Good morning & happy Sunday! Corporeal mime artist, Tania Coke of http://www.tarinainanika.com/, nominated me to do an Art Challenge. I have been sharing a window into beginnings, ‘growings’, up to what’s happening now
Stage 1: Beginnings “Art or Craft?” Full article click here
Stage 2: Japan Dragons. Identity. “What makes you feel at home?” Full article click here
Stage 3: Breakdown & Breakthrough “How do you find your ‘tribe’?” “How do you define ‘success’?” Full article click here
Stage 4: BACK TO THE DRAWING (board)
a.k. (affectionately) a. – Lessons Learned in the Rabbit Room
Beginning to find my ‘tribe’ & plant fresh seeds of purpose via creative, collaborative, community centred projects (see Stage 3 here) One glaringly obvious fact still remained.
From:
Well paid, secure, ‘successful’ job
Beautiful, spacious apartment
‘Dreamboat’ boyfriend
I had gone to:
No job
No place to live
No partner
The ‘artist nightmare’ complete with empty, shopping trolley squeaking along beside me & polystyrene cup of tea in hand…
Sort of came true!
Despite best efforts to ‘stay positive’ – I withdrew – one persistent thought circled around me like a vulture:
“If I can’t even help myself, how on earth can I expect to make a difference & help others?”
Cue: Dark Night Of The Soul
I remember distinctly being scrunched up into fetal position and crying myself to sleep. I was in the beautiful, vibrant birthday dress my mother had bought and sent over to me, my fingernails still carried the colours from the live painting I had done for a fund raising event, the angrily, shouted words from my former boss ringing in my ears, the moving out paperwork on the bedside table, the stone-weighted words, dropped out of the telephone, that the man I was in love with was engaged to another pregnant with his child…
I felt broken.
Worthless.
I began collecting stories that strengthened this view:
“That’s why your father left you…”
“That’s why no man will ever stay with you…”
“That’s why no one will ever pay for your work…”
Give up. Give up. Give up.
You’ve had your ‘fun’, your ‘adventure’.
Playtime’s over.
Around and around the vultures went, thoughts and feelings circling, circling.
Although I don’t recall falling asleep, I do recall waking up.
I went through the motions of getting ready and
Came across this:
“Fearlessly place your desire into your imagination” Wayne Dyer
I sat down to draw. I wrote out ‘IMAGINATION’ & drew a NO ENTRY sign around it.
Imagination as sacred ground – no one or nothing else granted permission to enter – I loved this idea.
I stuck it on my fridge.
It was the last thing I took down as I left that apartment.
My friend, April, got in touch with me re: a spare room she wished to rent out in her house just up the road from me.
Craig’s List buyers relieved me of all the furniture and appliances I had all in the same week.
Another friend, Diana, recommended the perfect job for freelancers in Tokyo.
I began working for an arts centre, Tokyo Creators, where I met and made and married my best friend.
BOOM
If there’s anything I believe in it is this:
To remain, forever and ever more, fully open to the possibility that what seems dark or feels like an ending is just another turn of the wheel – no more, no less – the light and fresh beginning is always available and waiting
The confirmation?
The synchronicity that happens when aligning with your ‘soul’s calling’, your heart’s longing:
“All the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it” Paulo Coelho
I moved into that little spare room in April’s house (formerly the room where the rabbit lived) and began drawing again. These are drawings from that time.
April, my dear friend, is as many of you know, still going through what must be the hardest time for any parent. I had the immense joy and pleasure of attending one of her Jolly Phonics training workshops that she still put on, despite everything else that was going on. I nominate her next to share the work she continues to do in the field of education.
Would be interested to hear from you:
“What life experiences or turning points have had the biggest influence on you and how you choose to live now?”
Ever draws,
Divya x
Can Drawing & Creativity really impact & inspire me, my school or business? Don’t take my word for it, read the stories on the Inspiring Stories page here to find out how Creativity inspires change & growth, its essential role in education & personal & professional development & why it should be
Accessible to All
Liked this? If this helped or inspired you, please pass it onto a friend or someone you feel it could help uplift
How can I best help you? Click here for my services or drop me an email or get in touch with me via the links below
Ever draws,
DMK x
