Faithful Nest

The challenge is back. Would you accept? Beware.

The first time I stepped up for this challenge it was 30 days. That sounded innocent enough. 30 days of creating. Thrown down by an artist friend, it was intended for our local creative community. That was fun, each day I allotted 15-30 minutes to being creative. From a first try at a Guinness cake – decorating included – to writing a very complicated Breccbairdne (an Irish poetry form) I had lots of fun in between.

Last year we moved to 100 days. My enthusiasm was stretched. It waned. My creativity trickled to a stop. Or maybe I just quit counting my productivity as ‘creative’.

After accepting the challenge mentally this year, I’m trying to cut my way through my own apathy. The friend who throws down the challenge targets what I call measurable goals. One of those could be a measurable amount of time each morning before a specific hour. Another measurable goal would be to practice a particular skill like drawing faces from different angles.

Trying all the Irish forms of poetry sounds great, until you realize the commitment you just made. One form may take 15 minutes (limericks anyone?) and another may take 8 hours (look up the requirements for Breccbairdne). I do have other things to do today.

I love the freedom to start again each day. Yesterdays lack of success or lack of production doesn’t count. It’s today. Another try, another goal, another chance.

So, it’s today. What will you do with it?