Every December I’m amazed by how fast the year has flown. The beginning of 2008 seems so far away and so I love to spend some time in December reflecting on what I’ve accomplished and getting clear about my goals for the new year.
Even though December is such a busy time, it allows me the space to think about what is really important to me in my life and my career.
It’s the time of year when we all stop and think about gratitude. Gratitude for
special friends in our lives, blessings and opportunities. Even the twists and turns that lead us down a path we never imagined traveling. Maybe one that leads us to something better than we had dreamed.
I’m so grateful that I had the opportunity to host two Songwriter Girl Camps in 2008. I feel so blessed because of all the people who came into my life because of camp. I loved watching girls get connected and feel accepted by their peers. I’m also grateful to have launched my newsletter. I hope you enjoy reading it. I appreciate that you take the time to open it and write to me with your comments. That means a lot. Publishing a newsletter is a different kind of writing than songwriting. It’s a new kind of challenge and I love it!
I’m also looking forward to hosting more camps in 2009, the next one is May 15-17 at Montgomery Bell State Park. Stay tuned for more details.
As I’ve mentioned before, I’m a huge advocate of “The Artist’s Way.” So, something else I like to do in December is make extra time to fill the well by going on artist dates. (If you have never read “The Artist Way”, then you should definitely put it on your must read list for 2009.)
Filling the well for me is putting my creative schedule on hold. It’s something I like to do for myself to clear my head. An artist’s date is something I make time to do that is completely enjoyable. I may take myself on a date that lasts 15 minutes or several hours. But here’s the catch…I must do it alone. It is purely between me and my inner artist. I’m sure those of you who know me well are smiling by now because you know how communal I am. But I have come to cherish my solitary artist dates. Sometimes I walk by the lake (without my dog pulling me to chase a squirrel)
or step inside a shop that I usually pass by. I love it because my artist date can be the same or totally random. It’s all about creative inspiration. It’s about being self-nurturing.
Waverly Fitzgerald, a Seattle-based writer suggests that “as writers we push ourselves to produce constantly, and yet the creative process has a rhythm that surely includes rest and incubation as surely as it does production and manifestation.” She’s talking about our natural inner rhythm that makes us feel like hibernating or slowing down in the dark winter months of December and January.
I completely agree with Waverly Fitzgerald. I look forward to resting my head. And for me December seems like the natural time to do just that. Being inspired helps me re-connect with why I love to write songs. I look back at the year’s long list of “things I want to do” and savor some of those experiences this month. I’ve worked hard all year and my inner artist deserves the treat. And then again, so do I.
If you’ve not tried the artist date, then what are you waiting for? You will be blown away by how much it helps your writing when you go back to it. Indulge you and your inner artist with some outings that you’ve put off. Make the time to reflect. I would love to hear from you about your artist dates and how it inspired you to new heighths.
I want to wish you an amazing holiday season that is filled with peace, rest and relaxation, friends and family and of course, some comfort food! I wish you much happiness and success in 2009 and look forward to connecting with you
in the New Year.
Be inspired.
Love and blessings,
Kirsti
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