I’m in Scotland and being reminded all over again about how great it is to be here for this festive time of year. The Christmas trees and lights almost invariably stay up until Twelfth night and there’s not that sense of urgency to get everything back to normal that’s so often around in London. There’s the big build up to Hogmanay and New Years Day and a true sense that Christmas week is by no means over, that something exciting is yet to happen.
The sense of anticipation and continuing celebrations with family and friends slows the pace of life down considerably; it feels like there’s time to ‘just be.’ Long walks in vast open landscapes, both in the country and by the sea have been good for the soul and there’s nothing like seeing the wide stretches of horizon for helping to keep things in perspective. The weather here is also a constant reminder that we can’t control everything – we’re at its mercy and we can’t take everything for granted.
Bringing in the New Year and throwing out the old throws up all sorts of questions about life style choices. In the spirit of continuing with the theme of this blog, I’m thinking a lot about what I want to keep from this past year and what I’d like to get rid of – how best to ‘keep it together.’ In a recent blog I wrote about my ‘survival’ being as much about ‘keeping together the community of artists to which I feel I belong as it is about keeping myself and my creative practise together.’
I’ve made a decision to move to a new studio space as soon as it’s ready in the New Year. People who are key to my life as an artist are going to be there, too and I’m feeling positive about thriving in what I anticipate will be a trusting and nourishing environment.
I’ve also made a decision to start the year of 2012 as ‘free’ as I possibly can; positive, hopeful and in honour of my dear Dad, seeing and expecting only the best in people. ‘Free’ is a word my late Father used to describe those with open, easygoing and friendly dispositions – principled, positive, non-judgmental people with an interest in others. It’s a term I’ve always loved and being in Scotland again, amongst its lovely, warm people has reminded me exactly what it means.
