"Olive and Sebastian hold a secret connection"
print by The Olive Bird
Oh my goodness, my lovely people! I feel like I've abandonned you!
Truth be told, I've been a busy bee, even if it doesn't look like
it around here. Let me see, there's the discussions with the
business strategist and the graphic designer from the lovely contest I placed 2nd in; there's the
day job that has been busy all by itself; there's the start up of
my very first costume design project working with Joan Sullivan
Eady, the director of Self Help, a play by Norm Foster, that's
showing at the Ottawa Little Theatre towards the end of March;
there's the business connections I've been making through that same
contest; there's re-connecting with old friends; there's acting and
improv classes; and oh yes, planning that little thing I'm
doing at the beginning of May - you may have heard about it? The
AMAZING creative retreat?
It's all about connections
All that to say, I'm a busy bee, but the underlining
lesson for me this whole month has been about connections - to
different people at my day job, where I'm transitioning to a new
position (less traveling!), and therefore needed to build bridges
with a new group of people; to staying connected with old friends
and getting together for tea; to reaching out to new people,
unabashedly, and just saying hello as a start to a new
conversation.
Many of you know I'm a bit of an introvert. And as an introvert,
I'm not a fan of smalltalk (it's really hard for me to wade through
all the beginnings of relationships - I much prefer the down and
dirty and digging deep conversations that come later). So, I have a
history of having difficulties meeting people in new
situations. I'm not exactly sure what has changed recently (age?
read enough self-help books? I actually think it comes from
evaluating my true value as a business woman and designer), but I
feel like I'm better at meeting people - I'm less shy, I'm better
at drawing out a better conversation right off the bat, and I care
less about what people will think once I open my mouth. I don't
mean that in an arrogant way, I just am at a point where I feel
like "hey, this is me, I'm goofy and complicated and funny and
emotional and crafty and neurotic and, well, that's just the
beginning.... If you like me, great, if not, that's ok."
My epiphany!
And here's the biggest epiphany for me this month - even
as an introvert who craves alone time, in fact needs it regularly
for me to recharge - I still get a kick out of connecting with
others. I learn so much about people, about myself, about life
in general, and I feel more and more normal, knowing that others
are going through the same things, wanting the same things out of
life. I love it!
In a way, the retreat I'm planning with Deanna of Apples and
Orange - the Spark Creative Retreat - is a celebration of
that. It's a place for creative entrepreneurs (that's me! and maybe
you too!) to go and connect, really and truly, with others who are
going through the same things. Hell, Deanna and I learned a
lot about connections when we invited the main speakers - we
simply reached out in an authentic and respectful way and simply
ASKED. It was pretty powerful for us. It'll be a place to
learn about others, build yourself a support system, and even, I
bet, learn something about yourself. Those connections with other
people, other artists, are important - to your wellbeing and
your soul.
Reach out, and look around you - are there places you can
connect with others? Can you call someone you haven't talked to in
a long time and reconnect with them over tea? Are there places you
can step outside your comfort zone and just walk up to someone as
say "Hi! Here I am!"? You might just be surprised at the
outcome.