30 January 2010

Apologies ...

I owe you an apology ...

I have a few followers, a few more loyal readers, and the occasional random visitor. I appreciate all of you, and yet, I don't treat you with the respect that you deserve. I don't blog on a regular basis, and recently, I haven't even been very good at acknowledging comments the way I should.

First of all, I want to let you all know that I really appreciate all of you who read/commented on my post about B'Orange. Your companionship and compassion are comforting. 

Secondly, thanks for hanging in there with me through my hit-and-miss blogging. You'll be happy to know that I've been taking stock and have recommitted myself to my blog. I recently purchased Tara Gentile's (of scoutie girl) ebook "52 Weeks of Blogging Your Passion" -- a book dedicated to helping creative bloggers stay on point with their blogs. I'll be working through it over the upcoming year, so I expect that this blog will grow into a regular source of information about me, my art, my process and my life.

One of the first exercises Tara has us do is create a mission statement for our blog and share it with our readers. I hesitated on this exercise at first, not sure that I wanted to be that formal. Then, I decided that I'd wasted my money on the book if I wasn't going to do even the first exercise! So, after much thought and editing, here's my mission statement for Mixed Grill Favorites:

Mixed Grill Favorites is devoted to sharing my journey as I continuely grow, evolve, and mature as an artist and writer. Sharing my creative processes so that others can gain greater understanding of my art and writing, and of their own creativity, brings me joy. My website is a way to connect with other artists and writers -- and lovers of art and the written word -- so that I can find inspiration and share it with others!


Lastly, I'm working on some other creative projects that will support this blog. I'm working on a comprehensive website to house my blog and showcase my art. That should be ready by late spring. I have another project that I'm very excited about -- but not ready to share details about! It should be ready by mid-March. I'll write more about it as the time for its unveiling approaches. I think you'll be as excited as I am!


Thanks again for hanging in there! You are appreciated!

10 comments:

Alison said...

Don't even worry about the inconsistency; I think we too often put these expectations of perfection on ourselves, and for most of us life just doesn't work that way. Bravo for your recommittment, however, and good luck with your plans for the following year. I look forward to seeing what comes out of all this discovery! Thanks for sharing with the rest of us (especially those of us more artistically challenged than others!).

Jill said...

I think a lot of us feel the same way, Cindy! I redid an entirely new blog and not even sure what direction that will take. I have plans for being more creative, however it will be off of paper and the altered stuff and more towards working on getting the new house the way I want. I hope that the blog will be a way that I can be hold myself accountable when I start these projects in my desire to post before/after pictures.

Alison said...

I was thinking about your commentary some more, and a few other thoughts came to mind. I know the one thing I fight every day are the nuts and bolts of daily life; they have a way to anchor us down and keep us from flying where we would like to go. That doesn't mean we don't have to attend to these things...my cats like their litter box cleaned, Steve is happy when I fix him dinner...but they will fill up our time and take all our energy if we let it. I think it is a matter of clearing time in your day/week/month, whatever works for you, for some of these more important things. And I think these more important things involve being inspired. You can't be inspired on the run, when pressured to get things done. And yet, if we allow ourselves time to be inspired, this will affect all the other things we do in our day (it works from the inside out, inspiration affecting everything else, but not from the outside in as everything else will suffocate inspiration). I know I do my best teaching when inspired, but this is anything but a daily occurence. Most of the time I feel I am hopelessly hopeful that I can win the race of task completion, but the cost is too great. So, we don't always do what's best, what will make us more inspired life artists, but that doesn't mean we don't keep trying. Just jump back in where you are, not worrying about the failure you had the day before. One thing I have learned from my students at school is that it is not the lack of failure or the speed of progress that gets you to the end, but sheer and unadulterated perseverance. Just keep swimming....

Alison said...

Jill, I love your comment. Being creative is not always about making art specifically, but that same inspiration and journey can happen in the other areas of your life as well. You are not making time for something new to squeeze into your life, but still using the energy and experience on something you are already doing to make it more special. Good luck!

Alison said...

"To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe." -Anatole France

Hoàng Dung said...

hope you may be my friend !

Cindy Jones Lantier said...

Thanks so much, Alison and Jill, for your supportive comments.

Alison, I do sometimes expect too much of myself, but I also know that I'm happiest when I'm expressing myself, when I'm moving forward. I heard a writer say in an interview, "I don't wait until I'm inspired to write; I find inspiration by writing." That's true for me, too. If I wait until I'm inspired to be creative, little will happen in my life! But, when I show up on a regular basis and "do the work" -- whether it's art, writing, blogging, whatever -- inspiration will often find me. I'm a person who craves consistency and routine!

Jill, I believe there are a million ways to be creative, and one of them is to purposefully and lovingly create the environment in which you live. Good luck to you! I look forward to watching your progress as you move forward in your home.

Alison said...

You know, I think you're right about the "showing up" part. There are some times when I think I want to do something creative, but I don't because I don't really know what to do (such as writing). Maybe if I just start doing it, learning about it, but mostly doing it the creative inspiration will eventually come. Thanks!

Anonymous said...

Cindy! What fun to find you over in Tara's forum! She is so inspiring!

I think we have to remember that blogging is supposed to be FUN! Deadlines and expectations are such double edged swords....they can spur us on towards greater productivity or stress the heck out of us! Here's hoping you don't let the latter happen (for me as well)!

maybe said...

I'm appreciate your writing skill.Please keep on working hard.^^