Hello from my favorite place in the house: the kitchen nook! :D
It’s Earth day, and although the sun is shining bright outside, I’m in the vibrancy of my very own kitchen nook, planting seeds for a blooming and healthy business. What is new, right?
True. I’m consumed by the idea of businesses that start in the kitchen table and achieve world domination! Too much for you? I say, why not? Everything always gets toned down a notch when you apply ‘reality’ to it anyway. We might as well enjoy thinking extravagantly then.
This week I found myself working once again with the SEED handbook, by Lynne Franks. It’s been very helpful to go back to it, now that I am actually doing the work, rather than just fantasizing about it. Lynne’s book also has great meditation ideas and affirmations that are great “pick me ups”.
With all that in mind, I thought I’d share a few lessons learned in my first 4 months of self employment (It’s been already 4 months as of last Sunday!).
“The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The second best is now.”
Chinese proverb
Time flies! That is exactly right! This is a cliche, but still, the most important lesson learned. Don’t waste anytime. Just begin. Even if you are not pursuing your dream full time just yet, practice a new way of living by taking a step closer today. When I was still working a 8am-8pm job, I began to claim my lunchtime as a sacred personal time. I carried it as my most precious intention: Make time for you and you only. It was worthwhile to skip the office social interaction, to actually find a patch of grass to write on my journal or to go for a walk with my camera. You must find that time… Begin.
The dreaming part matters! If you haven’t taken the plunge just yet, you might be feeling frustrated with yourself for just thinking, planning, wanting, reading about everyone else’s experience, etc. As my friend Mc would say, be gentle and kind to yourself. This is also “doing” in a way and it is an invaluable part of the process. You are in a journey already. Just keep going and the time will come for when you will be ready to bloom. I don’t regret the 5+ years I went through preparing myself. You are collecting seeds and grounding yourself for the future!
I love how Lynne named chapter 3, Soul to Soil. One of the best things about this very unique time in my life is that I am giving myself the time and space to really get to know who I am. I must admit that in all the travel I’ve done (in which I thought I had learned it all about myself…) I was only scratching the surface. The fact that in this journey, I am not moving physically through new places, makes me focus hard on what really matters to me. What do you do when you actually have time for yourself? This is a good question to hold and observe. I find myself not exercising as much as I thought I would, for example. When you create space, you really learn what your true motives versus your excuses are, when it comes to doing or not doing, what you once had in mind…
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven…” Ecclesiastes
Find a routine that fits you. But a must: Wake up early! I’ve been getting up at 7:30am everyday, and still, with all I want to do, it feels late to me. I am a person of discipline. I complain about structure all the time. However, the truth is I need discipline and like it very much. So I’ve put myself on a schedule (cuz that is what producers do afterall :)). It really works. It helps me feel proud and accomplished. I never feel like I’m wasting this opportunity to ‘kick some butt’ and finally make things happen.
One of the things that has worked really well for me is fostering diversity in my project list. Part of it is my personality. I have many interests and I love juggling multiple projects. Staying busy gives me an edge in which I thrive and produce my best work. But I swear by this concept. You must work in several things at a time and bring them all to fruition gradually and simoutaneously. If you focus on only one project, you could possibly get discouraged very fast. Whereas if you have other things going on, a delay and a rejection will quickly be on the let go, as other ideas continue to set forward. Lately, this has also proven to be spot on, especially in terms of coming up with creative ways to generate an income.
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I can keep going here, but I am afraid this post would turn into a huge blob. On the other hand, following the advice from Holly Becker in her blogging your way e-course (which I am loving btw), I’d like to ask you:
Would you be interested in a new column/ series here, with tips from my Studio Life? Have you ever wondered what a ‘day in the life’ of Gypsy Girl is like?
Please do let me know. I’d love to share my process with you and I am very keen on expanding this space into a colorful garden of creative, practical and honest information, if this sounds exciting and interesting to you too.
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*update: I forgot this bit: If you can do one thing to honor “Earth day” this week, watch the film “Flow” about the world water crisis. I nearly cried, but wanted to preserve the tears, you know? Also check this page on how to take action.
Reflections from the kitchen nook
April 22, 2009
Some really good advice here, Alex. I love how you’re sharing your enthusiasm, growth and ideas and by extension, helping others plant their own seeds for growth. xoxox
I would love to see a day in your life! I just browsed around your blog and I think it’s fabulous!!
lovely thoughts to share ~ and flow?
i was so moved by it ~ have been reading up on the crisis and how it affects basic needs for water as well as blockprinting artisans in villages
in india ~ because they can’t get water
your blog is so beautiful ~ love the beautiful
printing in this post:)
Thanks for sharing this advise. As someone who is in the process of becoming a creative entrepeneur I really like reading these kinds of blog posts :)
So yes, I would like to see a column/ series here with tips from your Studio Life? And I would love to find out what a day in the life of Gypsy Girl looks like :)
Love this post. Thanks for sharing these little nuggets.
Would love a column/series as well.
Keep up the fabulous creative and inspirational work you’re doing.
I just stumbled across your blog. I love it. I am beginning my journey toward a more creative life. This post in particular is very relevant and helpful to what I am thinking over. Thanks! I would also like to see a day in the life post.
i want to come over and hang in your kitchen nook :) miss u!
xoxo
This post has inspired me no end. I wish I could come over in person for some more of your wisdom – the idea of a Studio Life column is brilliant.
I have the SEED book too and it’s wonderful. With many tangible creative and entrepreneurial projects on the horizon, the timing might be right to pull it back off the shelf. Thank you for the reminder.
Thank you for your words and images too – I relate to so much of what you write here. I’d love to hear about a day in the life of Gypsy Girl. :)
Your kitchen nook is So happy. Thank you for sharing the link about Flow. Also I love one of your photos in a post below, of your boots in the grass. That was so beautiful.
I’m still in the dreaming stage, myself. Glad I found your blog for part of my reading. :)
Hi Alex…most definitely would love a column on your studio and this was a great post…gave me the kick in the pants I needed!!!
here from SS ~your nook is amazing!
I am in agreement your view. My reading has shown your ideas to be true, then again, I have also read the opposite from different articles like this one. Do you have any ideas for locating more savvy ideas on travel tips or related topics? I would most appreciate it!
I am and live what you teach!I have a massive Humanitarian project, which I am about to execute, (and have been perfecting for 5 years now), to and for the planet and mankind.This program would feed me the right spiritual food for the perfect development and manifestation needed to give birth to this project. As well, those involved would benefit to the highest possible dimensional performances, that would result in a very powerful effectual and global event, which would last for all the many generations which lay ahead.Basically, my need for this prize, is for the current and future generations, and the possible peace to be soon globally manifested!Regardless of winning this prize or not, I am still going to invest in all that you have.I know this works, as this communicates directly to the spirit and above!!!
Nice article.It is very informative post.
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