Reminder: Schedule a Meeting with Inner Self.

We have been in Italy for almost 6 weeks now, the first month of which was spent visiting places new to us, the highlight of which was Bolzano up close to the Austrian border - of which I will write more in the future.  For the past two weeks we've been back in our much beloved Tuscan town, Montepulciano where we will stay for the remainder of the 90 days allowable.  This is the second summer in succession that we've spent here and it definitely feels like a home away from home.  

One of the wonderful things that happens on a long trip like this is simply the getting away from your normal at home routines.  Our days here take on the unique routines that we've adopted while traveling which include quiet mornings on the balcony overlooking the fairytale Tuscan landscape while drawing (me) and painting (him).  This feels like a complete indulgence and one that I internally justify by "being on holiday".  Also,  I have taken a vow to not look at Instagram for the entire three months and have found it to be a very useful break.  It has freed up a lot of mental space to just be in the moment which has had a profound effect on my creativity.  Without the constant barrage of images I am finding myself looking more deeply at the things around me which stirs a desire to make art myself.  That sounds much more lofty than it really is because all I am really doing is taking out a pencil and sketch book and trying to draw what I see.  The results are amateurish, but even so, much better than I expected and enough to make me want to continue to try.  

Back in Canada I seem to fill my days with "shoulds".  I should: do the laundry, vacuum, de-clutter the closet....  You can probably relate.  Why is it that we are conditioned to think that the chores are more worthy of our time than the things that bring us joy?  Yes, a tidy house is important, but it is not everything and should never come at the expense of the things that feed our souls.   For me those things include drawing, knitting, decorating, writing, practicing calligraphy, sewing - the list goes on.  I'm beginning to think that I need to schedule in these endeavours as appointments in my calendar and that they are given the same level of importance as meetings or doctors appointments.  There is an argument to be made that creative pursuits are like having a meeting with our inner selves.  What could be more important than that?