“In times of pain, when the future is too terrifying to contemplate and the past too painful to remember, I have learned to pay attention to right now. The precise moment I was in was always the only safe place for me.” ― The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity
A spiritual path
The Artist’s Way book sat on my bookshelf for two years before I decided to open it. A spiritual path to higher creativity… Hmmm, what’s that about.
I did not know the journey would unearth buried trauma and bring me through the other side. Along the way, I have been reminded my life has value and purpose and meaning even when the rejections, the hurts, the hits, keep coming.
I have gained many insights over the last year of doing artist dates. The biggest one is we only have one life to live. So, we better start living.
We better figure out what brings us joy – or at least what gets us out of our head and into the present doing things that lift and light us up. That involves doing things that challenge and inspire us and stretch us outside of our comfort zone.
We need to get off our screens and feed our souls.
Start living
How? Seek out activities that make you see the world in new ways and appreciate the beauty all around. When the world feels like it’s pushing down all around you, push back. Go make your own path.
My most recent artist dates serve as good reminders. Last week, I attended a lecture by Daniel Seddiqui, the most “Rejected Person in the World,” at Muskegon Community College. When he couldn’t find a job, he set out to do 50 jobs in 50 states. He made it happen, finding host families along the way, and wrote a book about it.
Just this week, I went to the $5 Tuesday movie to see Bob Marley’s “One Love.” Marley used his music to bring peace and unity to Jamaica and the world. Everything’s Gonna Be Alright. No Woman, No Cry. Get Up, Stand Up. One Love.
His songs endure 50 years later. But his career was cut short. He came down with an aggressive form of melanoma and died at age 36. “Money can’t buy you life,” Marley said on his deathbed.
The Artist’s Way
When I embarked on The Artist’s Way course, I didn’t expect it to lead to soul work. Last February, I was stuck at home with a broken-down car, feeling blah about life, and still grieving my nephew’s suicide.
I had been burned out on writing, and especially freelancing, since before the pandemic. Hustling doesn’t help regulate a dysregulated nervous system. Chronic stress doesn’t either. And I had hoped my starving artist days were behind me. I have some life goals that require earning more money.
After what feels like a lifetime in survival mode, it was a welcomed change to finally have a full-time job and no money worries. A semi-calm nervous system. A sense of stability. Fairly low stress. Time to heal my gut and reclaim my health.
I had breathing room. Freedom to renew my creativity. Disposable income to pursue some new hobbies. I did not write much of anything for nearly two years.
Unfortunately, the job turned out to be short-lived. But after completing the 13-week course last spring, I see the synchronicity – the internal nudging that finally prompted me to read the book and do the work.
Face the truth
You see, a couple of years earlier, I had some unknown health issues. All my labs were fine, but I had this nagging fatigue, brain fog, and bloating. I just didn’t feel right. So, I took matters into my own hands.
I overhauled my diet (cutting out most gluten, dairy, and processed foods), stopped drinking beer and alcohol, and worked to heal my gut. I did my best to alleviate stress.
But we all know sobriety forces you to face the truth, to sit with uncomfortable feelings, to uncover and deal with repressed trauma. There is nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide. No way to numb.
And when you’re knee-deep in grief, joy can be elusive. When you get laid off, face rejection, and feel dejected, it can spiral you into depression, self-pity, and negativity. It can retrigger old wounds, like crying after every rejection, and do a number on your self-esteem. It can make you downright angry and not a fun person to be around.
So now I’m not only processing grief but trauma from my childhood and past jobs and, come August, job loss. The health insurance goes with it, so I cannot call a therapist. I have to call on myself, my partner, and my higher power.
Do the work
Do the work?
- Show up for myself
- Soothe my wounded ego
- Vent on the page
- Prioritize “me” time
- Feel my feelings
- Process anger and grief
- Read books that speak to me
- Enjoy the present moment
- Explore my artistic side unrelated to writing
- Discover new hobbies
- Go places that have been on my to-visit list
- Create, paint, and play
- Give myself lots of compassion and grace
- Rediscover the library, nature, and local museums
- Force myself to find joy when all I really want to do is cry
- Find ways to see the beauty in life even when things aren’t going my way
Feeding my soul
I did not go into The Artist’s Way with any expectations because I wasn’t really sure what the book was about. I did not think the book would change my life. And I am not even sure it renewed my desire to write as much as it renewed my capacity for joy.
I do not want to give the entire course away. You will have to discover it for yourself. But author Julia Cameron asks you to read a chapter, do reflective exercises, write daily morning pages, and take yourself on an artist date every week.
