Thanksgiving

In the week leading up to Thanksgiving, I am posting about gratitude on my Facebook page. Gratitude has been extremely important in my artistic life. It is what helps me focus on each precious moment. There is no way to write poetry without finding oneself in the present. Like all art forms, poetry celebrates the five senses, the act of noticing what is inside and out, and the ability to weave these elements together. It is in the moment that we find art, and it is through gratitude that I am able to keep my mind in the here-and-now instead of in tomorrow.

 

Here’s a sampling of my gratitude posts so far:

 

11/23

Today, I am grateful for art, and more specifically, art dates.

An art date is a time I set aside to be alone and play with my creativity outside of writing poetry. I began taking myself out on these dates at the encouragement of “The Artist’s Way.” They are incredibly restorative. Today, I listened to The Be Good Tanyas Pandora station and made collages. Yes.

 

Today’s Collage:

11/22

Today, I am grateful for the ability to make choices, a gift I find when I’m clear about my needs.

…unlike Alice:
“Alice came to a fork in the road. ‘Which road do I take?’ she asked.
‘Where do you want to go?’ responded the Cheshire Cat.
‘I don’t know,’ Alice answered.
‘Then,’ said the Cat, ‘it doesn’t matter.”
-Lewis Carroll

 

Also, check out Zo Tobi’s song “Only Thankfulness” to get your grateful juices flowing.

 

Finally, one very quick note on tomorrow (I know, I know, how hypocritical). I am grateful to be performing at The Second Service at the Vault in Rome, GA alongside Clifford Brooks tomorrow at 4pm. That’s all. I promise. Now go enjoy today!