February, 2023
What’s the difference between nomading and snowbirding? The line seems very blurred, especially for the self-employed and especially if you are of “a certain age” and financially fortunate.
On the snowbird side, we’ve traded a bit of winter in our beloved downtown Chicago (no, no sarcasm in that statement) for sunny Palm Springs with a touch of snowcapped mountaintops.
On the nomad side, the computers are set up, we are writing, zooming, and sending out invoices (but not all day every day, and there are plenty of long walks and pool time and leisurely lunches).
The destination has been great, but let’s not skip over the journey itself. We happily roadtripped. Could have been a disaster, and I admit that coming in to Albuquerque after three days of heading south and still seeing snow was not in the plan, but I wouldn’t have missed it. Those beautiful mountain views between Albuquerque and Phoenix were great, and the weather was with us, so no knuckle-biting along the way.
And then there are the unexpected little moments, like when we stopped for gas or a snack and found ourselves here. It’s hard to see, but in addition to the availability of what I am sure was excellent bar-b-que, the gas station across the road offered a selection of “exceptional wines”!
February, 2023
For this month’s #thankfulthursday, the artist teacher/mentor/inspiration I’d like to highlight is @jesshuffco Thanks to her adorable #amigurumi patterns, I got big points with my niece and nephews. What is it about making the stuffie they choose to sleep with that makes you feel like you just won a prize?
I so encourage you to check out her website at www.jesshuff.com, her etsy store, and if you are so inclined her Facebook Group. She has terrific tutorials and every time I check back, more tempting designs.
Best part for me, these are perfect projects for those leftover parts of skeins, so at least theoretically, they work with your best de-stashing intentions (OK, except for the part where you probably need to go get some stuffing, then you have leftover stuffing, then you need just a little more yarn to use it up. . . )
Here’s a link to the Instagram reel:
February, 2023
This one has been with me for a long time as a work in progress, but it ‘s been a pretty continuous companion. I’ve written before about how it started, in a workshop with Carolina Oneto on Curves and Transparencies as a single little block. Then it grew to a sashed twelve block grid. Then some machine stitching in the sashes. Then the big stitch/slow stitch urge just cam eover me. Each color has a different stitch pattern, so now that I’m finished, the design on the backside is pretty interesting too. Emma Freeman introduced me to the term “contemplation cloth”, and I think that’s what this has turned out to be. Amazing to think about all of the places I’ve stitched it, all the feelings I was feeling as I did. The technique is far from perfect, but the hand of the maker is certainly evident. Very satisfying finish.
February, 2023
I’ve come to think that the fact that you meditate is more important than when you meditate – the right time of day is whenever you can make it happen. What I have found, though, is that for me, mornings are best, and the earlier the better. It’s partly that it sets the tone for the day, but mainly that it is just much easier for me to finish a sit with less fidgeting before my day has gotten started.
Sometimes, though, in the middle of the day it is helpful to just push the reset button. It may not be as peaceful as first thing in the morning, since I am trying to clear out what has been happening so I can focus on the next part of my day, but if I stick with it, it can do the trick.
A lot of people say the same thing about meditating at the end of the day, to help them sleep better and leave the concerns of the day behind. I can relate, but for that I have a different ritual (a topic for another day).
January, 2023
I have a new favorite thing. Problem is, I don’t know exactly what to call it – virtual co-working, body-doubling, lots of terms for it. In a nutshell, I’ve gotten very attached to a new productivity habit. In its simplest form it involves signing on to an on-line platform with one or more other people. They might be strangers, they might be people you know, they might be people you come to know.
Productivity hacks may not seem like something that squares with “the rest of my time” vibe. But, I find myself with lots and lots of projects – art projects, podcasts I want to listen to, on-line classes I’ve enrolled in . . . . everything sounds interesting, but I like to finish things, or at least get far enough into it to make a decision to abandon it.
So, when I saw one of these advertised that focused on getting through on-line courses you’ve signed up for, it really spoke to me. The organizer claims that only about 5% of on-line courses are ever finished. I have all kinds of art and writing and general self-exploration classes to work through. I have a bunch of books that are piled up.
In fact, my word of the year is Resolution. Just because it’s the fun stuff instead of the have-to stuff doesn’t mean there’s no urge to finish it.
The setup of these sessions vary, but essentially they are a means to foster focus. Some are more explicit in having you share your goal for the time and report back, and some are looser. Some are general in scope and some are focused on particular types of tasks.
The group I am most active on now is focused on getting writing done. The “room” opens to mics and cameras off, then part-way through the session there is a quick optional discussion of what you are working on, or what you would like feedback on, then we go back in to silent co-working. I don’t know what the psychology of it is exactly, but I think it somehow satisfies our need to feel we are multi-tasking by being “on” the call while doing other things. Or maybe it’s that the appointment of being “on” the call is just a little more of a discipline than setting aside time on our calendar. Or maybe it’s that you can tell everyone else that you are “on a call” during the time, so they will leave you alone and you will behave like you should be left alone.
Here are a few takeaways for me:
- When I go in with a specific talk in mind, IT GETS DONE! Things that have been hanging on my to do list because they felt like they would take too much time, get done
- Many of these groups seem to have developed for writers, and others for freelancers looking for some structural support to their workdays, but they have expanded as have all of our virtual offerings in the past few years to a wide variety of specialty sessions as well
- Yes, there are in-person versions (see some of the descriptions below)
- This is is a different experience than something like Slack – it’s not about collaboration, it’s about concentration
- Once you start looking, they are everywhere, but they also come and go.
- Every one has a slightly different vibe, so although commitment is important, it’s equally important to give yourself the grace to try a few and move on if you aren’t inspired.
So where can you look?
I know of two platforms with both free and paid versions, though I am sure there are many others. One is called Focusmate and the other is called Caveday.
There are platforms like Shut Up & Write, which is focused on writers or at least the task of writing, and has both in-person and virtual meetings, as well as optional challenges and prompts. You will also find a number of options on MeetUp, where you can browse offerings from the home page, then create an account or log in to see the details and join a particular group.
Or, find a friend or group of friends, just like you might recruit an accountability buddy to help you maintain an exercise program, and set yourself up – zoom accounts, or teams accounts, or whatever aren’t that hard to come by these days. Personally, I like more than one person, and I like a way to help others find you so there is a possible pipeline, because that decreases the pressure on any one person and reduces the chances that you’ll show up to an empty space.
There, that’s one thing done!
