Two weeks ago I mentioned I was going on vacation and how I don’t vacation well. Turns out I was wrong, I vacation just fine.
I’m sure normal people, you know, people who actually take vacations, know this but the trip was a great chance for me to put some things in perspective and take a step back. I actually slowed down. I drew more on vacation than I ever thought possible. Normally unless I am rushing out the door to go to work, I am spending the morning editing artwork, working on my blog while I have the washing machine and dishwasher going. I like to be productive and like I mentioned in my last post, there’s so much that needs to be done. Stuff needs to get done but when I was on vacation I woke up at my normal time (I can’t sleep in to save my life) but the kids were still out cold and exhausted from Disney World and I realized there wasn’t much I could do. Usually I am a wake up and go guy but with the kids still asleep there wasn’t much to do but draw.
I set up my stuff at the hotel room desk, turned on the lamp, poured a cup of the lousy hotel room coffee and got to work. I finished about 15 pages of The Retros in the six days I was there. That might not sound impressive but it’s the most productive I’ve been in years. I had the best time just waking up and drawing. Usually it’s the evening after Sophie goes to be when I get my drawing done but this was just the best way to begin the day.
Being on vacation is calming and I was able to stop thinking about work. Most people have no problem doing that but I have a hard time letting go. I felt very happy and very peaceful while on the trip…not necessarily because I was on vacation but because I was drawing so much. So yesterday I woke up, turned on the coffee maker and went right back upstairs to draw. It was like being on vacation all over again except I had better coffee.
The trip was a reminder that I need to spend more time drawing and doing more things to make me happy.
And I am going to get right back to drawing as soon as I grab the clothes from the dryer. Honest.
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