One of my frustrations recently is that one kind of health challenge or another has been a bar to the physical activity I want and need to be involved in right now for this project. So as to avert feeling absolutely frustrated and going down some kind of negativity spiral, I decided to try some new activities that I could manage.
Bell-ringing
I've surprised myself by starting bell-ringing with our Uni society. I've had two sessions of instruction so far and I love it. I chose it because I anticipated the benefits of small ensemble work, some gentle and regular physical activity, the delight in a personal encounter with an ancient practice, counting and musical tones and sociability. It's been delightful and I was surprised at the pleasure I derived from the contact through the rope to the bell and the sensing of the motion and balance of what was happening unseen above. The ringing instructors are older men but last night they taught some of the students who are more competent at ringing to teach those of us beginners. Two young women and one young man taught us and so the skills are being passed on from one generation to another. It all gave me a lot of joy and I felt reconnected with a childlike sense of play. I look forward to learning how to manage the 'back stroke' - to pull the Sally, (the fluffy rope covering that's part way up the rope), so I can see what's involved in attempting to control the whole cycle.
Oil Painting
A couple of weekends ago I had a first go at painting in oils. In fact, it was my first go at painting a still life. I've only done a few very untutored attempts at painting anything in the past, in water colour or acrylic. One of the reasons I love to paint is it's play for me. I don't expect anything too much from myself but try to see what I am looking at and to capture aspects of what interests me on paper, board or other objects, being free to experiment with colour. This particular Saturday workshop was my first professionally guided lesson in how to go about painting a still life using oil paint. Judi Strega led us. She told us the stages and steps and then stood back and let us try it out. She stepped in now and again to see what we were doing, I was amazed that what I painted looked anything like the subject.
How does this activity have anything to do with this project? Hm. Good question. I think it's because it keeps me in the zone of discovery and play, it reminds me that I can respond to new situations and challenges, it shows me that some life skills I've acquired can be applied to most new things I like to try and that each individual has something different to say, in different ways. which was evident when I checked out the paintings the other three women had done. If you'd like to see them, here's a link to the Facebook page for Studiofourseven gallery that hosted the workshop on the links page of the blog.
Doing things like this break my isolation, improve my mental and emotional health and keep my spirits buoyed when otherwise I would probably be stressing about not being physically up and at the movement and singing I ought to be doing. My self esteem is boosted a little and I feel in a better place for re-engaging with the theatre improvisation workshop that's due on this afternoon. It's the richness of the lives of older women that I particularly want to be able to draw on for creating new performance pieces.
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