be an artist everyday

I give up!

I sketched a self-portrait tonight. It wasn’t too bad for someone who hasn’t picked up a pencil in quite a while. I always make myself look much better on paper, than in person… my own little version of reality.

My boss asked me to teach a little class for a number of people in our center who are having difficulty setting boundaries with patients on the phone & as a result end up wasting tons of time.

My first thought was that there was no way I was capable of doing such a thing, so I called HR to see if they could come teach the session. After a little talk with the HR rep, I realized they really don’t have a class that fits the bill.

So. Here is another opportunity to be an artist in an everyday way. I’m a creative person. And I have tons of experience in resisting the agendas of demanding, entitled people. I mostly need to overcome the nasty crowd in my head that projects how all my co-workers will resent and hate me for presuming that I could possibly know more than they do on this subject.

This is a strange goal because being an artist isn’t something I do, it’s something I am. Our commerce-obsessed culture insists on the doing part, the idea that you can’t really claim artist status unless you’ve made or are making a product – or are at least anguishing over your inability to be productive.

So maybe I should dump this goal and substitute another? Because I am an artist everyday, and that is not going to change, so how can it be a goal?

Something to think about. hmmmmmmm.

Anyway, after all that. . . I did actually produce something today. The Alzheimer’s Center that I run will have completed it’s 2nd year of operation next week. I got a bunch of colorful take-out Chinese food boxes, a bunch of fun toys & chocolates (conflicting with the no-sugar goal), a bunch of glitter and pretty things and glue and sharpies. I’m decorating all the boxes, filling them with toys and candies, and on Wednesday I’ll get up early & go to work before everyone else & leave a little giftee as a surprise on each person’s desk. Hooray! Fun! :)

I used pastels to create a very strange bust drawing. Not sure if it was male or female. Will work on it tomorrow.

I achieved this goal by participating in the ArtSoMoFo_2005 community challenge at livejournal—the goal was to create or complete and art piece daily. I’m working on doing this every month now because it was so gratifying.