What a Difference a Year Makes

It's almost Thanksgiving Day here in the US. Can you believe we're so close to the end of 2022? The weather was unseasonably warm for the first two weeks of November, but as I write this, the temperatures have dropped once again to their seasonable norms here in Pennsylvania. It's chilly, grey, and dark, a sure sign that holiday festivities are not far off.

I'll admit that this isn't my favorite time of year, but I'm getting better at celebrating late fall and winter, at least from an artist's perspective. The barren landscape and bare trees are interesting in their own right and I acknowledge that even nature needs some time off to rest and rejuvenate.

I find that I get especially reflective at this time of year, looking back to evaluate how well I've done with the goals and plans I had when the year began. As I was looking back through my camera roll, I stumbled upon the picture above. I remember drawing this golden finch last November. I loved this drawing when I created it and the bird's cute face still makes me smile. But I also see how much better I'm able to draw birds now than I was just one year ago. Isn't it amazing the difference a year can make if we keep practicing our skills over and over?

The older I get, the faster each year seems to pass. I used to despair about this, worried I hadn't accomplished much at all during the year. But that was before I started documenting my life in my bullet journal and dating the drawings in my sketchbooks. Together these tools show me exactly what I did over the course of the year. Each week I review the previous week and write down a few things to celebrate. At the end of the year, I have a list of accomplishments I can look back on. And, I usually find that I accomplished a lot more than my brain thought I did.

Documenting my life in this way has also helped me to see that life and art is a process, with many milestones along the way. Keeping records keeps me on track so that I never stray too far. Documenting also helps me appreciate all the great things that have happened - the friends I have made, the activities I've enjoyed, all the things I have to be thankful for.

I also find I'm much more excited to discover what is next, for me, for Sunlight Forest and for you.

What are you looking forward to as the holiday season unfolds? What plans will you make for 2023?

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Inspiration Meets Regret

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Woodland Wanderings