Float Like the Birds
rituals, sketching and where I go to calm my nervous system
ESSAY | Float Like the Birds
At the beginning of this week, I was driving to town with my mega to-do list bouncing around in my head. I looked down at the steering wheel and gasped. The grip I had on the wheel was so incredibly tight that my hands were white. I did a quick check-in and noticed my jaw was clenched as well.
I took a slow, deep breath to relax my jaw, shoulders and face. Inhale. Exhale. Repeat. This has been a continuous practice for me since stepping onto a Yoga mat for the first time in my early 20s. Yoga gave me a whole new awareness and it’s still a practice almost 20 years later.
In the beginning, each week, each class I had to consistently bring myself back into my body. Over and over and over and over again — unclench my jaw, soften my brows, shoulders down. Without even realizing it and never being able to pinpoint when it would actually happen I’d have to start over again — jaw, brows, shoulders.
Since it’s been a pretty stressful week around here I knew I had to keep a close eye on how my body felt. How my body responded.
Just yesterday I was in the car letting my mind wander when I glanced out of the window to see 6 birds floating over the trees. Do you know what I’m talking about? It’s magnificent, magic, a miracle. Their dark wings fully expanded, fully expressed and the wind just right as they hovered — suspended above the trees in a weightless glory.
Of course I took this as a sign, a big beautiful reminder:
Set out to the sky — trust, expand, relax and float like the birds.
ART | Photography, Poetry, Collage, Music, Documentaries & more
I was on an art call the other day and someone mentioned the book Daily Rituals : How Artists Work by Mason Currey. After the call I ran over to the other side of the room, plucked it off my bookshelf and decided it was time for a reread. Oh how I love books like this… if a book can leave me feeling inspired to keep creating, try something new or if it’s a big ol’ permission slip to keep going, be weird, do things differently — I’m in. I’m going to share my *ideal* routine as an artist/mother and I’d love if you’d share yours in the comments — whatever stage of life you’re in!
Wake up with the sun, big glass of water, long walk. Stretch, little bit of weights and a healthy breakfast. Head into my workspace for an uninterrupted, undistracted 4 hour chunk of time. Come out for a snack, movement break and head back in for a couple more hours. Start prepping dinner, greet the family, putz around my house, relax in the evening with a puzzle, chats and treats — read a book before bed.
Hey a mama can dream! Someday!
LIFESTYLE | Kitchen, Home, DIY & more
Last week we finished painting, this week we prepped our house to put it on the market. Yes, you read that right — we are once again gearing up for a big move. It all happened really fast and I’m still processing. Stay with me, I’ll share a lot more in the coming weeks when I’m ready.
To be honest, I don’t feel like talking about anything home related. This past week was a whole lot of cleaning, decluttering and organizing. I’d rather share what I did with all of the stress buzzing through my body when I woke up today. A foolproof plan to calm my nervous system. Works every time. The privilege to be able to drop everything and do this today is not lost on me.
I rolled out of bed, hopped in the car, drove over an hour, stopped for a decaf coconut milk latte and was the first one in line for Barnes & Noble to open at 10am. They unlocked the door, I walked in a ways, closed my eyes and took a deep inhale. I could feel my nervous system relax. After browsing for a couple hours I drove another 10 minutes to Enger Park. Today was chilly and dewy and there were flowers blooming everywhere. More deep inhales and exhales. There was a food truck offering ice cream so I got two scoops of chocolate and ate in on a rock while it rained. I felt brand new. I got in my car and drove home.
MANA STUDIO | Updates From My Studio
This week I sketched a lot. I sketched in the morning, sometimes in the evening and a few times when we were out and about. I just started adding water color to my sketches tonight while watching the Minecraft movie with my boys. You know, when your house is on the market it’s frowned upon to leave your spread of watercolors on the kitchen table. :P I look forward to sharing more finished pages with you next week!
Morning walks in the park, sketchbook page, beautiful pink tree in Enger Park, Duluth, Lake Superior, sketching at the coffee shop with my little guy, finished lilac sketch splashed in watercolor, more sketching!
Thank you for reading Norden Morning. This publication is created without artificial anything - it’s me, an artist/mother in my late 30s living life and sharing about it from my favorite little corner of the couch.
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Does this mean what I think it means on moving?
Yep, still obsessed with your sketches! Hungry for more 🤩