Motherhood is a shape-shifting process – it serves a purpose in our lives and the world. Yet, a mother’s job is challenging, isolating, depressing, joyous, exhilarating, and all the other emotions you experience between getting out of bed and walking to the bathroom. Society does not care about motherhood, but this process or “matrescence” also shifts the people around you. Mothers are shaping the present and the future every day, all of the time. Women are socialized to believe that romantic and maternal love are the highest virtues – forsaking all others, including yourself - and then you die.

Well, I reject that. Do not go gentle into that good night!

We are all magical star stuff humans; mothers, too! And no matter your circumstances, you’re in the messy human experience until it ends.

So, seek the things that give you pleasure, comfort, rest, and energy!

Eat well, party hard, and belly laugh. There’s no shame in your rest or your pleasure. Both are acts of resistance.

All people have something weird about them. There, I said it. There’s something – an idea, process, presentation, or whatever that makes them not quite fit - and it’s beautiful. Why? Because humans are imperfect, messy, and made of star stuff. How weird – and f#3k#@ cool!

You’re on a journey to collide, orbit, and vibrate with other kinds of star stuff and planets. And, we have the bonus of figuring out where we resonate or complement each other, or we can keep it moving.

Sure, there are plenty of people for whom things seem to come naturally, effortlessly, and organically, especially if you spend time online. Sometimes inspiration will strike, and things will flow. But, like life, the muse is fickle.

The rest of us have to give ourselves time and space for inspiration - we must develop a practice - meaning consistently showing up at the same time or place to allow things to happen. This creates a structure for spontaneity and improvisation. Notice I said “a practice,” not “the practice,” so it does not have to look or be like anyone else’s and can evolve over time. You can develop a practice for anything, artist or not.