The Artist's Way

For some time, perhaps forever, I've been feeling something was missing from my life. I couldn't understand what was the matter with me. I have a wonderful husband, two amazing girls, a beautiful home and the luxury of being able to stay at home and raise my family. I thought I had everything I wanted and yet I couldn't shake the feeling of somehow wanting more. I was becoming fed up and increasingly irritable. At first I put it down to being tired from waking for night feeds but even more sleep didn't help. And then one day, for whatever reason, inspiration struck and for the first time in ages I got out my notebooks and started to write. Immediately the cloud lifted and I felt truly happy. Afterwards I was able to enjoy even more my time with my girls, I was able to be more patient and present. The key it seemed was to spend time doing something that I love, and for me that is writing. 

After talking this over with a friend she suggested that I try a book called The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron. I'd already heard of the book as both my mum and sister have read it and I had it on my list of things to do some time in the future when I have more time. Not wanting to loose my new found enthusiasm however, I immediately ordered a second-hand copy of the book online. And so came to the end my two years long writer's block. 

So what is The Artist's Way? It's a 12 week course in 'discovering and recovering your creative self.' Each week there are tasks to complete aimed at helping you to unblock your creativity. It helps you to silence your inner 'censor' and work through any issues from your past which are stopping you from following your dreams. In addition to these tasks you are encouraged to write 'morning pages', three pages every morning of whatever comes into your mind, and also to go on a weekly 'artist's date'. 

I'm two weeks into the course and already I've noticed a big shift in my mindset. I've struggled for a long time with the feeling of 'I'm not good enough.' Now I'm starting to realise that being 'good enough' is not what's important. What's important is simply to spend time doing the things you love. The biggest difference is that I'm finally writing again. I'm filling pages upon pages in my notebooks which have been sitting empty and gathering dust on my shelf for the past few years. The other incredible thing is that it's having an impact on other areas of my life. I'm able to be more patient and present with my children, I'm enjoying more than ever my weekly dance classes and I'm more organised and efficient in taking care of my daily chores.

I'm so looking forward to seeing where this course will take me. If the difference after only two weeks is so great then after twelve who knows what I'll manage to achieve. I'd love to be able to connect with anyone else who has followed this course so please leave a comment with any thoughts or ideas you'd like to share.

Happy creating everyone.

love Sarah Elizabeth
xox

Welcome Mirryn Hope

On 16th March we welcomed into the world another beautiful daughter, Mirryn Hope. We are delighted with our precious bundle and Alba May adores her new little sister. 

Things that Make me Happy Part Ten

10. Family

Last but certainly not least on my happiness list is my family. I enjoy every minute I spend with my family. They're so much fun and we always have such crazy times together.

This picture was taken on New Year's Eve 2008, the last time we were all together. (Excuse the slightly tipsy looks, it was New Year's Eve after all!) I can't wait until this Summer when we'll all be together again for my wedding.

Today I'm leaving for a 2 week summer camp in Torre Alfina, a little town in our neighbouring region of Lazio. It's a fun camp filled with English activities, theatre, sports, swimming and excursions. When the camp is finished I'm heading straight off to Scotland where I'll be until after our wedding. I won't have much time for blogging over the next 2 weeks but will be back once I arrive in Scotland. It's going to be one great Summer!

Things that Make me Happy Part Nine

9. House Renovations

The renovation of our house is a source of great happiness for Matteo and I. It's a wondeful feeling to be rebuilding this home that has been in Matteo's family for such a long time. The work is slow to get started which is extremely frustrating at times but I have to keep focused on my vision for the house and enjoy the whole experience of the renovation.

The most recent development was knocking down the dividing wall in the kitchen to expose the original arch. Now we can get a real sense of the proportions of our kitchen and start to get a better idea of how the room will be.

Here is the kitchen before, so dark and dingy:

And now with the arch exposed, it's so much lighter:

It may be a small step but it's a step in the right direction.

