Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Hiatus from Metals

I've been out of commission for the last 8 weeks or so, recovering from hip replacement surgery. In the run-up to surgery, as a sort of insurance policy, I bought supplies and materials thinking magically guarantee that I'd make it through surgery and come safely home. I also had this lovely little fantasy going that my recuperative period would include a creative interlude with time and space to be at my bench. WRONG! I couldn't have been more deluded and in denial. I had no idea how much energy it takes to recover from this kind of thing. And, don't get me wrong, I had a very positive experience in the hospital and afterward and according to my home based medical support, a pretty strong rebound. I just wasn't being terribly realistic about how much energy my healing would take. Unfortunately, it left very little energy for creative endeavors. Even at this point in my recovery, I look at my bench and just feel sort of blank. I have ideas and sketches for projects, projects to complete and I even made a half-hearted attempt at beginning a project. But, I'm just not there yet. So, I'm writing this entry as a statement of faith, that as I complete my physical therapy and muscle strength and endurance come back, so will my enthusiasm for metalsmithing. I am placing my trust in the universe that when the time is right, I'll be drawn back to my bench, happy to immerse myself in making and learning.

Namaste,
Helen