Instead, I Wrote a Joy List

Hello, my friend. How are you?

I’ve had a slow start to my year. Intentionally so. At least at first.

I’ve been thinking, dreaming, imagining.

words of inspiration on my studio door written on a sheet of black kraft wrapping paper

I’ve been staring out into my garden and filling page after page in my journals and sketchbooks. I’ve been playing and experimenting with art ideas and also following my inspiration back to watercolor (and houseplants).

But I also feel as if I’m moving too slow. Or maybe that time is going too fast. I need more time for thinking and dreaming and imagining. And some of what I want to be doing just isn’t working.

Today I’d planned to write about blogs and blogging, social media and Substack, but each time I sat down to write, no words came.

So, instead, I wrote a Joy List:

• a female cardinal sitting on the edge of the birdfeeder, soaking up the sunshine

• loving up my houseplants

• a fresh new haircut

• sunshine

• trying a new recipe

• sketchbooks, sketchbooks, sketchbooks

• a seed catalog I’d been waiting for finally arriving

• painting

• gorgeous houseplant books from the library

• taking my time while peeling and eating a mandarin to notice the color, scent and taste

Maybe you’d like to write a Joy List, too?

Start with just three things. They can be tiny. What are you noticing? What little beauties can you savor? What’s filling you with gratitude?

The Citizen Ruth “Joy is a form of resistance” sticker was from my sweet friend Karen who does a beautiful job of encouraging and inspiring.

The world feels more and more crazy each day. I’ve been doing all I can to nurture myself and my creativity. I want to be able to show up as best I can to spread joy and inspiration. I’m leaning in to all of what I love.

I’ve been filling a sketchbook with encouraging thoughts, inspired by Jessica Swift’s Skillshare class.

And I hope you will, too.