Next Step

As things would have it, Rick asked me to write a few blogs.

"Great!" I said. I couldn't wait to start. I had so many things to talk about.

But. I. Couldn't. Get. Going.

That ever happen to you? Writers's block, artists's block, musician's . . . well you know what I mean. Lately, whenever such things happen to me, I just start tangling. Instead of looping worries or fidgety fingers, I just grab a pen and let it tangle. My mind seems to quiet. The world, as I know it, disappears, just enough to ease the tension, anxiety of the present (in retrospect seemingly insignificant) and allow new ideas to appear. Not just solutions to the worries, but ideas I would never have thought of.

Now, I'm thinking, "is it that easy?"

Should I use this technique when I . . . can't find the perfect black skirt? (of which I have a "few" lurking in the closet,) What colors to paint the house? What ingredients to buy for supper? How to answer that particularly difficult question the kids have. . . . . Sometimes the answer wasn't in the multiple choice. . . .it was "D - Other."

So, maybe I shorten an old skirt or add a pleat or a tuck here and there. Or maybe it's time to add some color to my wardrobe.

Paint the house? What was I thinking! I love the way the paint is peeling and cracking around the window frames.

I dislike grocery shopping . . . let's see, what I can come up with using only leftover chicken, cilantro, salsa and cabbage? And (unlike these trivial "lifeisms") the really difficult problems, well, they deserve the quiet time and slow pulse thoughts that offer insightful directions. Often there's not an obvious solution, but there is an obvious next step to move forward . . . one stroke (step) at a time. And once I take that step, subsequent steps present themselves . . . and often those steps are ones that I had never considered.

Now, I have a new dilemma . . . tell everyone how this technique works, or keep it to myself and "appear" to be wise and way too cool?

Hmm. Methinks I shall partake in a bit of the tangle and figure this out as well.

What do you think?

Rick adds: "Seems like she already decided . . . LOL!"

Last week's winner of the "Tangle Heart" blog giveaway is Kathy Shabowski. One of my tiles is on its way.

Thank you all for the wonderful thoughts and ideas you so freely share with us and with everyone in this Zentangle community.

Too much fun.

Life is good.

- maria

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