Can someone give me a hand?

My first thought this morning when I opened my eyes was, "Let's create!" I want to hand-letter, design brilliant typographical compositions, I want to create something beautiful. Not just something, but somethings. 

It's easy to be negative when things aren't going as planned, I'm working on doing the opposite!

The amazing thing about creating, designing, lettering with your own two hands is there are days where there is just no stopping them. Your hands move a million miles a minute -- swirling, dancing, curling all over your artwork like their favorite song is playing on repeat. Don't you dare hit pause... well it wouldn't matter, because they are just THAT in the zone. On these days you could literally try to make something ugly but when you take a step back you realize it's even more beautiful than you originally envisioned. Thanks, Hands! High five... (I don't really know how that would work..)

But the thing about creating, designing, lettering with your hands is some days your hands just look at you and say, "HA! You don't know how to use me right now because I am going to have a mind of my own. Good luck with that vision you have in your head of that AWEsome chalkboard... it ain't happening sister." And then they go limp. Just like that. No warning, just done-zo. Womp. 

Days like that call for a few different thoughts, realizations, and coming up with ways to channel the different parts of your creativity. So since today is one of those days (my hands have even refused to type, so I'm writing this out with my toes... just kidding, they said I have 30 minutes max before they limp out again), I decided to share some thoughts instead of pretty chalkboards like I had planned to.

1. Don't take things for granted. One weekend when I was visiting my parents in Pennsylvania, my mom and I were having a discussion while on a walk about taking care of our bodies. A family friend of ours who is in dentistry had hurt his hand playing in a pick-up game one weekend. Mom was saying how he realized how much something so trivial can really affect his now-line of work. He was managing, but had to get creative about ways of doing things -- I think he also decided using his toes would be a good alternative (JK AGAIN!) Later on during that walk, we were talking about how I never take my contacts out at night. Such a bad habit, but it's just not something I do. My ever-so-wise mother connected that back to our earlier discussion about our dentist friend. My eyes are my tools. I create, I design, I take inspiration from things I see and channel them into my own interpretation of beauty. What would I do without my tools? Don't take your sight, your hands, your body's ability to do, to move, to build, to fix for granted. Take care of it. 
2. There are always going to be days like this. Don't get discouraged, that won't help anything! Instead do something else. I'm going to cook. True, I do need my hands but not in the precise and extremely controlled way I would've. Don't worry, I won't do any major chopping... that does require a bit of controlled precision. 
3. Be thankful you were just working with chalkboards today. Okay, this one may be a little specific to me and to the situation, but hey! I'm super thankful my hands decided to flop out on a day I was working with easily erasable chalk. I could've been working with ink and super expensive paper (paper that I have only 2 extra pieces to mess up on... oh the pressure!) So you know what I just did? I got a wet paper towel, erased the board, put it away, and came to chat with you. Easy peasy. I guess the moral of this thought is it could always be worse. Someone else somewhere is having a moody hand day while working with paint and their living room wall... yikes, I'm thankful I'm not them. 
4. Yoga. This is sorta a funny one, but my hands respond to yoga. When they are feeling all spastic and uncontrollable like they are right now, a little down time and relaxation really does wonders. It doesn't even have to be a whole hour long class. Just me, my mat, my apartment floor, and a few "Ommmmms" (jk, I'm not into the om-ing) get every part of my body back in tune. Find what works for you and do it.
5. Love your problem. I love that this is my problem. I love that some days my hands can't draw, can't write, can't make artwork I'm proud of. I love that because that means there are days that I can. Your game isn't going to be 100% the best you've ever played every single time. Off days are inevitable, but the fact that this is your off day means that you have on days too. I love that I was given the ability to do what I do, so if it means sometimes I have to give it a break, so be it. I'll be back at it tomorrow! 

So once my hands, my mind, my eyes, and the rest of me get their act together to actually work together, I'll share some projects I've been working on. Until then, let's all take a nap, do some yoga, and maybe go get our nails done so they can finish off with a glorious hand massage. (That's the best idea I've had all day!) 

-- xoxo