Sunday, October 7, 2012

Trying to have too many balls in the air...

This wonderful e-course I am taking along with over 500 other creative minds is on the one hand mindblowingly satisfactory. On the other hand it is so damn frustrating I could scream.

Why is it so great? 

The lessons are so chuck-o-block loaded with information.
It is such a generous amount of knowledge coming our way. About  blogging, websites, social media, marketing, pricing your work, promoting your work and more, much more, so much more is still to come. And did I mention the encouragement Kelly Rae is giving? Invaluable. Priceless!


And us girls support each other with positive criticism, telling what is great about what we all create and accomplish. Giving information you didn't know. Sharing experiences. The inspiration you get from them from the beautiful things they all create (wetter it be in visual art or the written word) and the energy they're oozing out makes you want to dump whatever your doing and create create create. The community is like a warm coat on a wet chilly day. Gloves, hat and scarf included. You cannot do this without them. Seriously, I mean that.

Why then do I want to pull my hair out?


Again; The lessons are chuck-o-block loaded with information.
You want to jump and blog. About the things you create. About the things you experience. Any roadblock that might be in your way. And you want to do it regularly, not once in a blue moon. And decisions have to be made. Do I add a widget that allows people to follow me. What if I only get 2 or 3 followers. How pathetic is that. And you want to attract traffic to your blog. So you have to go to other blogs and comment on them. I have always visited other blogs, getting inspired and seeing and reading wonderful posts from like minded creative people. But I rarely comment. So I better start doing that and hoping that a few of those bloggers might want to come to your blog and comment on your posts. What if no one will. Oh the horror.

Because of the wonderful Facebook group we have I am more active on FB. Encouraged by Kelly Rae I have set up my online albums with Flickr. I Tweet more often and reply to Tweets from the people I follow, planning to fill my Etsy shop and try to add to my collection of Pinterest photo's. And I'm trying to setup my website.

Doing all this you still have to be creative. You want to create, you need to make art. And that's another thing...Art. I need to remind myself that I AM an artist. Not just a girl with a wonderful hobby. The idea's that are in my head need to come out, need to be put into action. I need to paint on a canvas, burn wood with a pen, create pages in my art journals. Sketch my ideas, at the very least  write them down so they are not lost. Because you say to yourself "I don't need to write this down. I will remember this". Ha! That is a big fat lie.

Doing all the previous mentioned you also have to go to work. Because without that you have no money for rent, food and art supplies. Gotta give that your full 100% as well or the boss will not be amused.

And then there is your real life social life. Your family, your friends. They want a piece of you too. You call them instead of meeting them, and the phone calls get reduced in length because frankly you don't have the time. My best friend is the only one I see now, the others just have to wait.

And then there is your home. It needs some attention as well. Dinner nowadays is grilled cheese sandwiches or a take-away. And you tell yourself that all will change once you get the ball rolling.
Ha! Maybe that is not a big fat lie, just a promise that will be fulfilled months or even years from now.

Enough of the moaning and the self pity.

I make it sound awful, like bloody hard work. It is not.
It is a tremendously fun journey. With some curves and bumps in the road. A learning curve. Over time you evolve. And every moment is precious. I am very glad I am taking this journey. And happy to see where this road is taking me and what wonderful people I will meet along the way.
But I have to be careful not to do too much at the same time. You do not want to drop a ball while juggling.

Everyone have a wonderful Sunday. Enjoy whatever it is you are doing.

hugs (( ))

22 comments:

  1. I can relate to this completely, as a fellow flyer who has way to much on her plate right, I've got two or three weeks of not so busy time and then I am right back at having to much to do and not enough hours. So during that down time I am going to try to create as much as I can, along will all the other bits :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Lynn,
      How great that you have some weeks with just a little less on your agenda then usual. Wishing you all the fun in creating before those weeks are over.

      hug(( ))

      Delete
  2. Excellent Post! I believe it will ease up some as we get each new tech gadget set up right ~ and then we become super speedy at managing those things after some practice. : ) Keep on keeping on! Thanks for the GREAT blog... I know all Flyers will relate and so will everyone else.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Karrlin,
      Yes I do believe you´re right. Once the setup for all the internet thingies is done it is all down to maintenance and it will be smoother sailing. Just for now because it is all so new, it is a little bit of a time juggle. Thank you for visiting my blog.

      hugs (( ))

      Delete
  3. Renee, I have to tell you the writing is good. You brought it home and found that common ground that many can relate to...not even just this group but everyone balancing their lives with this that and the other. You said it well. You are on your way...carry on. Meanwhile you have also been a bright light to us all encouraging the the rest of us traveling this path with you. Thank you! June Maddox