My goal this year is to write more specifically about some of my various artist dates and what I learned. Here is a recap of some early ones:
- I started out with a Zoom drawing class offered through Muskegon Area District Library, which led to my discovery of all the free and wonderful classes that the library offers.
- When I did not have a car, I did things at home like watch Oprah’s “Super Soul Sunday,” make a cruise collage of places I want to travel, and attempt to draw the northern lights.
- Once I had wheels again, I visited Frederik Meijer Gardens during the butterfly exhibit, hiked at Muskegon County’s new Dune Harbor Park, and visited Hackley Public Library and Lakeshore Museum Center.
- I rotated free activities with classes such as Beach Glass Windows at Muskegon’s historic Greater Muskegon Woman’s Club.
Higher creativity
Beyond writing the morning pages, the weekly artist dates had the most transformative impact. Making art forces you to be present. So, my weekly artist dates got me out of my head and my house and busy with my hands.
I have always been a bit of a loner, so I don’t mind going places solo. Since my fiancé works out of town through the week, it helps me fill up my weeknights.
As a former arts and entertainment reporter, I used to round up free and fun things do to. As the queen of “living on a budget,” I took advantage of free events, activities, and museum days.
Artist dates continue
During the summer and fall, I started prioritizing things I have wanted to do but kept putting off.
- Toured the Hackley and Hume Historic Site on a free admission day
- Hiked at Arcadia Dunes, Michigan Legacy Art Park, and Arcadia Marsh Nature Preserve
- Took a rock polishing class at Northport Trading Post and a watercolor class at North Muskegon Library
- Attended art fairs and local concerts during the summer
- Read books and walked the Beechwood-Boardwalk Loop at Muskegon’s beach
- Walked around the campus of Interlochen Center for the Arts
- Visited Mackinac Island during the Lilac Festival
- Attended a play and free planetarium show and walked the nature trail at Muskegon Community College
- Became a “regular” at free art classes offered through Muskegon Area District Library
On a few occasions, I did a bit of retail therapy by supporting charitable thrift stores, art fair vendors, and New Age rock shops. I started buying original art at estate sales.
In the last month, I visited Dennos Museum Center in Traverse City and Dayton Art Institute in Dayton, Ohio.
Lessons learned
Once you finish the book, Cameron encourages people to continue the morning pages and artist dates. I have not been diligent about the morning pages. But each week I look forward to what I am going to do next.
1. Artist dates do not require a lot of money. Grab your camera, a sketch pad, or notebook and go enjoy the outdoors. Look for free events. I assure you they are everywhere. Take a drive and turn up the music. Go for a walk and listen to the birds chirp.
2. A lot of people get hung up on doing things alone, but I can promise other people do not care. Don’t be self-conscious. Just go.
3. It’s actually nice to attend art classes alone because you are so busy making art that you don’t have time to talk to people or you meet new friends.
4. People you know might react in weird ways – jealousy, sabotage, intrigue, and even secret admiration. But who cares. Pretty soon they may start asking if they can join you.
Remember the whole point of the artist date is to make a date with yourself. And if your partner has a problem with it, you may want to reevaluate other aspects of your relationship.
Watch for synchronicities
5. When you pay attention, synchronicities start showing up. For me, it came in the way of books showing up when I needed them.
6. We need space and stillness.
7. We need time with ourselves to reconnect to our spirit and higher power.
8. We need to take time to play.
9. We need to cherish our inner child and bring her along on the journey of self-discovery.
10. Keep doing you and carving out time for yourself.
Bonus: SAY YES TO FREEBIES…all the freebies!
The Artist’s Way is free therapy
We all block out so much trauma, pain, grief, hurt, emotional and physical abuse just to survive. It’s easy to see how it manifests in illness, debt, overeating, drinking, drugs, depression, and whatever other ways we choose to numb.
It’s easy to see why we people please and strive to achieve and rejection hits like a gut punch.
I did not know it when I opened The Artist’s Way, but my artist dates were priming me for stormier days ahead. I was having so much fun, I decided to continue them. And it’s a good thing I did.
My artist dates have become my free therapy. They have given me new coping mechanisms. They have reminded me that life is worth living, that we create our own joy, that the Universe wants to see me win.
I am strong and resilient. I am a survivor. And above all, God’s got me.
Cameron ends the book with simple yet profound words.
Trust yourself. Trust God.
The healing journey continues…
Marla R. Miller is an award-winning journalist, travel writer, and content marketing writer who lives in Norton Shores. Please “like” or follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn. Let me help grow your business. Check out my writing services or Read My Work.
