There are exactly 30 days left in my 730-day challenge of creating and posting artwork every day. I’m a gal who enjoys a bit of reflecting or as my kids say, “Does EVERYTHING have to be a teachable moment with you?!” (insert eyeroll or whatever level of annoyance feels appropriate to you)
Well kids, fish gotta swim, bird gotta fly, so I scrolled all the way back to the beginning of my Instagram posts to see what I was up to on day 30 of this monster-size challenge and the artwork shown at the top of this post “And There Was Much Rejoicing” is what I found.
It’s fun to see what elements of my style I am still working with (Hello Confetti & Flowers!) and what things I’ve moved away from (Adios, Multiple Opacities!) However, what really caught my eye with this post was the caption:
“It seemed fitting to use this classic Monty Python phrase to close out this 30-day challenge. It is customary for anyone in earshot to reply by pointing their index finger upward and wave it like a flag in a circular motion, coupled with an insincere “yaay”. Stay tuned tomorrow for my next challenge.”
[Cue record scratch] What?!? This started as a 30-day challenge?!? BTW, how many consecutive sentences can have multiple ending punctuations?!?
It took looking back at this post to remind myself that I had indeed originally started with the much more palatable 30-day challenge. Ah… simpler times!
Back then I was only concerned with a couple of things. First, starting the routine of creating every day. Then, getting comfortable with posting on social media more regularly. Next, I had to figure out what I wanted my art to look like and, finally, let’s not forget crafting those daunting captions.
With all of those variables out of the gate, I made the decision to do a 30-day challenge, and, if after that point I realized this was for the birds, I could ditch the whole thing with my head held high that I had completed the goal that I had set. Yup, that’s how I package things in my mind.
Of course, the next day I announce that I would be extending my 30-day challenge to a 365-day challenge. (Woo hoo! Let’s go for a full year!) And on day 366 I announced that I would be doing a 730-day challenge. (Aww, yeah, we are just getting started, bring on a second year!)
Of course I think the obvious issue to address is that when day 731 arrives, I will NOT be announcing a 1,095 challenge. (Or a 1460 day challenge… I mean, give it a rest already, am I right?)
That doesn’t mean that I won’t have more goals and challenges, because I’ve always got something going on, but it will look different than before.
So for all of you folks who have your eye on a huge goal, do yourself a favor and break it down into smaller goals that you can celebrate along the way. You will be amazed at the progress you can make and who doesn’t enjoy a little “Woo hoo!” along the way. (OK, wait..that sounds like I’m saying something else…uh, well…moving on.)
This is along the lines of not trying to eat an elephant in one bite. If you are going to eat an elephant, (which I don’t recommend because they’re very tough and gamey, but oddly enough, taste like chicken), then break it up into smaller, more easily digested pieces.
Friendly reminder that the end of this week is the recommended time to order anything from my shop for Christmas that is NOT a print. (Prints can still be ordered up until the 18th and should make it in time for Christmas)
Also, I’m super excited at the number of you who are participating in the YOU BUY ONE, I SHIP ONE for the A Woman’s Place is in The House and The Senate t-shirt. Quick recap: For every one of those shirts that gets sold between now and January 3rd, I will send one to a congresswoman.
I’ll be giving more updates on that soon when I start shipping them out, but I just have to say that it warms this gal’s heart to see how many of you want to get these shirts out into the world.
Thanks again to each and every one of you for being a part of this journey with me. Whether it is commenting on a post, buying a product, or reading these blog posts, I’m truly grateful for you.
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