Finally the clarity is here and I'm ready to show up.
"How do I blend the coaching/workshops/wisdom with the artist who wants to weld, mosaic, paint, knit, bead, silverleaf, and play with glass, wood, metal, fabric, fire, and water?" Have been wrestling with that question for the past few years, never quite sure how to weave them together. Now that it has, it's so obvious. It FEELS right.
The ego has been twittering in self-doubt, "what if they don't like it? What if I'm not good enough?" Hearing the message, "it's not about you, Kim" over and over -- intrigued, curious, baffled. "If the work showcases my unique talents as an artist, how is it NOT about me? The vulnerable exposure of me on a platter!
And every time I ran into issues of Intellectual Property -- huge gongs went off. I asked a fellow artist what kind of glue she uses for outdoor glass, and she refused, citing proprietary secret. I asked another how she cut glass bottles, and got the same answer. I felt rebuffed, rejected, angry. What beautiful gifts those were! Made me realize I do NOT want to be that kind of artist: fearful that someone will steal my ideas and diminish my prosperity. A scarcity belief to toss on the compost pile! I love collaborating with other artists! (And we're all artists, we just forget.) THAT'S the kind of artist I want to be -- freely sharing ideas, inspiring each other.
I created a series of experiential workshops, gathering a list of women who lit up when I told them my ideas. Kept saying I was going to hold the sessions. Any day now... Yep, as soon as I stop the self-doubt and get it scheduled... Yep, soon...
Fast forward, I sign up for welding classes at the local community college. LOVE welding! Oh my gosh, playing with badass power tools? Especially the plasma cutter!! Cutting through metal with a stream of fire, creating a million sparks! Hell yes!
After just a few classes, the instructor asked if I wanted to volunteer. I wouldn't need to pay for any more courses, instead come in when I want, work on whatever creative venture presents itself, with industrial-level tools, take photos, and talk with the other students about what they want to create. Um, win-win!
Getting officially signed up to volunteer, I told the gal I'd been wanting to talk with her about possibly teaching some classes on crafting..." She leapt on it, and now my first of six classes starts on April 20th at 9am!
And with that, the clarity arrives. Becoming Visible means showing up, shining brightly, and holding space open for others to do the same. Sure, I'll sell my art too, but the purpose, the Life Purpose, is to be in flow, in creative play, and then open space for others to come play and experience focusing on what lights them up. Ironically, becoming visible means actually becoming invisible, because I'm finally understanding how it's not about me. And THAT'S a fun place to play in! More soon!
