Dispatch from Western Kentucky
A nod to January, a watercolor course announcement and a poem inspired by Billy Collins
Hello friends! I’m honored and humbled to have so many of you in my corner at pARTake. Your support means more than you know. Thank you.
Today, I’m sharing a nod to January, announcing a watercolor course I’ll teach later this summer, a poem, “Dispatch from Western Kentucky,” inspired by Billy Collins, and today, January 31st, is International Zebra Day. Let’s go! xo
Isn’t it great to say, Oh, January, you’re done!
Friends, we made it. For some, making it means one day at a time, one hour, or one minute at a time. I’m familiar with that one-minute-at-a-time song when I’m dealing with comorbidity issues, and I’m not a happy camper. But what gets me to the other side is controlled slow breathing. And since today is the last day of January and I completed a month-long guided restorative yoga practice with Yoga with Adriene, I’ve been breathing and moving with purpose much more easily. (If you’re unfamiliar with YWA, she offers a free annual practice every January on YouTube.)
One of my favorite ways to slow down and get clarity, which is what January feels like, is the slow breathing method, alternate nostril breathing. In Sanskrit, it’s nadi shodhana pranayama. You don’t have to be on a mat to practice this simple and effective breathing technique. I’ve used it to lower my heart rate in traffic jams. (Please consult your doctor before practicing any breathing exercises.) If you’re curious and want to learn more, here are the eight types of pranayama techniques and their benefits.
We see with clarity when life is distilled down to the smallest increments. I hope you find one of the breathing techniques helpful the next time you’re on edge or want to focus.
A NOD TO JANUARY
January feels like poems scribbled on the backside of a veterinarian's receipt, pajamas on a Wednesday afternoon, reading fiction, pressing ink pine boughs in a journal, deep sleep, and hot tea.
January feels like daydreams of a future vegetable garden. Courage. Thick stews and savory soups, brisk walks, warm blankets, and football playing on the big screen in the background.
January feels like howling coyotes that prickle the skin and chipping wrens hopping along the outside window sills, pecking at dead insects.
January 31st, if we make it, and if you’re reading this, you did, but with no guarantees that we will each year, January 31st has arrived at last, like gale force winds sweeping through our minds and souls, shushing out the cobwebs of winter, ushering in the possibility of good, bright things to come.
What does January mean to you? LMK below or hit reply!
WATERCOLOR WORKSHOP ANNOUNCEMENT
I’m teaching a watercolor workshop this summer called Loose Florals. Last weekend, over a happy hour with friends at a large, noisy indoor craft pub brewery, I said, “This summer, I'm teaching a beginner’s watercolor course. It’s called loose florals.”
One friend heard loose squirrels; the other heard loose morals. And now I'm rethinking so much! Loose squirrels sound so fun! And loose morals sound dangerously delicious!
What’s an art instructor to do?
Registration for Beginner Watercolor Loose Florals will be through Mahr Park Arboretum, and more details will be forthcoming. Below is the course description. If you’re in the area, I hope you’ll join me. Eventually, I’ll offer an online course! Stay tuned for more information.
Friends, thanks for reading. I look forward to hearing from you. Did you know today is Backwards Day? What will do you to shake up your day? Breakfast for dinner? Read a book starting from the last page? Wear your shirt backwards? LMK! Have a great day and a fabulous February! xo
Stay curious. Stay safe. Make an impact.
Great post, Maureen! Huge congrats on the workshop! As always, I love your updates and photos, and I love your poem. I'm trying to get more into poetry, which is really how I started writing a million years ago. Cheers to the end of January and the start of February!
I love the poem, Maureen. You capture Collins' voice so well, but it also feels like your own voice comes through too.