Dear reader,
Ready for another newsletter!
On the train, returning from vacation I write this newsletter.
Headphones on, the next song starts:
‘Lola Montez - Volbeat’
Nice! On repeat! (too late, next song started, it swings too! Yohoo! )
About the vacations that I spend in my ‘old hometown’. They start with me having a bunch of ideas about what I can do. Visit friends, a city trip, help build a flower float, and so on.
When I arrive I tend to stay at my parents’ place and not act on the plans I imagined. Because I am not acting on the plans, I feel ‘lazy’ or indecisive.
I probably focus too much on the side of what I didn’t do. Because these vacations are filled with activities I am grateful for and enjoy.
More about this and gratitude later in the newsletter.
So, here we go!
But first, a short update on:
The Animation Project
Last week was the second and last week of the vacation break. I wonder how I get back into the work rhythm as it is a project without an external deadline. I am responsible and No-one pushes me to finish it.
Back to the scene where Hoija runs. Excited to finish it and start a new scene.
On vacation, I saw different videos on Instagram about the creation process of animations. Check the Instagram account
.These videos make me excited to get back on the horse :)
The Vacation Journal:
I had fun with this art journal where I make illustrations on my vacation. See more about it in the last newsletter nr. 6.
Here are some points that I encountered in the process:
It takes more time than I thought. Surprise! ;)
So, I did less than I thought.
It gave me more inspiration than I thought!
My last illustration is a short comic about the experience of water cycling with my sisters and nephews. See below.
When creating the illustrations with pencil ink and watercolor I make time-lapse Videos to share on Instagram and Facebook.
Then I enjoy the comments and likes. It is addictive, dopamine you know.
I say to myself:
‘Likes are not the main goal. It is about the process to share your stuff. Get it out there. ’
This helps me stay focused on the process.
Although, 1 like is enough. ;)
Here is a GIF image of the time-lapse, see the high-quality time-lapse on my Instagram: marbelsi.
Gratitude Journal:
About gratitude, I read in the book The Paradox of Choice by Barry Schwartz.
On page 230, the author wrote something about gratitude and how it can help you.
“The research literature suggests that gratitude does not come naturally to most of us most of the time”
It is easy to think and see what you don't like.
I keep a gratitude journal. It started when scrolling through youtube videos. Once I saw Oprah Winfrey promote to keep up a gratitude journal. After this, I had to believe this journaling helps. ;)
Before this moment, I kept a ‘Diary’. But I wrote only sparingly, especially when feeling bad. After doing this for a long time it became clear to me that I was doing it this way. I asked myself
‘Why do I only write in moments when I feel bad?’
So, I decided to write when feeling good too. It did not work so well. It wasn’t a habit yet. But now and then I did write when I was in a positive mood.
Then came the ‘Oprah-moment’ of a gratitude journal. This merged with my diary and became a daily habit.
That is it for this week.
Gratefully I wish you,
who got through this text until here (you can be grateful for it)
an incredible week!
See you soon!
M.