A Before is Precious
I love telling stories when they're all wrapped up tidy and bite-sized.
But this time, I'm going to let you know about the feeling before the story is packed up all nice and tidy. Because it's universal. And it's an adventure. And it's going to be amazing.
And unknown.
I'm in Sweden. Today my dear friends drive down from Stockholm to pick me up to go a long way from most places for a one week art retreat. With massive outdoor landscapes that surround and inspire.
I'm not a painter, and dropped out of drawing at about the cat with four stick legs developmental stage. In this course, it's evidently ok, as it's a way of engaging creativity without training.
We'll be given a lecture in the morning, then paint for the day in an open barn... in silence. Silence, I love. But painting all day? ... I have NO idea!
I'm nerve-cited, happy, in wonder, curious, grateful. I feel like I'm at a "Before" and recognise that the "After" is entirely to be created.
This moment didn't happen without some epic decisions to both resource it and to make space for it. I'm joining friends who have been to this retreat many times, so I'm in good care.
And I have no idea what's going to reveal in this process. This gift.
A Before is precious.
Stay tuned, next week, I MAY even share one of the paintings I do :-)
Last week, Italy! Our mission was to a town lower in the valley, and then we saw the town name one town above, San Pellegrino. Oh yes, let's go there and see the town made famous for bottled water. It's in the mountains, with a river running through it. It feels clean and cared for, mountain bike tracks everywhere. With tens of large red trucks to carry thousands of water bottles away. Bottled water. Glass filled and trucked and flown all over the world. To be used once. The mind boggles.
This image is of the free access to spring water, with my ever present water bottle (painful to get through airports, but worth it) It delights me to drink San Pellegrino water from a water fountain. We saw locals bringing their glass bottles down to refill. Local water!
