The Goodness Of This Particular June
Summer is truly my best time of year for creative work. I'm a deep night owl and the hot nights make my creativity come alive. The sun on my hands limbers them up for drawing and painting commissions.This particular June is extra-good. Lots to celebrate.
It’s my birthday month after a long, difficult year. I'm wrapping up an intense year of self-discovery. I was inspired The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy – if 42 is The Answer to Life, the Universe and Everything, then maybe I could use my 42nd year as motivation to figure out some of the big issues in my life. I'm about to turn 43. This experiment has been wildly successful and I now know exactly where my towel is. Most of the time.
I celebrate one year alcohol-free on June 9. I still have a few days to reflect on this, but WOW. Those are words I never thought I'd say.
I'm publishing the first edition of my cooking zine, Goodness. It's on chicken comfort foods, and includes flavor-boosting tips, prep chef shortcuts, notes on cooking methods and more. I've been writing recipes for this for half my life. It will be ready soon!
I’m excited to announce that “me” is becoming “we”! I want to serve you better, so I've been assembling a small but mighty team. That means bringing in some junior designers, a VA and a proofreader so that I can spend more time with my hands on your designs. This is my happy little face after bringing on my first freelancer. We're hatching our plans behind the scenes and smoothing out the bumps as we learn to work together. It’s going to mean great things for everyone. I can feel it.
There's a painting sale in the works. If you have your eye on some art, now's the time to email me for friends-and-family 40% off.
In the midst of all that is heavy and all that there is to learn, that's what I'm celebrating & looking forward to. Assembling a team, long-held dreams coming true, and getting down to work in all senses of the word. How about you?
More Hope Makers and Bright Spots
Learning + Donating
Alexandra Franzen is teaching a writing course on inspiring action through writing as a donation-based fundraiser for Black Lives Matter: How to Inspire People to Listen, Care, Take Action, and Change the World. I'll be there with my notebook out.
Donating
Resources to donate to, learn from, and listen to... HERE , HERE, HERE, HERE , HERE , and HERE: from Tawny Day Sterios
Grounding
Also from client-friend-inspiration Tawny Day Sterios, this grounding yoga practice for all levels. Yes, more, please.
Reading
Getting Beyond Being Personally Offended from friend-mentor-client-more Andrea J. Lee "...specifically addressing you if you’re a non-Black or Brown human (non-Black/Brown person - NBP) who is, with a brave and willing heart, learning to take a stand, and engaging more in being anti-racist......" -- a piece that has given me much to grow with! However, I would be remiss if I didn't point out her fresh new "How to be human" lightening-logo as well as some other exciting newly-born logos - see her We Can Stop Being Abusive lightening logo here and fully custom logo (brand on the way) here.
Things to See
This NASA Engineer created an American Ninja Warrior obstacle course for squirrels. Filled with wholesome squirrel facts! Nerdy & amazing.
Friday Sky Day is now happening on the Skyward Ink Facebook Page. Pretty pictures of skies, every Friday. If you want to be a featured photographer, email me.Really. Phone photos are perfect. Let's see your skies!
It's spring in my garden and I'll be posting more photos on my personal Facebook page. Getting my hands in the dirt has been helping me focus on the present, and offers moments of whimsy like A Tale of Two Parslies, below (Italian parsley on the left, mitsuba on the right.)
Self-Reflection
I have some deep reflection time scheduled with the full strawberry moon tonight. Hopefully, our skies clear a bit... they are pretty gray at the moment. Either way, I'll take some time for self-connection. How will you connect to yourself this weekend?
Gratitude
This newsletter wouldn't have happened without my real-life hero, my friend-housecleaner Lauren. Today was her first visit back, and the moment she started running the vacuum, my shoulders dropped and I was able to get grounded and start writing. This video seems to have the right tone for me... (I think it should be renamed Soothing Sounds For Sleep, Work and Anxiety Management). Aaaaah......
