Happy September!!

I have moved and am settled in Brooklyn with boxes everywhere. I love my new apartment and the life that has started to take shape. It is invigorating to see potential everywhere I look while at times daunting as well.

The most interesting thing that has happened from a business perspective, is the complete flip in how I am working and where it looks like this path will take me. If I continue this way I will probably end up doing a combination of teaching, business mentoring, house calls, private practice, and work for organizations (Alzheimer's Association, Hospice) with a contracting job or two on the side. This is a change, although it seems like a natural progression, from my 7-15 jobs a month that I have been doing for the past 6 years now.

The lesson has been to stay flexible and see where the road leads.

I am relearning that self-employment can mean using the momentum created by unexpected twists to keep moving forward.

Exciting Opportunities

Just last Tuesday I began teaching, as adjunct faculty, for the graduate art therapy program in the School of Visual Arts located in Manhattan. It's amazing! I love it and am very excited to inspire and support students on their way to becoming art therapists.

This did not happen by chance or in a simple way. Last January I sent every program in the area my cover letter and resume to both share about the upcoming publication of my book and also the idea that I was interested in teaching. I heard nothing back. I let it go, deciding to follow up after I figured out where life was taking me and put it out of my mind.

Then I got a phone call in June asking if I had any interest in interviewing for a position at SVA. I was thrilled! However, after the interview I heard back and didn't get the job. I was reassured over the phone about how impressed they were and asked if maybe next year I would be interested in teaching a section of the thesis class. I was enthusiastic about the opportunity and thanked them for considering me. After the conversation I put it out of my mind and looked forward to trying again next year.

A couple weeks later I received another call. I was asked to come in for another interview and the head of the program said they were considering adding another section to the thesis class thIs year. I was stunned and immediately jumped into action, pulling together a new syllabus and interviewing packet.

Less than an hour after the interview I was offered the job!

There is no way to know what will come out of something. Just stay positive, gracious, and patient while always putting your best foot forward.

Now, back to unpacking and settling in. My next break will be to prepare for class number two on this coming Tuesday. Oh how I wish these boxes would unpack themselves!

Happy new school year everyone!

Taking a break brings energy and perspective back to your life and work. It is so important to get away now and then. It doesn't matter if it is a walk to a nearby park, a lunch with friends, or a week long vacation. Get out there and revitalize yourself!

I just spent a few days over Thanksgiving with my family in upstate New York. It was beautiful and relaxing. I still worked on the final rewrites for my book, but the time I spent away from my computer was rejuvenating. Board games, knife throwing, walks in the woods, frisbee with my brother, and the daily work on a 1,500 piece jigsaw puzzle are a completely different routine then I'm use to and it woke my mind up. I also took the train up and back. My car dying may have been a blessing in disguise because I was able to work, nap, read, and just stare out the window listening to music for hours.

After this week I have new perspective on my life and my book. Looking forward to jumping in and seeing what happens next! I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving!

Change is a scary thing. It does not matter what kind of change. it can be an exciting, happy, growing in a new direction kind of change and that nervous uncertainty will still sneak in now and then.

For me the fear is often around success and failure. Will I fail? What if I succeed? Sometimes the fear of success is bigger because then I have to live up to what I have accomplished. If I fail I can more easily say "Oh well, better luck next time." and move on.

What makes change harder or easier for you? Are there ways you help counteract the fear?

I try to make art, cook, and exercise. Sometimes I just need to sit on the couch and read a book or watch TV. Balancing the down time, conserving energy, with the going out and using energy is a challenge. I am very truly an introvert and I work on that balance a lot. Running my own business is often a pull in a not so introverted way, but it helps me not sink to far into my couch before getting back out there.

A lot of change has been happening recently. 2012 is a big year and I will write more about that in a couple of weeks. In the mean time I wish everyone a happy start to the school year and I hope you are all excited about the fall weather. Fall is always a time of rejuvenation for me, so I am very excited it is just around the bend!