When I learned this
month's Chat Chew and Chocolate theme was "I'm Woman, I'm Fabulous and I Need a
Day Off!" I was immediately transported to a time in my life when a series of afternoons
devoted to "Me Time" led me to pursue my dreams and destiny. As a result of "Me Time" I decided to open my
own business, to write a book and to become The Antiques Diva.
Shortly before I moved from Paris to Amsterdam, four friends
and I decided to read Julia Cameron's book "The Artist's Way". We agreed to meet weekly, holding one
another accountable to the activities the 12 step program outlined. The goal was to recover creativity from a
variety of blocks and replace them with artistic confidence and productivity. Each week we read a chapter and followed-up
on the suggested activities. We then met
to discuss our findings. We all enjoyed
answering the questions the book posed but we each found we struggled to
accomplish one particular task - the "Artist Date".
One of the book's tenants is that you must take a weekly Artist Date - or to put
this into CCC vernacular - "To Take Me Time".
The Artist Date is a 2 hour block of time set aside each week during
which time you observe, experience and sense.
Most importantly, you don't use this time to check things off your to-do
list! An Artist Date could be a visit to
a museum, a walk down a street, an hour spent at the zoo or in a book store - it's
anything that stimulates your senses.
As there was no real "purpose" to the artist dates, in the beginning I often
skipped these "Me Time Moments" - that is, until my Artist Way Group held me
accountable, making me promise to fulfill my end of the bargain much like they
were theirs. While I understood the need
to answer self-searching questions I could NOT see how taking 2 hours "by
myself" each week could help me become a better artist, nor I could I imagine
it would help me pursue or discover my passions.
But it did. I must confess I did more
than a little shopping on my Artist Dates.
In fact, each week my Artist Dates took me to a different antique
shop. I spent hours studying cathedral
candlesticks which had been dug out of a flooded Florentine nunnery or
comparing the patina of a 17th C French farm table with an 18th
C Irish table and its 19th C American counterpart. I went to the Louvre and stood in front of
the richly decorated Napoleon III apartments and then once my "allotted Artist
Date" time was over I threw caution to the wind and went to the Musee D'orsay to
see their Belle poque furniture.
Over time I realized there was a definite pattern to how I was choosing to
spend my "Me Time". What I wanted to do
most when no one was around, when the clock wasn't monitoring me and "to do's"
weren't dictating the day, was to spend time in antique shops or with
antiquities. After 12 weeks it occurred
to me, "If this is how I truly want to spend my time, then why aren't I
spending it this way? How can I structure my life so that I spend more time
doing what I really enjoy?"
Taking "Me Time" showed me my priorities, my interests and revealed my inner passion! I urge you this month to take time to
discover your passions. Set aside a few
hours of "Me Time" to do something that floats your boat. If you're like me and you like antiques, go
to a flea market, an antiques show, a museum or garage sale. Sneak into the bookstore and steal a few
hours reading through Miller Guides or flipping through decorating books.
Whatever your passion - start pursuing it!
You're Woman, You're Fabulous and You Deserve Me Time!
To read more articles written by The Antiques Diva visit www.antiquesdiva.blogspot.com or to book a European Antiques Shopping Tour at www.antiquesdiva.com)