Status Report, June 1

So when last we spoke, I vowed to actually commit myself to the creative projects I've been dreaming about but neglecting. Thanks to all of your for your support and kind words, and don't mistake me -- I have no regrets about how I've spent the last ten years, what with the awesome marriage and amazing kids, etc. And I'm sure that if I were to hold steady for the next ten years, I'd be equally content, seeing as I'd still have the awesome marriage and the amazing kids, and throw in that mind-bogglingly successful business to boot. Life is good.

But that doesn't change the fact that I want to do something more. I have creative muscles that have been atrophying for too many years. I need to stretch. I need to challenge myself. If nothing comes of it, fine. If I half-write seven novels that are all abysmally bad, that's better than not writing anything at all. I need to at least get myself into the habit of thinking creatively.

Another reason this is important to me: I want the girls to embrace creativity in their lives. I don't know why this is so important to me, but it is. And I firmly believe that kids learn from what we do, not from what we say. I can tell them to embrace creativity until I'm blue in the face. But if they see me striving to bring creativity into our lives, that's what they'll really remember and learn from. (Ditto for things like eating well, exercising regularly, treating others with kindness and respect, and, perhaps the hardest one for me, being a good driver. I am such a bad driver. I don't want them to learn that from me. But that's another post.)

So here's how I'm doing so far:

Words written: about 1,500 on two different story ideas.
Workouts: two
Rows knitted: none (Silas is never getting that blanket at this rate. Sorry, kid.)
Arias sung: none

Could be worse. But could be a lot better. I have some work to do.