finding the gems in the midst of a post-artfest pout/slump/bout with loneliness
this is a picture from the time kelly and i spent on the beach in port townsend before checking in at artfest. the day was incredibly beautiful and warm and sunny. we had this gorgeous weather for almost the entire time we were there. how lucky we were as the pacific northwest can be a bit fickle this time of year when it comes to sharing beautiful days.
i had such a good time with kelly. we spent almost a week together and were with one another almost the entire time, other than when we were in our respective workshops. she really is one of the most amazing people i know. her caring, generous spirit and open nature teach me something new all the time. i am lucky to call her my friend.
i have been absent from my blog more than i would like over the last few weeks, and i could list several reasons. in these last few days, though, part of the reason is because i have found myself in a bit of a funk. this funk came to a head today as the rain turned to hail and the wind blew and blew. my husband called to find out if he should pick anything up for dinner and i ended up picking a fight for no reason at all. my excuse, “i just feel lonely.” odd, i know.
tonight though, i am finding some gems in the midst of my pout and am trying to give myself permission to just let the pout go to settle into the goodness.
a friend called on her drive home from work just to see how i am doing.
jon made tacos, which does make me really happy. i felt my spirits lift a bit after i had food in my belly.
i felt the creative spirit in me dance a bit this evening…just for a moment…inviting me to begin to have fun again (i think it has been resting since artfest – just plain tuckered out as they say).
i finished the scarf i was crocheting (it is my third. i am in love with double crochet) and even though it didn’t look like there was enough yarn left to finish one more long row (i crocheted it long-ways…or however, you say it), there totally was…with a few inches to spare!
my husband grew a beard while i was at artfest and during his spring break last week. this weekend, i asked him to shave it into a goatee for fun and he has totally kept it. it cracks me up in the best of ways because he just looks so adorable. i love it.
i decided it is really okay if my website is not perfect by my deadline for myself (which was my oddly chosen date of april 10, which is, in fact a tuesday, and that simply does not work at all…so i will in fact get it done whenever the heck i can).
i spent time looking at the workshops for artfiberfest. because the best way to get over your post-artfest funk is to look forward to the next time you can get together with such amazing, creative, kind-hearted, wonderful folks!
my cheeks are hurting so much from laughing at this random show i found tonight. it’s called “thank god you’re here” and it is a sketch-comedy show on nbc. it is pretty silly but seems to be just what the doctor ordered as one cannot be a grumpybutt when one is laughing until one’s cheeks hurt.
i allowed myself to remember that i have a choice to make about how i spend each moment. that it is okay to waste some time watching bad tv, but that i do not want to give myself permission to waste away all the moments when the loneliness creeps in. no, that is not the choice i want to make. i know there is much i feel called to do. and that the time to begin is now.
how are you pulling yourself out of the moments of pouting or funkiness in which you might find yourself lately?
art + life, this is me
Reader Comments (20)
I'm so sorry for the funktastic day(s) you're having-- it's low tide, baby. High tide (artfest or any other magical time) can only be followed by low tide-- it's the nature of things-- hope you'll be feeling yourself again soon.
BIG hugs-- bluepoppy
Oh good-I thought it was just me! I am getting NOTHING done and I am exhausted. (And I watched that same show too!)
I agree- things are cyclical, for sure. I am sending you lots of whatever you need right now from where I sit... because you are just that nice...
Yoga really seems to help me when I find myself low- I have really started connecting to my heart in my yoga practice because that seems to be the place most hurt these days- and it seems to be where I can connect with my dad the most, too...
xoxo
ah...liz...
isn't it funny
how feelings like this
ebb and flow,
come and go...
i know for me
it is the needing of spring,
i need it to happen,
and soon!
i need to feel warmth
and growth and green and
fresh air...
hope the funky's pass soon
for you...
:)
I'd planned on watching that show and then forgot all about it. I've been teetering on the edge of a mood too, but have learned that the best "cure" for me is a sense of accomplishment. Checking tasks off my list gives me a lift and helps me re-focus so I can be creative and satisfied with life. And it gets me up off my butt.
My husband calls it waxing and waning and I agree. I try to ride the feelings when they come, acknowledge them and then let it go. I try not to harbor on the negative thoughts and I find if I go move my body (even though the last thing I want to do is move my body) that will help.
This too shall pass my dear, I promise. xo
lately i have been just going with it, embracing it, knowing that it will end ... and hopefully the continual snow fall over here will end soon as well ...
hope you find yourself funkless soon :) hugs!
