Our life as artists running a small business are predictable. The winter months after Christmas are a time of planning, stocking up on our products and plotting the year ahead. And by now i can generally say we have applied to all the art fairs for the year. But this year seems different. Some shows we have participated in for years are slow to put their application, and one event actually cancelled after a 35 year history of the event. Its a perplexing time. But somehow i dont think its just me, or just the art business.
So this is my question for you – Does this year seem to be different? Are you feeling restless, distracted or out of sorts? Does it seem a little more difficult to just do life?
Be Honest! My first reaction to those questions is Yes, it is much different this year and i think i know why.
Spending even an hour looking at the news is beyond discouraging – the world seems to be at war, and our very nation has joined the fighting. Know this – My father was a patriot and a Army paratrooper in WWII, and my husband served in the Marine Corp, so the military is something very important to me. But as i get older it seems more tragic that war takes the lives of young healthy people, either giving their lives for the fight, or coming home changed physically, mentally and spiritually. Hearing about the escillation of involvement of our nation in a war we dont understand grieves me.
Then there is the disgusting evils of the Epstein files – Evil beyond what any of us could imagine. If you are like me, and i think you are, we grew up believing justice would be served. The guilty would be found out and imprisoned for their crime. Yet we are not seeing any justice for the evils committed.
And then there is the economy – As a small business artist there is always an eye on the economy, and it is not as rosy as we hear. The cost of the basics are rising, and we are growing more aware that our income doesn’t go as far as it once did.
Add to that concerns about family and friends and while we pray and commit all of this back to God there is still a weight on our hearts. There is a stress that weighs us down and keeps us from full freedom. And each new snippet of the news is something unexpected. As others say “Hey that was not on my radar!”
And all of this seemed to ramp up in 2020 with the lockdown and covid thing. Infusing confusion, uncertainty and fear into everything began that ramping up of stress and 6 years later here we are.
When things begin to get weird, and stressful i have a simple list of things I do:
- Turn off the news, social media, and all outside influences – We gave up our tv watching 7 years ago and that made a bit of difference, but i soon filled in with social media for news. Not a great idea. But the truth is whatever comes in to us from outside may or may not be true, but it is exhausting and it can drain everything. And the truth is we cant change most of the news we hear.
- Sink into the bible- Reading psalms comforts and soothes the soul. If you are not a bible reader, pick up a book you have had waiting for you and soak it in.
- Take some time to just enjoy a hobby or work on a project that will involve your skills and your mind. Maybe its something simple like cleaning a closet or folding clothes. Or maybe its fixing something. Getting your hands on something helps you focus on something positive, and provides a sense of satisfaction because you can control the outcome.
- Phone a friend – A quick chat with an old friend often lifts that heavy heart, and gives you new found hope. We need each other, and more so we need to know that we are part of a community.
- Pray
- Music – crank up the tunes and relish the melody and lyrics.
Someone famous (and i cant remember who said this) said that “you have to come apart before you literally come apart”. This world will exhaust us, bring distractions and cause frustration. But we can control how much of this world gets in. But by all means take time away from the stressors of life to just soak in truth, find something that will encourage you, and build that community of friends and family.
I hope that encourages you.