Things that Make me Happy Part Eight

8. Discovering new places

For as long as I can remember I have dreamed of travelling the world and experiencing different cultures and languages. I never wanted to simply visit other countries however, I always wanted to actually live and work abroad. I lived for a year on the French island of Guadeloupe in the West Indies, I then lived for a year in Nice on the Cote d'Azur and now I've spent the past 3 years living in Italy. It's time now for me to stop my exploring and settle down in one place although part of me does still dream of packing up and moving to yet another country. For now, I'm happy discovering as much as I can about this beautiful country I live in. I love going to visit all the little towns and villages round about and learning about their local traditions and customs.

One such tradition we experienced for the third time last weekend when we visited the nearby town of Spello for their annual 'Infiorata' festival which is held on Corpus Domini Sunday. During the months leading up to the event the inhabitants of Spello collect flowers which they then use to create the most amazing and intricate pictures on the streets of Spello. The night before the festival teams of these flower artists stay up all night preparing these 'paintings' ready for viewing the next morning. From afar the pictures actually look like paintings and it's only on closer inspection that you can see the images are made up of flower petals. Walking around during the night watching families and neighbours work together to prepare their works of art you can sense a great atmosphere of camaraderie and team spirit. Old signore sit in doorways preparing the petals, little children sort the petals into colours, everyone has a job to do.

On the Sunday morning Spello fills with visitors come to admire the beautiful images. Then, when the 12noon bell tolls a procession leaves the cathedral at the top of the hill. The procession winds down through the cobbled streets of Spello, destroying the delicate flower paintings. It is such a strange and wonderful celebration and one of the many things I love about being here in Italy.

Even without the streets decorated with flower art Spello is a beautiful town. The inhabitants obviously take real pride in maintaining their homes and taking care of their gardens. The streets are lined with pots and hanging baskets filled with colourful blooms and the air is heavy with the scent of jasmine, my favourite flower.

Things that Make me Happy Part Seven

7. Random Pretty Things

"The man is richest whose pleasures are cheapest"

Henry David Thoreau

I'm one of those lucky people who can be content with very little. Just a glimpse of something pretty and I can be overwhelmed with a feeling of contented happiness; blossom on the trees in Spring time, freshly laundered sheets on the bed, washing on the line blowing gently in the breeze, a bowl of ripe cherries newly picked from the garden............. I love these moments of pure joy that can come so suddenly and unexpectedly. Yesterday I sat looking at this bowl of cherries for such a long time and it made my heart sing!

Things that Make me Happy Part Six

6. Home

Although I love living in Italy, I will always consider the Border Land of Scotland as my real home.

"There's a spell in this Land of the Marches
In this Border that gave us our birth,
In this spot where the heaven's wide arch is,
Spread blue o'er the best of the earth!
'Tis the shrine where our hearts keep returning,
Wherever our feet may be led;
All our love on that alter lie burning,
All our song-wreaths around it are spread!"

The Land we Love by W. H. Ogilvie

These photos were taken just after Matteo proposed to me last Easter on a hill top looking down on the farm where I was brought up and which will always be my true home.

Things that Make me Happy Part Four

4. Children

Today was the last day of school for me which involved a few teary goodbyes with some of the children I've been teaching for the past 3 years. Next year they will move on to another teacher and I'll only see them occasionally around the school. This is a part of teaching that I'll never get used to. I love working with children and although at times I find my job exhausting and stressful it gives me a lot of satisfaction too. I'm already full of ideas for the next school year.

This is is where I spend my days singing the 'Hokey Cokey,' playing 'What time is it Mr Wolf?' painting, baking and generally having fun.

Have a good weekend everyone xx

Things that Make me Happy Part Three

3. My Fiancee

Since it's his birthday today I thought it was a good day to post about Matteo, my soon to be husband. We met three years ago on a night out when I first arrived in Perugia. This is what I wrote in my journal the day after we met for the first time, "Matteo is one of the nicest and hottest guys I've ever met - unfortunatley way out of my league!"

I still can't believe that I'm getting married to this gorgeous, kind man. He would do anything for me - he even spent hours trailing round Perugia to help me look for the right ribbon for our wedding invitations without complaining. I don't know many men who could do that.

These pictures were taken by Matteo's sister at the nearby Lago di Bolsena, just a few months after Matteo and I got together. I love these pictures and think that they sum up our relationship perfectly - a mixture of romance and silliness (we were doing the dance of the crab in the lake!)