I am so grateful my husband David and I have learned to begin each day slowly before we jump in and move too far too fast. We have chosen at-home resources and rituals that start us out with making art together.
Rising weekday mornings a 4:44, over coffee we check our Fitbits. Reading the statistics of how we spent our nights, we continue to agree we want to learn to get more sleep. While we shuffle the cards of our Tarot deck we contemplate our focus for the day. Lately we keep our emphasis on continuing to create and manifest harmonious flows in our relationship, in our home and in our day job work, as well. Through age-old images, symbols and colors the ancient wisdom of the cards gives us guidance.
Next David makes and brings up breakfast while our Aussie and I do yoga, then we speak our individual intentions (and record them to listen to just before we sleep), ring our Tibetan singing bowl and do a few stretches given to us by Jan Stukey.
Almost every morning I start my workday with a cup of hot ginger tea. I am particularly fond of the Yogi label because the tags attached to all the individual teabags in a box are printed with gentle, positive encouragements. Recently I stuck one of these to the frame of my computer screen. The bag’s simple admonition seems particularly poignant: “Let things come to you.” What good advice to hear when there are so many tasks to address and all of them appear to need attention all at the same time!
During this revving-up phase of transition as we move out of our isolation and artCentral’s temporary closure, there are some days I feel downright confused about how to tackle artCentral’s reopening to-do lists. To whom do I reach out to next? Do I make contact by email, letter or phone? To whom and how do I respond to requests—requests for meetings and dates and input and info? They keep flooding in and piling up? What plans do I push ahead? Which ones need to be tabled for now and left on hold?
When I do not know which way to turn to next, I do well to remember: “Let things come to you.” Miraculously, the confusion drops away and things—really good things come!
A recent email in artCentral’s inbox read:
“Hello, Would a list of art-at-home resources be of use to you and your site visitors? So many of us are looking for ways to keep ourselves and our children engaged, so I thought a generous list of creative resources and outlets would be useful to many folks out there. If you agree and would like me to put together a list, let me know. I’ll send one to you, and if you like it enough to place on your website to share with others, I invite you to do so. Thanks and take care, Patricia Hill”
I love gifts like this one that are too good to refuse!
“What a terrific and generous offer,” I responded. In just a few days Patricia’s list arrived.
These are wonderful at-home resources for the family and individuals, too, while we are navigating the transition to greater movement out and about beyond our neighborhoods. They will also be great go-to’s for summer activities!
On artCentral’s website you will find a full list of Patricia’s seventeen making-art-together opportunities: https://www.artcentralcarthage.org/at-home-resources-for-families.html
Here are a few enticing teasers to get you started on fun-filled art-making days ahead!
Creative Prompts for Art Projects During Social Distancing
Photography for Kids: Activities They Can Do!
Art Therapy Activities for Teens
15 Incredible Artworks Made From Trash
A tremendous “thank you!” goes out to Patricia Hill for compiling this exciting list—Let’s Make Art Together: At-home Resources for the Family. Enjoy and have fun making art together with family and friends!
