to work it out. With Christmas coming up there are challenges to be had, dealing with the relationships we have and those ones that can be challenging.  Brave Girls Club did a few humorous videos on dealing with these difficult situations, you can check it out.

Most importantly, what is on your art supply Christmas wish list?, do you have one?, what is at the top of yours?

365 Days of Colour - Flower of the Day 195 - 201

Day 195

Reflection

There is so much to be thankful for, make a list of 5 things you appreciate in your life.

Quote

All of our dreams can come true- if we have the courage to pursue them.....Walt Disney

Scripture

By one sacrifice He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy...Hebrews 10:14

Day 196

Reflection

We make choices all the time, which ones will you make about your life today

Quote

I am only one.  But still I am one.  I cannot do everything, but I still I can do something.  I will not refuse to do the something that I can do...Helen Keller

Scripture

O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His loving kindness is everlasting...1 Chronicles 16:34

Day 197

Reflection

Life is what you make it Every day

Quote

Enthusiasm is a kind of faith that has been set afire....George Matthew Adams

Scripture

Every word of God is pure; He is a shield unto them that put their trust in Him...Proverbs 30:5

Day 198

Reflection

The sun came out just for you today

Quote

One of the first things to do is learn to accept, and to expect this Power to flow through everything we do....Ernest Holmes

Scripture

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angles without knowing it...Hebrews 13:2

Day 199

Reflection

What are you hoping for today, how can you work towards it?

Quote

You can’t erase a dream, you can only wake me up....Peter Frampton

Scripture

The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runs into it and is safe...Proverbs  18:10

Day 200

Reflection

You are a work in progress

Quote

Why should we all use our creative power? Because there is nothing that makes people so generous, joyful, lively, bold and compassionate, so indifferent to fighting and the accumulation of objects and money... Brenda Ueland

Scripture

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ...Ephesians 1:3

Day 201

Reflection

It’s time to take action

Quote

This we know: all things are connected, like the blood which unites one family. All things are connected.  Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons of the earth. Man did not weave the web of life. He is merely a strand of it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself....Chief Seattle  

Scripture

This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us...1 John 5:14

365 Days of Colour - Flower of the Day 188 - 194

Day 188

Reflection

Treat yourself like the treasure that you are.

Quote

Every production of an artist should be the expression of an adventure of his soul...

W. Somerset Maugham

Scripture

This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us...1 John 5:14

Day 189

Reflection

Let go and shine, like the star you are becoming

Quote

I will not die an unlived life. I will not live in fear of falling or catching fire. I choose to inhabit my days, to allow my living to open me, to make me less afraid, more accessible, to loosen my heart until it becomes a wing, a torch, a promise. I choose to risk my significance; to live so that which comes to me as seed goes to the next as blossom and that which comes to me as blossom, goes on as fruit.  ....Dawna Markova

Scripture

..the Lord delights in those who far Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love...Psalm 147:11

Day 190

Reflection

Take the time to sit back and really enjoy the blessings in your life

Quote

Every blade of grass has its angel that bends over it and whispers, “Grow, grow.” ..

The Talmud

Scripture

The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice..Psalm 97:1

Day 191

Reflection

Love is the key, how will you show yourself that love

Quote

Don’t ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive...

Harold Whitman

Scripture

And do not neglect doing good and sharing; for with such sacrifices God is pleased..Hebrews 13:16

Day 192

Reflection

It’s your time to let love in for you

Quote

All is procession. The universe is a procession with measured and beautiful motion...

Walt Whitman

Scripture

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God...Matthew 5:9

Day 193

Reflection

Amazing blessings will start to unfold into your life

Quote

I believe the lasting revolution comes from deep changes in ourselves which influence our collective life.  ....Anais Nin

Scripture

For He will give His angels charge concerning

Day 194

Reflection

Bless yourself with honesty, be gentle

Quote

The position of the artist is humble. He is essentially a channel...Piet Mondrian

Scripture

For He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways...

Psalm 91:11

Try Something New for 30 Days December 2011 Challenge

December sees a new month and new challenges to be had!  I really want to make changes to every aspect of my life and starting out with small changes will eventually become bigger changes.  You can see how I got on with the November walking challenge.

The challenge I have set myself this month will be to write a minimum of 100 words a day.  The overall aim is to write a selection of childrens short stories combined with my mixed media art work in it. This is something I have always wanted to do, and thought why not for one month - again giving myself small chunks a day at a time see how I get on, I might find that I absolutely love it, or find that it was great for a month and its not something I want to continue. 

One of my favourite childrens books is by Ezra Jack Keats I still have a copy of The Snowy Day, he used a combination of gouache with collage in his work.

I was inspired back in 2010 to look at how I could combine my work into stories in a similar way.  This is how my decision to write started out....never took off and changed direction slightly:

• In 2004 I decided that I wanted to write childrens books, I never did, all I did was write a list of 45 possible titles, not sure why, but felt compelled to, I was determined to write......

• 2006 - I updated the book in January and promised myself that I would start at the end of the month.....
• 2007 saw me reviewing my goals ....and
• 2010 February after looking at why I hadn't started I realised I didn't want to write childrens books but childrens short stories and combine my love for mixed media.

So in December 2011 I have been nervous about committing myself, but you have to jump sometime!  I worked out that even doing my morning pages I write close to 1000 words if not more on occasions. So I will start, the main aim being not to complete the 45 story titles but to enjoy the process of writing and creating the art. If you don't start now when will you start, there is no time like the present!

If you would like to join in and give yourself a challenge this month leave your link below so that we can visit your blog and give you support and encouragment.  I will be leaving update posts each week to share how I have been getting on and look forward to visiting your blogs to see how you have been getting on.

Update - Week 1 and 2