DONE!

Ok, I'm not really done.

With anything.

I'm hardly started.

But, it's Friday, and I've shown up for the whole last tally box of days, just like I said I would! Sleep deprived, emotionally hungover, and basically still searching for clues of where I'm headed!

I feel amazing! Seriously, I do! More of this, please-Showing up on the trail, that is!
The chafing, blisters, sunburn, and potentially life-threatening wildlife is so worth it!

Today makes 15/730 + Forever, days of showing up!!!! It just snuck up on me!
Time flies when you're having fun, and not riding the time machine backwards! Whoop!

Celebrate good times! Cheers!

Welcome to my "It's All a Process" Party! :)
(Or, the "Nobody climbed Mt. Everest in a Single Day, but Just Getting to the First Basecamp is Quite a Hike" Party) :)

Getting the hang of showing up is a process, and every milestone is a victory!

***

Tonight, I have come to a finished (for now) place with the last painting in process I shared about here on Day 13. I had barely gotten started where I left off before.

Today, I was able to spend some devoted time in my studio to continue the conversation with this painting.

I'm going to let the pictures do the rest of the talking for tonight.
Raw honesty...I'm wiped!

I have to tell you, I have probably never spent this much focussed time and attention on one single painting. Make of that what you will. I am slow at processing things in my life, but generally a speed painter.

So the fact I spent 2 entire days on a single painting stands out for me.

I don't know what I think of this change yet, and it could take me 6+ months to come to a conclusion about how I feel about it. Or maybe I'll be surprised and I'll come to a conclusion by the end of this discussion here!

I never know anymore.
Showing up as a daily practice has turned my world on it's head. The good news is I seem to be thriving with things all upside-down!

I always like to try things out myself before I recommend it to anyone else, and so far, so good.
Showing up is gaining a good track record. I hope to always be a practice-what-you-preach kind of gal. This is probably why I don't preach much, ha! But my goal is to steadily build my arsenal of worthwhile, helpful, healing, life-giving topics to spread the message about!
It turns out I love people. (Friendly ones are the best!) And talking with people. And knowing what I'm talking about! I intend to prove this!

I guess this would make more sense if you knew how many times I've uttered phrases like:
"I don't even know what I'm saying."
"What was I just talking about?"
"I don't even know why I'm saying this."
and just plain, "I don't know."
And sometimes (usually)...all these phrases are uttered in an empty room!

I don't know...you know?
Just silly stuff.

***

SO, my painting!

I'll let you see the process for yourself.
Below is a "slideshow" of the process this painting went through. The first and last images of the slideshow are of the completed painting.

If you click through all the photos, you will be rewarded with seeing my cat, Sammy, who loves to spend time with me in my studio. Because he loves me so much. And because it's warm, and because dogs aren't usually allowed in it when I'm working. But, mostly, Sammy shows up in my studio because he's my "Old Faithful." He earned that honorable title years ago. If Sammy could have a message attached to his life, I'm sure his would be "Show Up Every Day and Love Someone," too He's the reason I believe in some form of reincarnation, I think. Because he's not just a cat to me. He's wise and empathetic beyond his years, and his years even in this life with me are not young.

Enjoy!

Title: Shadow in Flight, Entering Light

24" x 24" on wood, Acrylic