Looking for freedom

Spring has begun its warm ascent. The weather is gorgeous, and it makes me want to play outside, rather than stay inside and do the Spring cleaning my studio so desperately needs after long winter months of constant creating for the book, class proposals and deadlines.

I look at my mess and want to run. Like the sweet little hummingbird I caught on camera last week, I want to spread my wings and fly somewhere where my responsibilities would never in a million years catch up with me. Mainly, the home responsibilities of needing to sort and sift and move out the physical things I no longer require in my life that are taking up space in my home.

The problem is a cluttered studio represents my brain right now. My mind is full of half-done projects that need to be finished before I can turn my sights on the new things I want to tackle — now, right now, as in today.

I tend to create in chaos. I have to see my things to be able to pull from them. I had made a promise to myself after I spent 4 days last summer completely re-doing my studio that I would never again allow the floor to get so cluttered that I had to step over books and magazines to work. A promise I would always have a neat square on my bench to make new jewelry creations. Alas, my good intentions evaporated after a full winter of extreme busyness.

Now it the time to begin again. To be renewed, like the flowering fig tree that is blooming cherry pink as I look out my kitchen window. I must take this instinct to run for freedom and turn it to that which needs to be done. It’s called being a grown up. It’s what I teach my children — being grateful for the bounty of our lives and for taking personal responsibility for our things that serve us so well.

It’s time for spring cleaning. The feeling of happiness will return as soon as I do the hard work of sorting and donating and tossing.