Inspiration.

I wanted to post a little blurb (or a big lengthy diatribe, not sure yet) about inspiration. I am ALWAYS looking for inspiration..and inspiration always seems to find me.  

Anyone knows me, or reads this here blog knows that I love organization and working within a general sense of routine and order.  I have a few rituals that I do that help keep me inspired, and lot's of time this ritual happens on Saturday or Sunday.  I wake up early no matter how late I stay up and my husband always sleeps in, so I am very productive in the mornings.

1) I usually workout and then go for a walk.  I was an only child for nine years before my sister came along, and then my brother, so I feel really comfortable having time by myself and I actually think I need to have this time each week.  I like to look around, stop and pet the neighborhood cats that I pass, and just be inside my own head.  

An artist friend of mine, Cary Polkovitz wrote a book called 'Often Overlooked' and it has really changed my walks. Cary writes these amazing stories about everyday objects and discarded things that he encounters in his day to day life, so honestly, reading his stories has reminded me to look around me more.  Sometimes I even stop and take photos of the things that I see to send to Cary.  So anyway, I just walk, and look, and think...usually about a laundry list of things I have to do.  

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2) Many times my walks lead me to the beach, if I have the time.  The beach is one of my favorite places to visit, even if I can just go for a few minutes.  We live less than 2 miles from Hollywood Beach,  and it has this awesome boardwalk.  I like to walk up the boardwalk, stop and get a cafe con leche and just sit and look at the water and people watch.  I very rarely get in the water, sometimes I don't even step on the sand...but I just like to be there.

3) Usually after the beach I like to head over to Barnes and Noble.  Now, this used to be alot easier because I used to be able to walk to B&N...but then again, I had to drive to the beach, so that's okay.  I don't make it out to B&N as much as I would like to, but I usualy make it over there one or two times a month.  The first thing I do is go and grab a stack of fashion magazines, then some art magazines.  Sometimes I will find some books and I bring those over.  This past Sunday I found a book on drawing Kawaii style so I brought that over, along with a little plush unicorn just for some company.  Then of course comes coffee.  Next...either feverishly flipping through the pages and scribbling names of artists, ideas, etc. and sometimes sketching.  I find that my intention is to sit and sketch but I get so excited/sidetracked by the material that I spend the whole time taking notes.  Which is what happened this weekend, three hours later I am finished looking through everything and its time to head home.

By this time it is 12:30 and I can call John because I know he will be awake and starting to work on his to-do list...I am usually inspired and either hopped up on coffee and ready to get home and work...or ready to nap, but I am inspired just the same.

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