Mockingbird Hill Cottage

C’est fini.

It isn’t perfect. Every time I look at it, I see something that I should have tweaked. Then I remind myself that this is a process and I’m learning. At some point, I have to say it’s finished and move on. (Though I don’t mind telling you that I may tweak it a little later today. But just a little.)

This is the Snowberry pattern and this particular vase is on the petite side, much smaller than the others I’ve painted. Don has always referred to it as Mae West, rather voluptuous and sassy. If vases can have a sense of humor, this one certainly does.

Don and I have been talking off and on about the creative process and age. Both of us seem to be in the midst of exploring new-to-us areas of creativity. And that brings me to this thought: Never let a number define you. Never let it define or restrict the possibilities or the potential that lies ahead.

I think it’s so important to keep our minds sharp as we age. I know many of you feel the same way. Reading, crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, exercise, learning….all that and more helps to keep us sharp. I know I have to guard against a negative reaction to the numbers; my age, the possible lifespan ahead of me, the years behind me, and all the fears those numbers can generate. I fight it all the time. All the time.

When Don says, “We’re old” I counter immediately, with “We’re older.” That’s as far as I’m willing to go with that line of thinking. I look in the beautiful face of my husband, who will be 70 in two days, and think that he’s more beautiful than ever, that he’s grown into who he really is, that there is an ease with himself I didn’t always see in the past. I watch him explore things, challenge himself, learn new instruments, write beautiful music and lyrics…he’s constantly creating.

I think we inspire each other that way. Sure, there are times when the inspiration to create something new seems to be lacking. So we recharge, read, do chores, meditate, go for a walk. Eventually, something sets off a spark, and we’re back at it.

You never know what new horizons are ahead of you. I’m 68 years old. Even as recently as two months ago, if you had asked me if I could draw or paint, I would have answered NO without hesitation. Absolutely not. I was very clear on that.

But a voice deep inside me kept nudging me toward painting. Here and there, momentary thoughts of “Maybe painting?” came and went. After about two years of these nudges, I began to consider it. Hesitantly, for sure, but I started to give those thoughts time and space, no longer rejecting them out of hand. And as I’ve said before, I eventually confided them to Don, making that tiny possibility more real.

I am not one to talk about faith because I believe it’s a private, sacred thing. It’s my business and not anyone else’s. I have an aversion to what I perceive to be preachiness. Having said that, whatever your belief system, whatever your spirituality, whatever path you follow, there is something deep within us that guides us. Of that I am sure.

Keep those channels open: listen, ponder, take action. Don’t give up or say things like, “I’m too old to try something new.”  “I don’t have the talent for (fill in the blank).” We all fall prey to that kind of thinking. I know I do. Instead, respond with “Why not? Why not try?” The worse thing that could happen is the realization that something you’ve tried just isn’t your cup of tea. Okay. Now you know. Move on to something new.

Creativity is ageless. We are all creating, all the time.

New. Possible. Explore. Create. Challenge. Discover.

None of that is limited by age.

Stay safe.

Happy Tuesday.