Today was another truly beautiful day along the California Coast. Today I stopped and allowed myself to enjoy it. I decided to be generous to myself for a change-to give myself just a bit of luxury. I walked down to the Little Red Cafe in my town and ate breakfast. I know this probably doesn't sound like much but for me its huge. I don't need to tell you that the last 7 years have been difficult for me. I've lost pretty much everything I spent years working towards-my job, my house,family members,my studio,and now my dogs. Because of the lack of available cash I stopped allowing myself any luxuries. I figured that because I wasn't pulling in much money that I didn't deserve to treat myself. I needed to just go home and work- to be a successful artist. Recently through the 12 step program "The Artists Way" I have started to change my thinking. In the process I have found a little corner of Heaven. This corner is called The Montara Cafe and Bakery-I just call it the Little Red Cafe. And today I quite literally found a corner all for myself and my inner artist. Here's our little corner.
This is perfect-it faced out to the ocean, the window was open and a soft breeze was blowing . I was enjoying a wonderful breakfast and watching the world go by in a local friendly eatery-(one of my favorite things). It felt sinful sitting there watching the ocean, eating breakfast instead of working. But it also felt so good. It felt right-like finally taking a deep breath. Because of this hour of luxury I am ready to work on a project that I have been dragging my feet on for some time now-I feel that "sense of abundance" that the Artists Way talks about - a sense of renewel. In the months ahead I will continue to fight to give myself these little gifts because as the Artist's Way states " art is born in expansion, in a belief in sufficient supply, it is critical that we pamper ourselves for the sense of abundance it brings to us."
-Julia Cameron
So I guess my message to anyone reading is : don't deny yourself a little luxury. If you do you may deny yourself of your creativity which can only manifest as a result of the joy.
The Montara Bakery and Cafe along highway 1 (Cabrillo Hwy) in Montara, Ca.
Creativity lives in paradox: serious art is born from serious play
-Julia Cameron-The Artists Way
2 comments:
Hi Connie. I took some collage classes from you at Palace Arts in Capitola several years ago. I live in Santa Cruz. I have a friend in Marin who is interested in meeting me "half-way" for events, such as art classes. Please let me know of any classes you are teaching in your area or of any way my friend and I could arrange to do some work with you. Many thanks. Pamela Peterson pamelasart@yahoo.com
Hi Pamela!
So nice to hear from you. Sadly I am not teaching any more. People just stopped taking classes when the economy fell to such a low. Unfortunately that caused me to lose my studio and therefore my teaching space here on the coast. I now am working on my very small kitchen table. Let me know what you are interested in-maybe I know someone else that might teach what you want. I am a member of a large art group here and some of the members might be teaching this year.
Connie
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