Choose Your Own Adventure

Plus February sketches

Dearest Friend,

Do you remember those “Choose Your Own Adventures” books? At the end of each chapter, there was a simple question, should the hero do this, or that? If this, go to page 23, if that, go to page 34. Then, as you navigated your way through the story, you found out if you had managed to lead the hero to his or her ultimate success, or some version of hilarious failure. The fun part was, that you could reread the book multiple times, choosing different paths each time.

I can’t even imagine how complex those books must have been to write.

That aside, I like to think of my day as my own “choose your own adventure.”

My days are pretty routine if you look at them from the outside: wake up, get the kid ready for school, and don’t forget the essential supplies needed for the school day! Then, home to work in my studio. If I have time and energy, maybe a run or a swim. Play piano. If I’m tired, a cat-nap. Then school pick-up, off to a kids club (swimming or ballet), or home for homework and supper prep. Then bedtime.

And… repeat…

But… There are so many moments in the day when I ask myself, “how could this be more fun?” I might put on some fun music. Then different music the next day. Why not try a new radio station in the car? Or a Spotify playlist in my studio that I’ve never heard before?

I might choose a different herbal tea. I might dash to the cafe on the corner to read a book in a patch of sunshine with a decaf latte for 20 minutes. I might grab a piece of chocolate as a reward for finishing a tricky creative project.

Each of these little decisions edges my day towards more joy. I am choosing my own adventure, one minute at a time. That means that days that could feel monotonous, often end up feeling richly different.

How can you choose your own adventure today? Can you walk a different way to work or school? Why not try to notice the colours of all the front doors? Are they the same or different? Or, try a different lunch spot? Pick up an ingredient at the grocery store that might be an interesting addition to your usual Tuesday night pasta?

Let me know how it makes you feel…

Let’s be adventurers!

May your day be filled with lots of tiny happy surprises,

Jane

---

Choose your own adventure, for real!

Many of you have asked if I teach any drawing or creativity courses online.

This got me thinking… maybe I should?

If you would be interested in taking an online course from me, please fill out my fun “Choose Your Own Adventure” questionnaire.

You can literally have a say in what my first course offering might be.

If even 20 people say they would sign up, I will write a course. So your vote really counts!

Choose your own adventure HERE!

---

February sketches!

February was a month of recovering from ear infections and other lurgies in our house, so my sketchbook was a little bit neglected as we nurtured ourselves back to optimum health.

My daughter performed a song called “Sad Ghost” in a school concert.

Every morning my daughter reads in bed before breakfast. It is a quiet start to the day.

---

Stay tuned! Coming next…

• Birthday self portraits (I have drawn a self portrait on my birthday for years)

• How I do my daily drawings