Hello dear readers,
I’m writing at the start of the week, the sun is shining and piercing through a clear and brilliant blue sky. It feels like we’ve fully landed in October and this week I head towards a milestone birthday - on Thursday, I turn 40.
It is surreal, unsuprising, ressuring, wonderful and of course, just another number. It fits - I feel this age and yet it reawakens me to how quickly years are passing by, in a way that other birthdays, that don’t come with the beautfil zero, don’t seem to.
Maybe because of this milestone and the seasonal energy of a season turning, I’ve started to really plan for my future these past few weeks. Spending time mulling over what kind of work I want to be making and who I want to be working with. What am I craving? What is my hearts desire?
It is a luxury to sit with these questions, and a privilege.
I have started some new creative business training this month and through it, my appreciation for the truly incredible network of creatives I am part of here in Leeds and beyond. All of the people who work in the arts, be they making, designing, building or producing creative offerings for the world to engage with. Delighting us, challenging us and adding rich layers or experience to life, I appreciate all of them.
I was asked on the course, if I were to start over and could do anything, what would I do? Immediately I could feel deep down, that whatever the path, I would still end here, in the midst of arts and creativity. I wouldn’t change it for the world - it is where I feel I belong, where I am my most true self. My love for creativity fuels everything I do. As I sketch out what the next decade looks like for me, I want to paint it bright with all the colours of the rainbow and let my creative heart truly sing.
Thank you for being here. As I tentatively start to sketch…
For those of you who would like to fill your poetry cup, I shared a reading of another autumnal poem from my archive, Slivers of words on instagram last week. If you missed it and would like to listen, find it here.
If you have the time, I would love to hear your response to this newsletter, you can comment below or drop me a message. What would you like to hear more about in the coming months? Would you like more poetry or insights in to what I’m working on in the studio? Philosophical musings or meandering thoughts? I’d love to hear from you and connect.
Keep dreaming, keep making.
Love,
Joanna