Friday
Aug312012
unpacking the stories (as i unpack the studio)
One side effect of unpacking into my new studio space has been uncovering a few stories along the way. I expected some of this - pieces of past ArtFests, sewing projects I'd begun but not finished, reciepts I had tucked in odd places, and so on. But there have been a few unexpcted stories that have found there way in, and today, I want to share about one of them in this video.
I hope it is a reminder to you (to me) that we must continue to create space for big and small griefs and that forgiving ourselves in one of our most important practices because it helps to make even more space for joy, beauty, and being present to all that is this moment and the next.
May your day be full of lightness...
tagged 
creating space in in moving pictures
creating space in in moving pictures
Reader Comments (14)
Thank you for sharing. If it can help a little, I am going through a similar grieving process (I talked about it a bit lately on my blog), it was like an epiphany for me, when I realized «But this is mourning that I am going through !» ahah
PS: I have tons of fabric needing to be used, bought for all these amazing projects and... still in my Ikea box, staring at me.
Forgiveness and Awareness are such difficult emotions at times.
Take care.
What lovely thoughts...thank you for sharing. I'm the same way with my old costume jewelry collection...I made jewelry with them many years ago but don't any longer. Meanwhile, all of the pieces are so pretty to look at and I can't bear to part with them! Every few months I sit on the floor in my art room and go through my stash, and like you, so many memories of that time in my life come back to me. I had never given it much thought, but I think you're exactly right that it's the memories attached to them that I can't bear to part with.
Thank you for sharing this. I think it's one of the best videos you've done. It really speaks to me...
ho boy. so much comes up from the depths of remembering, and from holding on to so MUCH, literally and not. you are such a soothing comfort to scattered, cluttered, disheveled me. I love you, o wise one. xo
Wow! Thank you for sharing this story today. It was just what I needed to hear. The universe really does answer on time. So many of the things you touched on in this piece resonate with me on so many levels. I felt like you were telling my story. I found your blog some time ago and have been inspired and encouraged by your offerings. Peace and blessings.
Thank you so much for this post. I am currently grieving the end of a long term relationship. I needed to hear about forgiving myself & letting myself grieve for all the other versions/ages of me that I have been. Your honesty & vulnerability are a gift. Thank you!
Thank You for sharing your truth in the ups and downs with us. I can identify with the buying with good intention but not really attention. For me it's often Journals and craft supplies. They hold so much possibiilty and I think sometimes there is a hope that this will be the one that will help take me to that next level or get back into or or or...
You are going through so many changes and it's totally normal to want to sort of mourn for that time even if there is so much good of the changes that are happening. There are so many layers of emotions going on in this proccess I am sure. And sometimes when we have created the space in our lives (with time, actual space, mentally) we are sort of faced with our own selves, pressures and feelings unexpectedly.
Be gentle with yourself
Thanks Liz for your practice of open, honest sharing. I can relate on so many levels. I have my excesses--books, paper, beads, craft and art supplies--and I know it's one way of avoiding actually making art--if I get the "perfect" thing/book/journal--I'll be able to create. I took over the downstairs of my house several years ago after my second son joined the Marines and left home, but it's not a sacred space--It's become a storage unit. So just this weekend I started once again to reorganize and rearrange to make it useable and a place I want to be. And three years ago I went through a traumatic event that just keeps on giving--but I hadn't thought about writing through it. I just carry it with me all the time. It's getting too heavy. It is time to let it go. I will start writing through it--so thanks for the gentle, space giving ideas. I appreciate you so much. You touch my life.
I echo everyone's comments.I am hurting so much because my childbirth experiences I had were traumatic and unexpected. Everyone kept saying how I should just be thankful for a healthy baby; they didn't get why I was upset. So I stuffed my feelings down with food (100lbs. gained in 35 years) and just kept going, as pieces inside of me died or were sheared off.
I had enough fabric to open a fabric store at one point, because I was making preemie clothes. But I didn't have the time or energy (after caring for the house, nursing and homeschooling my girls, and everything else) to do much. I gave up. Everyone said that I was just taking on too much. But it wouldn't have been too bad, if I'd had any kind of help.
But I also see that it is a pattern of excess that was trying to fill up the emptiness inside, like the food, like the pens and markers, like the blogs I subscribe to. Maybe THIS one will make me whole, will stop the depression, will heal the pain and the old hurts.
Thank you for helping me to identify some of my "pieces".
Thank you for your words your honesty you have helped me so much.
I knew I wanted to be intentional about waiting for some quiet space to watch this so this post of yours has been patiently waiting until this morning. :) Thank you, Liz, for your honesty and for modeling patience with whatever comes up for you, including grief. I *know* it's important to feel and be with and not judge . . . but I don't always (((remember))). Watching you talk about it has helped me in a way that I'm not sure reading about it would have. It's deeper somehow. . . .
Thank you.
Like Debbie, I waited for some quiet space to watch this ... although my learning this weekend is that I have to stop feeling like I have to carry things on my own.
Thank you, Liz. I think I have a letter or two to write. I honor your kindness to yourself, and how you work on forgiving yourself. You are so grace-filled. I hope I can learn new habits so that I can be kind to myself too. It's a process and I'm getting there.
Thank you for opening your heart and sharing your stories. You bring so much love and beauty to this world with each step you take.
wow. you remind me, all over again, about the deep deep need for acceptance, gentleness. I watched this video as a part of getting ready for Studio:Kindred. So much that was jittery and unsure inside me, has just calmed down. thank you.