January - new beginnings and soul nourishment

I'm good at new beginnings. I love a list and a plan. I love the letting go of the old and the potential of the new. But then there's sticking to the plan, keeping on keeping on. I'm learning to do that. I can end up setting myself high goals and being disappointed if I fail. I am learning to set more realistic goals, and to check back in and celebrate my achievements. I love my creative life so much I sometimes forget to work hard at the other areas of me. Last year I learnt that I need balance. So I recommitted to yoga and found an amazing teacher of Dru yoga. It's fun and grounds me back in the moment and in my physical space. It's leading me to take better care of myself and I am exploring the ancient, holistic healing system of Ayurveda.

I have lots of books on the go at the moment. For my book group I'm about to start 'The Muse', Jessie Burton's second novel. I'm still reading AS Byatt's 'The Children's Book', a wonderful story of a creative community. I love her dense prose, full of detail. I was bought Amanda Palmer's 'The Art of Asking' for my birthday which has raised some uncomfortable questions about how we reach out to others and express our vulnerability. Next to my bed you can find 'Essays on Love' by Alain de Botton and on the dinner table is 'The Artists Way', a book I love that I am revisiting.