Hi friends,
The last few months have been wobbly.
My dad died in August. He lived at a care home nearby this past year, and I got to spend a lot of time with him. I was with him at the end.
And the next day, I was back at work, managing a string of deadlines.
As many of you know, wobbly times can be tricky when you work for yourself. There’s no backup or time off. And, if you like what you do, work can be an excellent diversion.
All in all, I’m grateful for the work, I’m grateful for wonderful clients, and I’m grateful for the wobbles too.
Despite all the unknowns and intensity around my dad’s decline and passing, I was able to show up and be fully present, something I’m not sure I’d always have been able to do.
On the brighter side, the last few months also marked 20 years of full-time freelancing and 25 years of a marriage that just keeps getting better.
In addition, I signed up for the UC California Naturalist program, something I’ve had on my wish list for a while, but thought I’d only do once I retired. I don’t have any clear plans for the program, but taking it feels like a gift to myself. I’m dusting off my science brain, meeting smart and engaged people, and exploring local landscapes.
Left mostly undone: my intentions to do more deep reflecting, planning, and creating.
The exception to this is in my notebooks. Lately, I’ve been inspired by Lynda Barry’s Making Comics and her advice for diary comics. If you’re looking to practice staying creatively open, Barry’s book is a weird and wonderful companion. Two of my wobbly takes on diary comics are below.
And if you’re moving through your own wobbly times (and these days, who isn’t?), I’ve found Barry’s advice for comic making applies to life as well. She says, “Our task is to stay curious and open,” and by practicing doing so, “We develop a gradual belief in spontaneous, ordering forces.”
Sending love to you,
Sarah
PS:
We’re living in a wild world of scams and impersonations. If you get a very professional-looking email from a ‘Sarah Mattern’ offering some kind of a monthly support plan with my photo in the footer — that’s not me! I’m not that organized! Or scammy!
Please check the email address that it came from and, although it may include some version of my name, it won’t be my actual email address.
Don’t reply or click anything in the email. Instead, mark the email as spam, forward it to me, and I’ll report it.
I wasn’t hacked, and your information is safe. I believe this type of attack is widely targeting online portfolios. If I link to you, and if you have an email address on your website, the spammer/bot can contact you pretending to be me.
This is a good reason not to put your email address on your website and opt for a contact form instead. Let me know if I can help with that.
Navel gazing with diary comics
Did you know the term navel-gazing has origins in the Ancient Greek word omphalós, meaning the actual contemplation of one’s navel as an aid to meditation? Apparently, if you can practice staying open to the center of your being, you’ll feel a little better.
Lynda Barry’s approach to diary comics: 1) make a list of what you did over the last 24 hours (3 min), 2) make a list of the things you saw (3 min), 3) write something you heard someone say, 4) write something you’ve been wondering about. Then she asks you to pick something scenic from your lists and draw a single frame of yourself in the scene (5 min) and write the scene in the first person present tense (5 min).
8 Responses
I always feel refreshed and stimulated by these emails. I’m wondering, what was the song? I love the diary comic idea, want to try it myself (don’t expect mine to look as good as yours:). Congratulations on 20 years of being in business and 25 years in your wonderful, inspiring marriage to the wonderful Noel. And bravo to you for having the maturity and grace to embrace and learn from the hard times.
Well aren’t you just the best! Thank you for your lovely comment, I sure appreciate it. Let me know if you try the diary comics. The song was Everything I Am Is Yours by the Villagers. Thank you for wanting to know! ❤️
So cool. Thank you for taking me into your spaces and places with the words and images. Now all I want is to have a meandering hike with you and plan my retirement. Much love!
Thank you Mackenzie! Let’s go on a meandering hike and talk about your retirement for sure! Really appreciate you! ❤️
Love this and love your creativity and artwork!
Thanks so much Annie! I appreciate you and all your wisdom and support ❤️
Wobbly is such a good word— the whole experience was wobbly in my mind. Dad was lucky you were there. I want to try the diary too!
Thank you Lexa! I hope you try it! And then tell me all about it! ❤️