I'm going on vacation tomorrow, but I'll be checking in. DD is taking her laptop and we have internet access. I'll be home on the 16th. I am taking my journal with me, but I'm not going to do week 7 until I come home, if that's okay.
Mary Anne, Jan, and everyone else on this journey...I'm so glad we're doing this and I need you more than you need me, trust me.
Eileen

DesertQuilter wrote:
Very well said, Mary Anne *_*
Jan in Spokane

Hi Everyone, I'm back! I'm reporting in for my week 1 which lasted for 11 days. I did morning pages 9 out of 11 days and found them to be very interesting and helpful. I did not do them first thing, as my dogs need to go out NOW when we get up. I did them at some point in the mornings. I went to Ricky's LVQR last week and so I'm calling that my Artist Date for last week. It was worth every penny it costs and the time it takes. Ricky is such a wonderful, patient and supportive teacher. I am now through one of my major creative blocks, inspired and on the right path. Save your dollars and treat yourself to this awsome experience! Yesterday, I reread the introductions and chapter 1 and it all makes so much more sense now. I write the morning pages as a stream of consciousness that may be "I don't know what to write about" type of writing or it may be venting a frustration, worry, or whatever is crowding into my brain at that moment or been in there all morning. I think Julia calls it a "brain drain". It is helpful to get it out and then I also write solutions if they come to me. I like taking the "Blurts" (negative self-talk) and reframing them into affirmations. Life is brighter when I give myself affirmations than when I put myself down.

I'm so glad there are still some of you who are continuing on this journey, even though your "Censor/critic" is being very active right now. Remember, this journey of recovering our creative self is a process; not an event. Progess, not perfection. The journey is
what counts and is where we will find new, exciting things about ourselves and within ourselves. Keep up the good work and keep posting--I need you! Mary Anne in rainy CO

I pulled out a big book the other day and it startled me when 3 dead flowers fell out. They didn't preserve that well. I don't need any more smooched dead flowers either. I did take some photos of my hibiscus the other night.

dogquilter wrote:
NOPE! It was that "synchronicity" thing she talks about, I guess! I'm also not going to pick flowers to press. I'll count all The Greenway photos in my website towards that task!

I finished reading Week 6, I still have the tasks to do. I am looking forward to them. I thought twice and didn't buy the latest book featured on Oprah, Dr. Oz You Younger. That's a big step for me not buying something that I think I want.

Really funny, on Sunday, my artist date, I went by myself to Michaels. I bought a rock tumbler and rocks. The kids and I are going on a rock hunt tomorrow. I just read the section about picking up a rock today. Margo, now I get what you were talking about when you said you picked up a rock. Did you know about the rock before you picked it up?

I like the idea of starting over once we are at the end. We will have more of a comfort in where we were and what we missed along the way. So far I am liking week 6....it is a current issue for me.

I just do a stream of consciousness. Whatever comes out, comes out. At the end of the pages, I do some affirmations. I've been doing that since the start. I think it's like a little prayer for me to start the day.
Don't over think the morning pages. It's not supposed to be so hard-it's supposed to flow, even just a little.
I've been good about them, but sitting down and doing the tasks has been hard for me. I definitely know I'm trying too hard.
I'll read Week 6 this evening and get started. You know, once we finish the 12 weeks, we can wait awhile and do them again. That's what a group on Yahoo does. Wait about a month or so and then see if we want to do them.
Here's to creativity!!!!!!!!!!
Eileen

Ho, ho! I never thought about quilt patterns being 'allowed!' This might give me a new lease on life! I'm still in the whining and crying about morning pages stage. Just like a 2 year old having a tantrum. Only do it about 4 times a month. But am doing lots of other growing and thinking anew, so................

But I could get used to using the pages as another delay for getting to the gym. Not too crazy about exercise either, but it's necessary! ha

Good for you Margo-- that's lots of walking. I can see where you would feel like you were thinking the same thoughts twice! I do my pages before I exercise-- maybe that's partly why I don't mind them so much. I think it was in this chapter (or maybe last week) she said something about the page and a half point where your writing changes and the good stuff comes out. After I read that I realized that's been happening to me. The first part is usually clearing my head, and what I'm going to do etc, and then lots of times my writing will change to projects and ideas and sometimes i start drawing quilting designs. Does this happen to anyone else??

LinJoa wrote:
Because I'm also working on loosing weight and keeping fit (another forum topic!) when my feet hit the floor in the morning I get dressed and go for my early morning walk (2-4 miles each morning). That 30-60 minutes of my daily routine is where I really "settle my mind". When I get home and start the morning pages, I feel like I'm repeating myself!
I think, like Sandy, I need to re-focus what I'm writing about and make more effort to concentrate on the creative aspects.
I am reading WEEK 6, and it looks like this will be a tough one, too.
However, I've already had a serendipity thing for week 6! One of the "tasks" is to collect 5 rocks. While I was visiting my brother in Virginia over the week-end, I went down to the beach where we grew up and happend to pick up a rock that I brought home!! Not a shell....but a rock!! I have it in my pocket right now!!

I am trying to keep up with all the things that come my way. The morning pages are only a challenge when I don't wake up extra early. I try to write something even if it isn't 3 pages. I mostly put down what I hope to accomplish each day and what bothered me the day before. I do find that they help to keep me focused and to realize that I did accomplish something.

I have fallen back on the tasks. I haven't done last weeks task or this weeks task/assignment. The week isn't over and I will work at catching up. It's a new day.

I'm the same way with morning pages and I think that is why I have a block about doing them. I'm writing whatever pops in my head and while that might get the nonsense out so I have room for creative thoughts it doesn't feel right. I am going to start focusing on positive things I want to accomplish whether it quilting or life in general. I think if I concentrate on what I want then I have a better chance of getting there.

Goodness!! Maybe it's something in the water. I've also fallen down on the morning pages...didn't have an artist date last week and as for the timetable.... felt like I was getting farther behind instead of moving forward. I also wondered if I'm even doing the journaling right in the first place. When I first started this I thought she had said to just write down whatever came to mind. Don't think about the topic ... just write.
Well....I did that for days and days the first couple of weeks and then moved on and kept reading and still just writing the nonsense in my head. I don't think what is in my head is exactly what she is talking about.

So ... after a very non-productive week last week I've decided that I've been focusing on the wrong thing concerning my journaling. I'm going to move on and just do whatever I think I should do. This is My Way after all ... so I'll take this trip the only way that makes sense to me.
Already I have read parts of the different chapters and sat in amazement as I recognize my life and the steps I've already taken. This has opened my eyes to WHY I changed some of the situations in my life causing me turmoil. Perhaps I was listening before I even had this book to tell me that I needed to listen.

At any rate...I'm feeling good about where I'm at right now. Still a bit behind but moving forward.
I think even if we've fallen we just have to get up and get on.
That's what I'm doing. I'm reading Chapter 5 now.