Sally the Shark

In the hustle and bustle of daily life is so easy to become so overwhelmed with little details, with all the tasks and lists, that we forget to be truly present.  I found myself wondering this morning if other people feel a sense of dismay when they realize they've been basically sleepwalking, of not paying attention.  I've definitely been guilty of this myself over the past couple weeks as I prepped for next weekend's Art Denver show.  Even just now I had to stop and go look for bank deposit slips.

It hit me last night and then again this morning while doing laundry, that sneaking voice that says "but I just did this..." with a super vivid memory of the act.  "Yes," I tell myself.  "You just did this last week and now its time to do it again."  

The teacher for a class I attended last week for the day job on leadership styles talked about how most people live 5% in the real world and 95% in a story in their head.  I think to-do lists are definately part of a story.  I shall call mine How Sam Was The Stand-Out Artist At Art Denver and in my head it'll be a blockbuster.  Don't get me wrong; lists are important.  They help keep the little voices in my head that run around in circles reciting all the things I shouldn't forget in place.  They help me remember to tie a deposit account to my new credit card reader, to buy velcro to hang my business card holders, and to reply to emails.  But they're also overwhelmingly distracting.

Sally-the-Shark

Personally I've found injecting moments of whimsy into the lists, into the story helps.  There's an actual reason I have a bin of socks with things like winged-bunnies-holding-wrenches on them.  So yesterday while I was out picking up (hopefully) the majority of the supplies I'll need for next weekend I found up Sally-the-Shark.  Shes now handing off the handle of the cupboard containing the dishes, with her little fins and tail mounted on springs so it looks like she's flapping around like a happy goldfish.

Yes, its stupid and childish, but it also makes me pause on my journey to where ever and smile back at her silly grin.

Today is officially print-and-mat day, with a short break to buy groceries.  Who said the life of an artist wasn't exciting?

Its hard to be enthused about cutting 187 mat boards, and doubly hard today because I had to buy another mat cutter yesterday.  So glad I live in Denver, where the local stores stock these giant things and where they have 40% off coupons this weekend :)

And extra glad because I can go grocery shopping now and they'll have the fresh apple chansons :-) 

visit Samantha Byrnes' gallery online...