The Art & Poetry of Mary Coleman

I have decided to take on two painting projects at the same time, one easier, the other hard, because I predict that the current one I started is going to be overwhelmingly difficult and boring at times (a lot of creases and folds). I’ll need a break and something more relaxing to do when I’m feeling tired of the big project. For my second painting I will do a Bosch study because those are really fun to do. It’s just a matter of drawing the outline and coloring it in on my iPad.

I took a Ritalin today because this is the most dull part of the whole painting process and I really struggle to do it (transferring the drawing onto the canvas via a grid). My ADHD doesn’t help with doing things I find exceedingly boring and tedious, so I need a bit of help. This bottle of Ritalin has lasted me a year and a half though, so it shows how infrequently I take it.

I’m really sore after strength training but I managed to do a 2 mile run with a friend this morning. One more of those and a 4 mile run and then I will have exercised 5 days this week, two days of which were strength training.

Next week I am going to attempt to 30 minutes of strength training twice during the week. That’s upping it from the 25 minute sessions I did this week. My eventual aim is to do 45 minutes at a time. Small steps though.

I was feeling bad about my New Year’s resolutions but I assessed the progress I have made and I have actually done a bit towards each goal this month (besides drawing). It’s not all going to happen at once so small progress on each intention every week is what I’m looking for. So far I have introduced strength training, I’ve been running, I introduced calorie counting as well as fiber and protein goals, I practiced intermittent fasting most days, I introduced meditation, I lost a bit of weight, I only had sweets once, I didn’t buy off Amazon except for the monthly purchase (and only things that were absolutely needed when I did order), and I finished a PPE painting. 

In February I want to continue with two days of strength training and three days of running (weekly increasing strength training by 5 minutes). Additionally, I want to introduce reading in the evening in the first week of February (for the relaxation resolution), I want to introduce Instagram the second week of February, I would like to lose some more weight over the course of next month with healthy eating and exercise (my fitness and health goal), I would like to finish half my new painting with an aim to be done by April, and I would like to work on only having restaurant food once a week starting in the first week of February (my budget resolution).

So overall I made decent headway this January and I’m going in the right direction. It’s easy to see what you haven’t done or focus on all there is that still needs to be done and all the while lose track of what you did actually achieve. Additionally it’s also hard to be patient and allow time for change to happen gradually. You want it all to happen at once which is unrealistic.

1. I read books. Right now it’s mostly listening to books but in February I’m going to work on reading a few chapters of a physical book before bedtime.
2. I watch TV shows and movies, mostly at dinner time with my husband.
3. I run and on most days I find it relaxing.
4. I paint, which is difficult to do, but rewarding once I finish.
5. I bind books. Granted I do it infrequently but it’s a fun thing I do sometimes.