in between

January is always feels like an exhale to me... understandable after the holidays. At the same time, I often ponder in January: now what? All that is new and shiny and full of potential can turn into an incredible downer with the taste of expectation hang-over in your mouth if you don't watch it. Oh, yes, it happened before. Still, I am optimistic. My first week was short on adventures (still mopping after the festivities, catching up on the mendacity of the inevitable), but full of self-discoveries... I haven't had a chance to even soak all in, and I am resisting some of it, because not all self-realizations are pleasant, but my mind was working in the background, pointing me in the directions I obviously need to go: new paths to explore, old paths to revisit, help to seek, tools to acquire. Sometimes I truly hate that percolating period. I am ready to do something already. Well, I am doing something already, but my batteries are low, so my jump cables need to be attached before I move forward creatively, and I am starting slow and simple: 

• I have a sketchbook. I am, once again, trying to get into the habit of daily sketching. I am facing my own resistance. I am not sharing any results. This one is for me.

• I have a little journal that is just one line a day -- a question, and an answer. It gives me pleasure to know that my friend has one just like it, and that she is writing her answers daily, too. It is not collaborative, but it is not as solitary as a diary, and has some potential for discussion and further exploration.

• I am looking for a new camera, so I am doing some research: more pixels, better optical zoom, definitely macro, definitely manual options, but I must have auto capabilities, and something that will not leave me bankrupt. I was looking for something between point-and-shoot and DSLR, but I am open to suggestions, and was given an excellent one today... I imagine I will be looking for a few weeks yet. 

• I have dug out several books of poetry, all of my favorites -- they have never failed to inspire me in the past, and now they are back on the bed-stand. 

I am taking myself and my old camera to join some friends this weekend. Till Monday, then. I hope you will have some time for creative self-care this weekend -- have a great one!