Babette’s Book Club
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The Artist’s Way: Artist’s Dates
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The Artist’s Way: Artist’s Dates
I’m good at doing the morning pages. It’s a task I can make myself do because it feels like important work. I’ve been doing them (badly) for years, and even though I butcher the process in many ways, I am very aware of how beneficial they are. The brain-drain clears my mind, and while the list-making habit I’ve added to the pages often increases my anxiety over the many things I’ve not-yet-done, it also allows me to focus on other things, knowing that the list will always be there to keep me on track. I can afford to “forget” about them and be more fully present in each moment.
I am NOT good at doing a weekly Artist Date. It feels like an indulgence that my to-do list says I don’t have time for. But I’ve done The Artist’s Way enough times to realize the benefits of the Artist Date. Inspiration, ideas, and answers arise from artist dates. Getting out in the world gives serendipity a chance to find us. So, like @Isabelle I’m committing to a weekly artist date every Wednesday for the duration of the course. I’ll keep y’all posted on my progress, and I hope you’ll do the same.
I have committed to doing some very good things for myself on a weekly basis, including two days a week of aerial yoga classes. Even though the classes are a tremendous source of joy and pleasure, they don’t count as artist dates. Artist dates can’t be confused with the regular self-nurturing we all deserve and should be doing anyway. Artist dates, IMO, should involve a certain amount of aimless noodling and novel experiences. I haven’t decided what I’ll do this Wednesday, but I’ll let you know.
What about y’all? Have you done any fun artist dates you’d like to tell us about? Do you have any fun dates planned for yourself in the future?
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4 Replies
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I had my first Artist date yesterday. I went walking around in the dollar store. Read some children books, had fun looking at Easter stuff and bought packs of bright colored gel pens. Since that wasn’t 2 hours long, I plan on watching a Disney movie this weekend when I am alone at home.
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That sounds like a fun Artist’s Date! I love going to Ben Franklin, which is our version of Hobby Lobby (which we don’t have on the Island–and no Michael’s either). There’s another store right next door called Daiso that I also love. It’s Japanese, and has a ton of bright colorful unnecessary plastic shit I enjoy looking at (and sometimes buying).
I didn’t do my Artist’s Date yesterday. It got hijacked by Hans needing my help cleaning out the water catchment tank at our daughter’s house while she was at work. So today, while he is back at her house again (still cleaning) I took an hour to tie a bunch of orchids to the trees in the yard. That is a relaxing, pleasurable activity for me, so I’m calling it an Artist’s Date.
A friend had told me recently about a vendor at the local Sunday market who sells a flat of assorted orchids for $20, and many of them need repotting and can be divided into several plants. So I have a flat with about twelve 4″ pots that are overgrown around the edges enough that I’ll probably get 30 or more plants from them. I’ll share pictures at some point.
Now I’ve gotta check emails, not my favorite activity because I always wait until I have an overflowing inbox. Wish me luck!
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I love the idea that your Artist Date was spent with orchids ❣️ How delightful and so good for your soul to connect with nature. Here in NH we have so much snow and more coming later today. It was just starting to melt. It’s that time of year when I really start needing to be outdoors and put my hands in the dirt. I might have to go visit a greenhouse nearby for now. Good luck with your e-mails! See you Sunday ❤️
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Looking forward to chatting on Zoom tomorrow!
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