“Slow and Steady Wins the Race.”

This is the moral of the Aesop fable The Tortoise and the Hare, and it has been my mantra for almost a decade now. It has kept me sane (relatively speaking) and moving forward through the ups and downs of Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia. It reminds me, often, that I needn’t be in a hurry, and that I’m not super human, but I am human, even in times when I’m feeling less than stellar.

I made a commitment to myself last week to not merely dabble at drawing, but to begin with the basics, start anew, and learn. As a teenager, I drew anything horse or horse-like (i.e. unicorns, winged horses, and hippocampi), but the complexities of life and the isolation of living in a small town were not conducive to sticking to it and learning things such as proportion, perspective, or color theory.

But I enjoy it now. Drawing isn’t quite as meditative as paper cutting or making books, but I suspect that’s because currently it demands more focus and attention. However, it is oddly tactile (I shall worry about the finger smudges later, much later). I see progress and the only demand I have on myself is to do a little more each day, with attention to the basic skills I need to gain to continue forward.

It’s fun. It’s also strengthening other skills. Patience. Perseverance. I feel the need for instant gratification slipping away, albeit slowly, involving myself in the process more and worrying less about the end product.

Good morning. May you spend the day kissed with dew.