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much June. You always make me feel good about myself. You have quite a way with words!! :)

      big hugs to you (( ))

      Delete
  4. Love your post. Love how you write and express your thoughts and questions. I feel like I can actually hear your voice speaking it (even though I have never heard your voice). You are definitely not alone in your concerns and questions. I am sure most of us are learning as we go and sharing our ideas and our mistakes along the way which is so wonderful and encouraging. I don't know about you but I don't have people in my community who are on a creative journey so before this group (and a couple of others I am in) I was pretty much alone. Just knowing how many fantastic women are all around the world learning to fly is inspiring. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us. Don't give up and don't stop dreaming.
    xx Jo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Jo, thank you for reading my post. LoL, isn't it funny how you can sometimes "hear" someone talking. I have that too. Only when I meet the person in real live the voice is totally different.
      I only have 3 persons in my life that are supportive. nr 1 is my husband. Even though we are separated he and I are still good friends. nr 2 is my best friend. She too is the creative type and I am very lucky to have her in my life. nr 3 is the lady I go to for my etchings. She is an artist who has sold and still is selling many paintings and etchings and she is very very encouraging. I am wishing for everyone to have her or someone like her in their life.
      It is a shame that you do not have someone near you but atleast you have your online community, your new fb family to cheer you on.

      Have a wonderful day x

      hugs (( ))

      Delete
  5. Renée I just love you!!! You are the best and I can totally relate to this "situation". The great thing is that you have us now in your back pocket, visiting you "virtually" again and again. We, that really know what this takes and you are doing beautifully :-) I look forward in reading your blog posts even if they are 1 or 2 times a week, but they are good! And to see you evolve as an artist is joy and awe for my heart. Hugs to you, sincerely ♥ Lisa Rivas

    ReplyDelete
  6. LoL Lisa, you and June are just about my biggest fans. Thank you for your very very kind words. And I can only wish for people returning to my blog to read more.
    I look forward to having you around here Lisa, I'll try to write something interesting each time.

    big big hugs to you (( ))

    ReplyDelete
  7. Renee!!! Love how your words just kept me in your space and had me wanting to read more. I think that is because you speak from your heart and soul which makes it all that more beautiful. Enjoy this ride we are on. Looking forward to watching you blossom!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. awh thank you Michelle. Yes I am too enjoying this ride.
      Thank you for visitign my blog :)

      hug (( ))

      Delete
  8. Renee, I can so relate! I think I thought that as I got older, things would get easier, better...I mean really it is call your golden years. Which is why baby steps for me is exactly the way to go with all new learnings. When we commit out loud or in this case in writing, I think we're more inclined to do what we say we're going to do, at least that's what I tell myself. Thanks so much for addressing both ends of the leaning to fly high! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Indigene Theresa, I am so glad you can relate. And thank goodness so do others. I feel not alone in this now. And funny you should say that about getting older. I find that now I am 48, learning hasn't become easier. I find it harder to get the theory end of it all in my head (never head that when I was in school), so babysteps all the way :)

      hugs (( ))

      Delete
  9. I think all of us flyers are in about the same spot right now....a little overwhelmed perhaps, but terribly excited too! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Indeed we all are Andi. And yes, very exciting too :)

      Delete
  10. Amen to that sister!!, Lol. Right there with you and all the others! In all the craziness and business, I am so grateful for all the amazing supportive women from the course. It was worth the price alone just for the inspiration that comes from everyone. Thank goodness there will be a PDF we can keep and look back upon! Keep up the awesome work, see you in class, on the blog, on fb lol ;)
    Shelly Jack

    ReplyDelete
  11. It ha been quite overwhelming. It is easing up a bit now, though. I will be sad when the course is over.

    Also - you have done TONS to your website! It is looking great!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Loved this post... I can totally relate! What an awesome class it's been. And hey, your gadget worked and I am Follower #9 :-)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Fantastic post Renee, I can totally relate, I felt like you were talking about me :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Just like all of the previous comments, you took the words right out of my mouth. These oh so long days, going to the day job, taking care of kids and working on the creative business can leave you feeling a little insane some days. It is worth it though, most of the time, haha.

    Renee

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hi Renee how's it goin? My month of November has left me looking like your screaming lady pic on this post lol. As crazy as it is I miss the connected feeling from the Flyers. I'll get back to it eventually! Hope all is well with you! Be good to yourself :)

    ReplyDelete