Don't Look Out For That Tree!

Recently, while enjoying a weekend up in the mountains with my family, one of my teenagers pulled me aside and shared their anxiety about their next steps.  Even though they were excited about the future, they felt overwhelmed by worry.

In that moment, surrounded by the beauty of the mountains (and all that mountain motif home decor), advice bubbled up to the surface that I’d received years earlier when learning to downhill ski through glades of trees.

When you’re zipping down the hill surrounded by a forest of beauty, the temptation is to tense up and “Look out for that TREE! And THAT one!! And…” 

Right?!  It turns out though, if you look at the trees, you’re a whole lot more likely to crash into them.  

Here’s the trick:

Focus your gaze on the PATH you’re trying to take, 

not on the things you’re trying to avoid.

We chatted through the analogy and the importance of spending less energy on worrying about what could go wrong, and more energy focusing on the path they wanted to be on.  I was rewarded with a hug and a “Thanks, Mom.”

So…what does any of this have to do with my art process?  

Nothing, I thought…  

…until that same teenager caught me in the midst of my own tizzy this week.  You see, it’s just about a month until I feature my work in the first of two big art shows I have scheduled in the next several months. While I’m really looking forward to each one, I’m also finding myself struggling at times to enjoy this part of the process.

There’s a LOT to get done and keep track of, and the next few weeks of prep overlap with the first few weeks of the school year, the beginning of my kids’ competition seasons for cross country, cheerleading, and gymnastics…and in between events, we’re traveling to visit a number out of state colleges (my oldest is a senior this year).  

Can you hear the panicky tightness in my voice creeping in?  There’s so much good stuff to look forward to on the calendar…

…and I’m over here hyperventilating, imagining piles of dropped balls and minor disasters.  

Teenagers have a knack for offering constant “feedback” to their parents, which can be challenging, but this time in the midst of my own mini-meltdown, the comment was spot-on and truly appreciated.

“Don’t take this the wrong way, Mom, but it sounds like you’re looking at trees.”

Well, well, well…

And so, whether I’m helping my kids navigate life transitions, prepping for a big show, or just maneuvering through a random Tuesday…

I’m REALLY trying to remind myself to tackle it like a tree run.  I’m taking a few deep breaths, slowing down, and focusing on the path I want to take so that I can actually ENJOY the experience (and hopefully avoid crashing into anything).

If you’re in Denver, pop by my tent in August to say hello!  Then, no matter where you’re at, come and connect with me and my fellow Artburst artists in October at our next show!  Click below for details.

August 26-27 Summer Art Market

October 22-25 “Poetry In Motion”

Time to get back at it! Stay loose, don’t look out for those trees and I hope we cross paths soon.