sometimes the first day of the rest of your life is a random thursday in september

embracing life and art at The 222™

the kids are back in school, and i’ve just moved into a new studio at a spot we call The 222™. as i settle into this space, it’s time to fully embrace a creative practice. will you join me?

now, i know what you might be thinking: practice can sound like a chore. i used to think so too. growing up, i hated practicing the piano. playing was fun, but once someone told me i had to practice, the joy vanished.

before lessons, i’d sit at the piano in our '70s-style basement with my golden book copy of A Child’s Garden of Verses, making up music to go with the poems, getting lost in the illustrations. back then, i didn’t even know what practice was. i was just doing—creating for the joy of it, without caring if it was good or if anyone was watching.

but then came the structured lessons, and over time, the magic faded. my teacher changed, the fun evaporated, and piano became a slog. I bet many of you have similar stories—maybe it wasn’t piano, but some other activity that started off joyful and turned into a chore once “practice” was involved.

this is why so many of us struggle with the idea of a creative practice as adults. we hear the word practice and feel like it means we have to get better, that it’s going to be judged, or that others will decide if what we make has value. but here's the thing: developing a creative practice is something you do for yourself. it’s a way to nourish your soul, unlock joy, and cultivate energy.

when you embrace a creative practice, you flex the muscles that help you become your best self. that might sound cliché, but it’s true. you’ll be happier, more fulfilled, and more in tune with yourself.

of course, it's easy to get in your own way. julia cameron calls them "crazymakers" in The Artist’s Way. creative blocks, procrastination, self-doubt—they can swallow you whole. but together, we can fight back and just make stuff. it really is that simple. It doesn’t matter what you make, whether it’s “good,” or what anyone else thinks. the only thing that matters is that you start. every day you don’t create is a day you won’t get back. don’t let your ideas slip by.

so how do you establish a creative practice when you're your own worst enemy? you carve out time. block it off. even if it’s just 15 minutes. you treat it like an invitation, a moment you’ve set aside to do something for you. maybe you light a candle, make a cup of tea, or grab a fizzy drink (lemon or lime klarbrunn for me). maybe you journal, doodle, or paint. the tools don’t matter, the aesthetics don’t matter. what matters is the ritual of showing up.

and when resistance shows up—and it will—you acknowledge it. you wave hello, thank it for its service, and keep going. resistance is like anxiety; i thank my brain for trying to protect me, then gently remind it that i’m safe and in control. resistance will pass.

tomorrow, i’ll step into The 222™ for the first time to officially start this new chapter of my creative practice. here’s my note to self as i embark on Day 1:

if you’re feeling blocked, go for a walk. write your morning pages. write them again. read a poem. write a poem. do some continuous contour line drawings. make stuff that doesn’t matter (it all matters) and that no one will ever see (who cares if anyone ever sees any of it!). read the Immaculate Heart College Art Department Rules poster that’s hanging on your studio wall. remember how lucky you are to have the time/space/health/ability to make the stuff you have been wanting to make. take a look at your studio to-dos in your composition book (pages 17 & 18 in volume 5) and tackle something on the list. gelli print. rip up collage materials. tape some kraft paper to the wall, grab a marker or pencil or oil stick in each hand and scribble away. throw paint at a canvas. just don’t give up.

so, wish me luck as i dive into this new space and this new era. and if you need an accountability buddy, let me know. i’m here for reminders, check-ins, or even some body-doubling. what would help you stick to your creative practice? i’d love to hear your tips, tricks, and challenges.