First of all, I think taking my time and not letting anyone else’s idea of what I should do and when I should do it is an important step in self-protection. Of course, I have to be at school at designated times, but that still, is a choice.
I checked in on Chaper Nine four MONTHS ago. In that time, the Artist’s Way book and my journal haven’t been sitting around forgotten at all. I was working on it between Thanksgiving and the trip to Cancun and making Christmas cards and enjoying the holidays with all my girls home from colleges, and the long-term sub stint throughout February. I was lucky to squeeze in the dozen or so days I did!
MORNING PAGES: Let’s see. I do them MOST mornings. I’ve cut down to about 2 pages per day, but it’s both sides of a full-size sheet of notebook paper, which is much more writing than 3 pages in a 5×8 journal. Just for the record, I’ve only written 26 days since November 21, 2008, but I’ve filled 73 sheets of notebook paper. A lot of days, I would write 5-8 pages, and then sometimes just 2.
EXERCISES: There were 10 exercises in chapter 10, or at least that’s how I broke it down for myself. I realized that I never have bothered to protect myself effectively from people who want to hurt me. I still don’t, but now I don’t have as much of a need to. I don’t take anything personally anymore. I know I don’t own anyone else’s problems, so when they lash out at me, or try to use me, or attempt to guilt me into something, I can look at their actions objectively and calmly and either support them in their stress or tell them where they can stick their evil intentions.
There is an entire section about workaholism. I’ve never had it, so the quiz was just a long way around to tell me to stop putting off fun until the house is clean.
Drought. A whole section on drought. A few of the insights JC shares on drought are interesting, but I doubt she has ever lived through a real, real one. Like having no water for 14 years. That’s what Arizona has been like. We haven’t had any substantial rainfall since 1995. This year it feels different. Maybe because we redid our yard and I now live in an oasis of peacefulness, but I think our drought may really be coming to an end. There is a lot to learn from having to live without water. Ms. Cameron says personal “drought” is fighting with God. Not so with REAL drought. WE pray, even if it is just for rain, but it’s usually not. We have come closer to God through this drought. Drought makes a person stronger if they have the wherewithal to withstand it.
Fame: Near the bottom of page 171, she says, “The point of the work is the work.” How true. If you don’t like doing something, find something else to do or someone else to do it. To me, Fame is an exercise in futility. Being known for greatness is not a bad thing, but depending on being known is. There are an awful lot of people out there who can’t be happy for the success of others. Everything is a competition. If one person gets a compliment, they think, “What about ME?”
How can I help others to see that one person’s success takes nothing from them. There’s a few of these people around me. I can feel myself being separate from this trap and I am glad. :)
Interesting: the first time through the book, I just read the chapter and didn’t even take notes on the Drought or Fame parts. Now my discoveries take up 4½ pages!
Another great quote in the Competition section: “All work is influenced by other work.” page 174. Great perspective!
TASKS: The Deadlies was stupid. 5 pages of dumbness. I wrote that much on it, so there are probably some insights in there, but the whole pulling paper gimmick was lame.
On the other hand, I LOVED THE TOUCHSTONE EXERCISE!!! I wrote three whole pages and loved every minute of it. =D
Task 3 was useful. Task 4 was rather pointless, considering there was no follow-through activity assigned to any of the so-called “bottom lines.” Task 5 was full of nice reminders.
ARTIST’S DATE: Hmmm. Over the past four months, I’ve done tons of stuff by myself, any of which could be considered an artist date, but I think, really, what I’ve done that promotes self-preservation the best is simply sitting in my big comfy chair on my front patio first thing in the morning, reading my scriptures, writing my morning pages, listening to the mocking birds, doves, sparrows and finches, and watching my hilarious little hummingbirds flitting around and clicking at me. My Dearest gave me the best Artist Date ever by tearing out the old overgrown garden, building that courtyard and landscaping the front yard.
ISSUES: Overall, I think my need for self-protection leans toward NOT being taken advantage of and NOT being sucked into the emotional game-playing of people who might enjoy hurting me. There are a few of those folks scattered around my life. My focus is to be an objective observer to their words and actions. Then even if their intentions are to cause me pain, I can watch and listen without internalizing any of their crap.
SYNCHRONICITY: I have been writing “invitations” for things or experiences that I want in my life experience. MANY of these have come to fruition! Just a few that have “synchronized” in the past few months are: a trip to Cancun with the invited Travel Vouchers; a new, beautiful courtyard and a fun, welcoming home; new kitchen counters, sink and faucet; new wood flooring; new behaviors from my Dearest that have brought us closer (such as reading together at night and going on walks, plus a lot more good stuff); a support system in my efforts to get back into size 10 jeans; and last, but certainly not least, PINK PENS! I love pink ink and have been searching diligently for pink pens. The other night, I found something on Amazon that had free shipping, but I needed to buy another $6 worth of stuff. I found some pink pens for $7.99/doz and they came yesterday and I am very happy about it! =D
