Love. Create. Meditate.
That’s the shape my work and life are taking as I focus on my theme for this new year which is: 2010: Plenty Zen.
I’m living and working in paradise at the moment, in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. The glass heart in the photo is hanging in a gorgeous garden of hearts and color and polka dots on the sitting area just outside the studio.
On December 30, 2009, I’m happy to report that I made my goal of completing 200 (207, actually) paintings in my series of 1008 painings called 1008 Meditations on the Human Condition.
With a deadline of May 1, 2010, I need to finish about 200 per month to stay on track.
To celebrate, I took today off to go for a brisk walk to the beach and then have a swim in the ocean. My body craved the buoyant, salty waters after so much standing and bending over paintings.
Only I didn’t make it to the beach. Less than 2 blocks and two minutes from my casita, I tripped while stepping off of a very tall curb (about two feet high, seriously. I don’t understand the architecture of the streets and sidewalks here) and twisted my foot sideways on a cobblestone.
So, I essentially fell from two feet onto my twisted foot and now it looks like an egg is sticking out from the side my foot. Luckily, nothing seems broken. Just bruised, swollen and not-walkable. I’m sitting here with foot elevated and on ice as I write this.
This is not what I had in mind at all for my wonderful start to the new year. But what an opportunity to sit (literally, ha ha and thanks, universe) with how to be loving and compassionate with myself when I’m in pain and derailed from my plans.
I have a tendency (putting it mildly) to overwork… and not….(please bear with me, it’s so obvious)…
Give myself a break.
OK. OK. I get it. Really, I promise.
I had “planned” in this post to talk about having a bit more balance with this project and all the other stuff I do. And how balance has always been a big challenge for me. Well, I don’t have any answers, just potent questions in this regard.
I also planned to photograph a bunch of the finished pieces so I could post some here. But I physically can’t do that now. Funny….how much work ends up on my to-do list even on days off.
Meanwhile, I’m sitting with it all and having a good laugh.
Happy New Year!
Love. Create. Meditate. (oh…and give yourself a break while you’re at it)
p.s. If you’d care to join me here at the end of 2010, I’m teaching a retreat workshop here starting November 28. I know that seems like a long way off…but the one happening in January sold out a couple months in advance…so you’re getting the news first.
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Howdy! I’m Lisa Sonora Beam, author of The Creative Entrepreneur. I teach people how to get unstuck and use their creativity to make a living doing what they love. 
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CONGRATS on going 7 above your goal, this is a great report, you go, girl!!
Recover quickly and thank you for continued updates from paradise!
I am SO SORRY to hear about your foot, that’s horrible..thank goodness it’s not broken…is this the universe’s way of saying slow down?!? LOL Anyway, whether you’re on your feet or off, you’re always productive, so I’m sure this will not slow you down much
Sorry to hear you are starting the new year with tender tootsies…but big hooray to you for meeting (and exceeding) the goal!
You inspire me sooo much and in so many ways it is mind blowing. One of my goals this year is to start and then fully immerse myself in the crafting of my Creative Planner /strategies… I love your book and read it and reread it all of last year. So your frequent posts abut the exciting things you have been up to have been just the ticket this dreary winter!
Sorry to hear about your foot (Ouch) guess the forces that being are out to make you slow down regardless of what you want! Hehe it sounds though that you may outsmart them just the same and find a way to work around it! Congrats of being ahead of schedule, Woohoo!
PS: I love the pics of the colorful, fun garden area, it inspires me! TX for sharing
ouch!!
just rest a bit. You do deserve it after 207+ paintings!
Well, you’re looking at it right, I suppose
what a fun place to create. polka dots and glass hearts? hubba hubba. sorry about your ankle. wonder how that will work its way into your art.