Time to Focus

The world is a lot, but things still need to get done

I’ve been quiet, I know this. The real world (outside the digital realm) has been a lot to work with and so my newsletter life has had to go on the back burner a bit. Why? My usual life routine has been thrown for a loop due to forces beyond my control and uncertainty about next steps have forced a lot of grappling and strategizing and evaluating. Re-configuring life plans is overwhelming at the best of times, but right now with all the *waves arms* stuff going on in the world, its especially stressful. So. Much. Stuff. And as the world spins faster and faster and tries to knock all of us off our feet, I've been trying to track the horrors flying by in a flurry, trying to see and grapple and understand until I find myself wallowing in despair and fear.

And as you can imagine, being consumed by fear and stress and worry is not conducive to creative pursuits. Or maybe it is. Maybe some people can take it by the horns and use it to fuel their artistic output. I am, it would seem, not one of those people. I have had no ability to focus, too distracted to do anything but doomscroll and worry.

Until I watched the 4 Nations Face Off tournament. Having 2 hockey kiddos, the Canada vs USA game was a big event in our house. And I was struck by how much these guys, Canada's team, had to get on with it. All the stress, all the politics and pressure - over a game. And all the players could do was stay focused, give it their all and try their best. So they did. And as my kids ran around screaming after McDavid’s winning goal (yeah we let them stay up), I started to think about staying focused and getting on with it.

Keep calm and carry on, as they say.

And as luck would have it, as I made my way out of the funk I actually got some good news on the creative front, so that has also helped me focus again. I'm looking forward to having a specific project over the coming months, a fixed point for my eyes to stick to as the spinning world keeps rushing by. With a new routine, new projects, new focus, I'm transitioning from my old norm to my new norm! And as I do I'll be making some changes to the newsletter to allow for more room to get my projects done, take care of the fam and myself. I have paused paid subscriptions while I figure it all out. I don't know right at this moment when I will be able to un-pause it, but I will continue to put out the free version of Authorstrator for all subscribers as I adapt to the new schedule.

I hope you're doing ok, I hope you have a focus point. I hope you find some time to step away from the internet, to touch pen to paper and draw or write or do something creative for yourself.

Just keep swimming, friends!

Doodle

My kiddo is a hockey girl so in celebration of the big game, some hockey girls

And that’s it from me! Til next time!