In Winter,“the tree looks dead, but we know it is beginning a very deep creative process, out of which will come Spring and Summer” (Corita Kent)
Normally I would write my own post, but I have to say I cannot write a thing that is more spot on than what I will share with you here. For some time I have been following Austin Kleon, and I just absolutely love his newsletter which pops into my email box every week. It is a joy to read and I learn loads from it, I really do. I have tried to think why I follow Mr. Kleon, or where I found him, I think it may be through a link from Dan Pink (whom I also follow for obvious reasons considering my work in coaching and training). Anyway I digress.
I was like Austin Kleon when I heard people describing how I am feeling as ‘languishing’, it just felt wrong somehow. Languishing conjures up for me a picture of a lady, lying on a ‘chaise-longue’ (look it up) with a fan, day dreaming, sleepy, waiting for something to happen, a general feeling of apathetic drowsy ‘meh’. I much prefer what Mr. Kleon has identified: it resonates with me, and you can read about it here to see if it aligns with how you feel too. Enjoy, no really, try his newsletter. I often disagree with him but am always intrigued and totally immersed so that time flies by as I follow the trails set by the links within the text. It’s so different to what I normally read: a set of creative, artistic wonderings and therein lies its beauty. I never fail to be inspired; always enjoying what I read, I am challenged: just what I want from a newsletter: perfect!
So how am I feeling right now, after a year of pandemic, months and months of lockdown, illness for myself and my family, total re-think of my work and life focus: certainly I am not languishing, rather, I am busy quietly, gently transforming internally; so yes, dormant is a better word to describe it: with lots going on inside ready to blossom when the time is right and that time is imminent.
“Sometimes the harshest Winters yielded the most glorious Springs” (Corita Kent)