Ever since classes started back at Rose State College, I have felt like my days are booked solid! I’m teaching an 8 a.m. Monday/Wednesday Composition class and an online Public Speaking class. Pair those duties with my work at Central Oklahoma College and my hours at the studio and I get plenty of variety in my days. And I do like to have a variety of different things to do. Otherwise, I get bored.
Upcoming Art Show
If you are in Oklahoma, you have the chance to participate in the OK Art Crawl. Here is the info from the OVAC website:
This program functions as a drive-by exhibition and features 200+ artists across the state displaying their pieces in front of their houses, on their front porches, in their garages, and anywhere they see fit! The annual OK Art Crawl will take place on Saturday, October 16, 2021, from 10 am-8 pm.
I will be participating as an artist from my studio in the Paseo Arts Creativity Center. I’ll be there from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. that day. I invite you to stop by and see me and other artist participants, and then spend the day visiting more artists in the area.
Time for a Change?
Some years ago a student intern told me she thought my favorite color was beige because of my hair, my glasses, my clothes. I was just one big beige blob. I knew that wasn’t the “real” me, but it was the “at work” me. I vowed from that point forward to make sure my exterior matched my interior.
Have you ever felt like it was time to make a change? Maybe your life had changed or you were just ready for a change. Maybe this (too long, needs to go away) pandemic has you ready to bust out into a new you. Below is my top six list for reinvention — ideas to get off repeat and on to something new.
Top 6 Tips for Reinventing Yourself
Look beyond what you believe is expected, reasonable, sensible, or appropriate. For example, I quite trying to look “professional” aka “beige” and instead started figuring out what kinds of clothes I actually like and enjoy wearing.
Explore new hobbies or skills by signing up for classes, book clubs, or seminars. Whether you want to paint or rollerblade, you’ll find a group to help you learn. I belong to sewing and quilting guilds so I can learn new techniques and see what other people are doing.
Observe and take notes on people who inspire you to reinvent yourself. What have they done that you would like to do? What are their habits? For example, I am obsessed with Iris Apfel, Frida Kahlo, and Katharine Hepburn. Do I want to mimic them? No. Do their life stories inspire me? Yes.
Start a journal so you can jot down ideas, plans, and even worries about the new life you want to create. I’m a big fan of pro and con lists and creating detailed dreams for the future. A question I sometime pose to myself is “What do I want my life to look like?”
Use your journal to help you rid your home and life of the things that don’t fit into the life you want to live. It can be hard to do this! Luckily, I’m not much of a packrat, but sometimes I have to make a hard choice to get rid of items that no longer fit my goals.
As you start participating in activities to create your new life, be sure to surround yourself with good people. Be selective and only choose people who share your goals and values. I know I have let toxic friends slip away. It can be difficult or even make you feel guilty, but setting boundaries that protect your time and your mental health is crucial.
If you want to do a full scale reinvention or simply add some new adventures to your life, let me know if these tips are helpful.