My Creative Goals for 2010

Greener Pastures Lay Just Ahead

At the end of last year, I found myself in unfamiliar territory. I was in the middle of a life transition - having already been booted (against my will) from one shore and having no idea what the other shore was, let alone how to find it.

I should give a short-ish history here - in Feb. 2009, my family was involved in a car accident - we were rear ended on what they call Death Hwy. I was mostly concerned about my kids and husband at the time - not really paying attention to myself at all. My then three year old had a mild concussion, and my then 6 year old was complaining of neck and stomach pain. Being in the health care profession, I quickly checked them out and knew they were going to be okay.

We went our separate ways once all info was exchanged. As we drove the rest of the way home, only then did I realize how much pain I was in. 4 months later, most of my body had healed but my shoulder had not. I went for an MRI - where they numb your joint before injecting it with dye. We didn't know the extent of the damage then. During the last two tests, they placed my arm overhead and it dislocated. An ER visit later, a trip the orthopedic surgeon, and last July, I was in surgery having a rotator cuff repair, a capsular shift (ligament tightening) and a labral repair (sewing it back down to the bone). The unfortunate part of the dislocation (aside from the obvious) was that it caused nerve damage from my neck to my fingers. I had lost function, and much of the sensation in my hand. My surgeon told me it would be two years before we would know how much damage was permanent.

I was left in shock the day they delivered that news. Scared for what I did not and would not know for a very long time, and once again, amazed at how quickly your life can turn on a dime.

Prior to all of this, I was an avid seamstress, loved to quilt, and was always happy to teach another soul how to sew too. My friends were in awe of my ability to sew my own clothes and not have them look handmade. They always teased me b/c I would shrug my shoulders and say "It's mostly straight seams". Once the shoulder injury occurred, and especially since the surgery, I have been unable to sew. Sewing was my creative outlet, my joy, my peace, my salvation on really bad days. I honestly did not know what to do. And that's how I was booted from one shore, lost somewhere at sea, not really knowing if there was another shore to find.

Left with few choices, and a bum arm, I had to find a NEW creative outlet. I started getting back into paper crafting which led me to mixed media collage - which led me to Stampington, and all of their wonderful publications. Then one day, while visiting my favorite craft store, I saw Kelly Rae's book. I picked it up, and much to my surprise, it was what I had been looking for. With her guidance, I was able to paint and collage just as I had always dreamed of doing. Her book led me to her blog, and eventually to her e-course, which is how I met all of my wonderful Flyers. I seriously love you guys!

Once I found her blog, I also visited the Mondo Beyondo site - and though I haven't had the chance to take their course, I started my own list of big and small dreams I had for 2010. I was amazed, most recently, to realize that several of my wants were now realities:

1) Find a core group of women (my tribe) who were also crafters/artistic who would be supportive and cheer me on (with our site now reaching 730+, I think I can safely say that I have met this goal)
2) Start my creative biz for photography and jewelry (met)
3) Start a blog (met)
4) Participate in Craft/Art Shows (met)
5) Take a creative course - I wasn't specific on what I wanted - just that I wanted to learn more and increase my skills (met)
6) Sell my jewelry items in a boutique (owner met, offer made, just need to finalize)
7) Announce my creative biz on my personal FB page - I haven't done this one yet - but I'm thinking about it

I had other personal dreams, maternal dreams, and even marital dreams - but those are for me alone. Many of those prayers have been answered too!

I'm still not sure where the sea is taking me, what the other shore looks like, or how to find it, but I've already taken Flying Lessons and now I can take my dreams and soar to what will be rather than exhaust myself treading water in what was! That realization was a gift in itself!

Stay tuned for tomorrow - Be Specific Part II will be up. Be Specific Part I is in my June blogs - it's a funny one!

Hugs and love to all!