Oh, these are such good comments. I agree that a low is inevidable after a brilliant high like Artfest. I just try to move slower and mentally reassure myself, very gentle and kind to myself as though I were another soul in need of care. Gentle attention to myself in these times seems the only way to get through them for me.
i'm used to spring being a time of happiness, too. i think i'm extra funky because the universe isn't behaving the way i want it to. LOL
i know you can relate to this...my dog's been a wonder. she is reminding me that it's important to go outside and feel the sunlight on my face, and gently move. she's telling me that unconditional love is everywhere...and that the joy is in the journey.
also, pampering. lol pampering HELPS. of the facial, good-smelling soap, pedicure variety for me...but pamper yourself liz style.
you know what i did yesterday? bought myself a bouquet of flowers (daisies, roses, an iris) and wrote myself a card telling myself it will be okay, with love from my angel. you can be your angel, too...
and nothing wrong with laughing until your face hurts.
I've had to work hard to shake myself out of a funk lately. Usually music helps but I have noticed that doing a routine has also helped me. It's kept me from retreating to the couch for a nap or a melt down of lifeless dreariness. I've struggled with picking fights with my husband too lately. Someone said it's the restlessness before spring. I don't know...
i always seem to find myself in post-trip funks after i've had a really fabulous few days away...and lately, well for really not much reason at all i've just felt totally energy-less....
i wanted to watch that show on nbc last night. we ended up being at trey's family's and they had it on but had it muted so i really couldn't tell if it was any good...next week i guess...
i'm glad to hear that you're letting your spirit dance, even in times of funk... for me, i often find that as soon as i admit to myself that i am indeed in a funk, the funk begins to lift.
most definately glad that you found "thankgod you're here". i'm not a big tv watcher, bu this is one show that i used to always try to remind myself to watch (though never really saw to much of it)... was pleased to see that it's started here in the US (but also a little suprised to learn the we (australia) didn't steal it from the US...)
i hope your joy hasn't left for too long and that you're feeling adequately inspired again before long... perhaps it's the waning moon???
connecting with people that really matter to me and talking about stuff that's important (like how i really feel) usually does it for me. or, putting on some james brown (really loud) and doing as he says "get up offa that thing, and dance 'til you feel better"
:)
Hey, the good thing about being in a funk is that it does pass. Sometimes it is good to listen to your body and be gentle to yourself and let yourself be a grouch to the people you know it is safe with. It will pass, and stay connected to the ones you know are the people who really care and make you laugh. Here's to spring flowers and sunsets.
It´s hard not to feel lonely here in Austria sometimes but I find that inviting friends over or meeting someone for coffee can get me out of a rut/funk. Bad weather usually has me feeling low so that´s when my Australian DVD´s come in handy.
The first thing I did to pull myself out of yet another peri-menopausal severe PMS funk was to start reading my favorite blogs again ... Thank God YOU are here :) ... And then I really cleaned a few places in my house. Now they are lemony fresh, which helps a lot. Then I looked at my kids, who are on spring break, and saw them turn off the TV one morning after cartoons so they could trash my kitchen with paints, paper, clay, etc. And instead of groaning about the mess I gave them permission to make it and myself permission to laugh in it and then do you know what they did? They cleaned it up. So, in a very uncharacteristic fashion, I gave myself permission to call myself a good mother and celebrated a bit in my heart.
I like this phrase you've taught me because I never really thought about it before ... how much I don't allow myself to do. Again I say ... Thank God you are Here! You will defunkify soon, there is so much great advice here ... perhaps a bunch of tulips would help?
You have gotten great advice here already.
Inviting friends over for dinner-not caring that the house is messy or that dinner is less than perfect.
Mexican is a nice slef serve dinner actually:)
I truly love how you often turn to gratitude when you are feeling funky. I can almost see a shift occur in your post.
The show sounds great-I will have to catch it next week.
Can we see the scarves?
Hi Liz, please see my blog today. I have something I would like to share with you.
:) Lelainia
I wish that I had some words of wisdom for this question; however, I am not doing a very good job of pulling myself out of my funk lately. :-(
I do believe that with a little bit more time you will be right back where you need to be. There is always SO much anticipation that goes into any trip, and when it comes and is as wonderful as yours was, there is always a let down at the end when it is all done. It is still fresh in your spirit, and you want to relive it all again.
I so hope that you are in a better place and feeling creative and full of energy very very soon! I can't wait to see what to see all of your creations!!!!
xoxoxo
I find that after being with my MFA friends at our twice yearly residencies, I am always in a funk. It's hard to go from being around some creatively minded people who just get it. I usually do something physical after residencies, and that helps. A lot of yoga, tennis, projects around the houes, etc. Hope you get out of it fully soon!