It’s been a busy week with a lot to be thankful for:

• Meeting art friends in person, maintaining social distancing of course
• Rain without my house flooding
• Depression glass
• Completing a NYT hard sudoku in 16 mins
• Artist Dates

Another week has flown by and I still feel like I’m stumbling along blindly, without noticing small things to be grateful for.

Looking back through my journal, there is nothing I noted.

I am always thankful for the basic things, a roof over my head, food to eat (even if it’s not what I may be craving)   oh that reminds me, I stashed some chocolate in my tote bag.

I’m on the border of numbness.  This often happens before I get depressed.

I am looking forward to meeting with art friends to discuss the next chapter of The Artists Way.  I’ve quit doing morning pages.  My mornings have been dedicated to my “dailies” in Animal Crossing.  I’ll spend the next week focusing on creating in the mornings instead.  Quick art journal type pages on loose bristol board or the heavyweight drawing paper I salvaged from the water damaged sketchbooks I discovered cleaning up my studio.   Something that is more tangible, and meaningful than digging up bells to plant keep my money tree cycle going.

Although I feel like my Animal Crossing villagers are more a part of my life than most real-life people I know.

I remembered today!   That’s something to be thankful for on its own but here are some small moments I felt gratitude for during the last week:

• Hearing a little bird chirping outside the bedroom window early in the morning
• The guy dancing down the street as I was driving home from work
• Watching my art improve with daily portrait drawings
• Art friends
• Getting things I’ve put off accomplished

Hope to do an art catch up post this weekend.  I’m trying to find small bits of time each day to do the Sktchy 30Faces30Days lessons.  The lessons run between 20 mins to an hour, then add another hour or so for the drawing.  I plan on doing the next class too.

Well, I have. Then I remember at an inopportune time. Like while I’m making fried potatoes for dinner.

Then I start writing from the QuickPress app on my phone, which is more difficult than using a keyboard. 

Then I go to bed, and remember I didn’t finish the Thankful Thursday I’ve missed now for 2 weeks. 

Then I remember and tell myself  “GO WRITE IT REALLY QUICKLY” while I’m on break at work. 

So for the last 2 weeks I’ve been thankful for:

• Animal Crossing and the summer update
• Sktchy 30 Faces 30 Days course and learning so much more about using Procreate
• Puppy Birthday Celebrations (Happy 4th Birthday Jarvis)
• Meeting a friend for our last book club.
• A handwritten letter
• Peace signs 

It’s been a challenging few days but there have been moments of joy.  I’m thankful for:

• My youngest making waffles for breakfast and having a chance to eat with him before I got ready for work.
• The smell of my studio when I’m working on various paintings.
• Playing fetch with my dog, Vision.
• Feeling better after making time for yoga & meditation.

I’m still working on trying to notice more little things.  It’s easy to slip back into a mindless routine, truly a rut, and go throughout my day without being present.

This week I’m thankful for:

• Laid back birthday celebrations
• It was easy to get Vision ready for his vet check-up
• Time off from work
• Feeling creative again

It’s a short list this week but now that I’m working on mindfully to find the blessings in my life I’m sure the list will grow.

Be safe, wash your hands and wear your mask.