transition is tender
Returning to work, to the studio and to the atelier feels important even when it is done tenderly.
It’s not exclusively the importance of work but more importantly how one choses to work - how one chooses to Be in the act of moving through the world.
The past many weeks have slowed work and myself down to a near monastic pace - minimal outside influences and intention with every single act. My energy has been low and steadily declined as I underwent radiation therapy. My last treatment was 12 January and since then after a week of plateau my energy is slowly returning. I am healing. I am recovering.
I am also recalibrating. I must recalibrate.
Rather than my impulse to ‘do’ I am patiently allowing myself to pay attention to the accuracy of capacity: I am being very careful to feel my capacity in it’s honest limitations rather than feeling that I should ‘do something’ simply for the sake of not being idle. Stillness can be the work. It’s a challenging pattern to shift but a small gesture can exponentially develop into a new way of being through time. Slow and steady.
Recovery is not idle - it requires much effort to not ‘do’ - to lean into the presence of the body and mind.. Doing can be in the stillness. Minimizing the body’s need for recovery can, in itself an act of self harm and I feel like I didn't really understand this until now.
This time of year always feels difficult - the lack of energy coupled by the sluggish economy, lack of sunshine and social life is in its natural state - regardless of how we feel about it. It is like this every year and every year we have the opportunity to practice what we know to be and yet it always seems to sneak up on us.
January and February are quiet and contemplative recovery times - we are tired because it is the natural rhythm and yet I can feel the collective frustration by the cycle itself - which can then fuel how difficult it feels.
One thing is for sure - we are officially leaning back into the light - the darkest time of the year is over and we can look up and out with aspirations of what we would like the year to be, to feel like.
This year feels very different - there is chaos in the world, an unsettled wind that many of us feel - and yet there is also a powerful feeling of being bold and curious as a medicine to all of the chaos. Fearlessly loving the journey!
What a time for creatives to deep dive into explorative impulses without walls or impediments.
I am still learning this… it feels awesome and unfamiliar - thrilling.
I look forward to sharing with you all the new designs we have been working on - as well as the design/fabric combos we are exploring.
Textures and shapes reimagined.
Thank you for being here.
be well.