
When Confusion Sets In, the Tiara Goes On!
Need to make hard decisions? Put on a thinking wig!
I was in my studio, FINALLY getting into some creative work that has been extremely challenging to get into a rhythm with this year. Between travel and not really knowing what the heck was happening with a possible show in March, I have felt stagnant. I hadn’t wanted to expend the energy it would take to get everything ready for a show, because I didn’t know if it was a confirmed show.
I also couldn’t decide if I wanted to proceed with an online March Pop Up Shop, if I should be going after wholesale accounts for my hats and note cards, if I should be manufacturing new goods at all, if I should incorporate cannabis leaves into the current series I’m working on...
Also, I couldn’t decide if I should walk or do Yoga, eat meat only a few times a week or not at all, go surfing or not try to battle the winter ocean weather and ski instead, or start jogging again…and on and on we go. The 2019 hamster officially jumped on its wheel and began running.
Meanwhile…back in the studio…
There I was, prepping all my materials for a series of paintings I was beginning to work on. It took excruciating effort to get to that point, including a high side-ponytail, tiara and loud music. I was painting/dancing, high side-pony whipping this way and that, yelling/singing the song Leaving by Yes, when I turned to notice my 17-year-old daughter had walked in and totally busted me in this state of artistic genius/madness.
“Hi Mom!” she said loudly with a perplexed smile.
“Hi Babe!” I yelled back. “How was your day?!”
“It was good!” she said with confused eyebrows and trying not to smile too big (or break out in embarrassed laughter).
To her credit, she looked more amused than embarrassed. She went into the dining room to do homework. She never questioned what the hell was happening and she didn’t ask me to turn the music down (which I did anyway due to the homework). It was in this moment that I decided the following:
- My daughter is the coolest.
- The tiara WITH a high side-ponytail was a stroke of genius.
- This series of paintings was going to be awesome with or without the cannabis leaves.
- Everything was going to be ok.
Two days later, the show was confirmed. My March Online Pop Up Shop offering was made clear. I had a game plan. Now that I have had a couple of days to reflect on this particular bout of tomfoolery, I am positively astounded at how I dealt with my decision making confusion.
For one, I didn’t totally melt down! HOORAAAAYYYYY!!!! I have to admit, I’m not sure where the side ponytail came from. It was an accident while rushing to throw my hair up that immediately made me feel lighter, so I rolled with it. That lightness made me grab my studio tiara, and the combination of the two was nothing short of amazing.
At its most basic level, I think that this was me telling me not to slip into taking everything too seriously. It will, indeed, all work out. My world will not end based on the outcome of any of this shit. In fact, no one’s world will end. Everything will continue. More decisions will need to be made once these are figured out and the livelihood of the universe will not be dependent on those choices either.
I found that I was able to do what my heart told me I needed to do in order to avoid going bats in the belfry crazy, and thus collapse from over-thinking. If that meant screaming 80’s pop-rock while flinging a tiara clad side-pony around, so be it. THAT, my friend, is freakin’ progress.
I urge you to do something silly today. It may not be as silly as you think. It may, actually, bring clarity and joy. It may lead to productivity. It may show others, such as younger people who are we are supposed to be setting a good example for, that laughter is not only medicine, but an organizational tool as well. I plan on urging her to wear a tiara while taking the SATs. I may have done better on them had I owned one at the time.
If I ever have a business with employees, I shall have a costume closet in the office. Feeling down? Grab a boa. Frustrated and unmotivated? Dress in drag. Feeling as though you’re stuck in molasses? A purple wig is just the ticket. Coffee not kicking in? Face paint! It shall be part of my employee manual. Prospects who find this ridiculous need not apply.
Who wants to work for me?
I am an artist and writer, living in Talent, Oregon with my husband and daughter. I play in the ocean to stay strong and inspired, and I often visit my hometown of New Orleans, where the rhythm of my heartbeat is renewed. Follow me on Facebook and Instagram where I post stuff sometimes. To hear from me more regularly, join me on this crazy, beautiful Artventure.
The photo at top is the finished painting titled, "A Lovely Mess". It got snatched up before the finishing coat was even applied, but stay in touch for info of how to get a smaller photo reproduction. Join my Artventure for early access to the March Online Pop Up Shop.
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