I was originally going to call this little experiment my, “30-Day Blog Challenge” but after some consideration, I quickly realized that calling this challenge a challenge would only make it feel, well, more challenging. So, I’m doing what any firm believer in the Law of Attraction would do, and calling it what I hope it will become…
a good ol’ fashioned love affair
And when I say love affair, I mean this: passionate, raw, energized, in-the-moment, new, vulnerable, amazing, unknown, and potentially a little dangerous. That! my friends, is what I’m here to create.
Here’s the deal. I have a story in my head that goes something like this: “Writing a blog post feels like homework.” Followed by: “I don’t like homework, so I’m not going to do it….so there (insert whining voice).” Let me just say that this is not the most mature or professional attitude to attach to a potentially integral part of my business. I get that.
Let me also say that I am really ready to shift my relationship with my blog. The truth is I actually get quite excited about writing and I certainly have no shortage of epiphanies, experiences, reflections, emotions, unfoldings and aha moments to share. I also get super turned on by authentic expression, vulnerability, new ideas and sharing from the heart, so what better place to practice all these endearing activities than here on my sadly neglected blog?!
But, here’s the thing. I’m simply not inspired to assemble long thought-out blog posts full of beautiful pictures, poetic writing and links to amazing things. Nope. I need this to be easy. I need to make friends with my blog and it needs to be the kind of friendship that feeds me rather than depletes me. Seriously. It’s been too long and we are officially estranged.
So, how do I reinvent my relationship to this form of expression? I’m pretty sure I just need to get out of my own way and let myself off the hook. With so much going on in my life right now, this practice of writing and sharing simply needs to be easy, soul-filling and spontaneous…just like the way I paint. Similarly, I need to give myself permission to be imperfect. To be candid. To be raw. To be authentic. To follow my intuition. To let it flow. To trust that what arises in the moment is meant to come through. To explore parts of my life I have yet to explore. To remember there are no mistakes. Hmmmm…sounds familiar.
And, I don’t know about you, but for me, I have a much easier time committing to something if other people are involved…
This is where you come in.
For the next thirty days, starting today, I am committing to YOU, my lovely readers, to post something—anything—everyday for the next thirty days. Some days I might just post a photo (I do love Instagram after all). Some days it might be a poem. Some days it might be a very random, but real, thought. Again, this is all about taking the pressure off myself in order to totally re-define my relationship with this practice. Really, anything could happen. Trust me when I say I have NO idea what’s to come, because none of these posts have been written. In fact, I had no idea what I was going to say in this post either. Perfect.
Inspired by my friend and colleague, Rachael Rice, (aka the Cosmic American and dream-catcher maker extraordinaire), I am using my groovy new sticky notes as a visual reminder of my commitment to this love affair. So here they are friends…one sticky note down, twenty-nine to go.
I think I’m falling in love…
xo flora
WoW!!! I cant wait…what a great idea <3
Wonderful I will be following! Love the first page already!
Glynis
Love your idea, but I was hoping you might include your fans too… I want to be part of a fun spontaneous no mistakes group too.. :)) Any suggestions anyone??
I could listen to your ramble here all day! Seriously! It’s like having a cuppa with a friend.
Bring it!
C x
Good on ya (as the Ozzies say). Looking forward to the journey. Love the idea of a love affair. Xx
Go Flora! Loving it. It’s interesting how a blog CAN really start feeling like homework and can create such resistance….it still makes me squirm a little! Sticking with it… sporadically…! So, thanks for putting a fresh spin on it… perhaps we all need to remember to just keep it real and raw (and somewhat frequent!). xxx
Go Flora! I love the idea of ditching ‘challenge’ for ‘love affair’. Your post is really timely for me too as I just did a long overdue update on my blog today. I made myself write a post in fifteen minutes without any prior thought to what I’d write, just to prove that blogging can be quick, easy and fun. I keep thinking I need to wait until life isn’t so busy, so I can take my time planning and writing a well thought out post, but I may as well shut down my blog if that’s what I’m waiting for. If we can do brave intuitive painting, then why not brave intuitive posting!
Wonderful – I love the idea – I’ll be following…..
such a great idea! i have become a bit estranged from my blog too. only changed blog hosts yesterday (typepad to wordpress), so your love affair is very inspiring…
xo from down under
I’ll be here reading your posts every day 🙂
how very exciting!
following the flora a day <3
Brilliant idea! I’m cheering you on… 🙂
Brilliant Flora! I am also currently estranged from my blog but have wanted to reconcile that relationship for some time. LOVE your idea of having a love affair with your blog. Thanks for inspiring me to do the same!
This is the best news to start my day off! Can’t wait – after all …it’s just us girls right – we love to talk…right? AND we love to listen to what’s up with our gal pals!!!!!!!!! whawhoooo.
Awesomeness! I’m so glad your doing this. I get so much inspiration from your sharing so thank you!
Blog-keeping is hard…taking the pressure off and turning it to positive expression is a good thing. I just got my sweet little packet of sticky notes in the mail yesterday…love ’em!
Color our world…go girl!
Yay For You!
Love it!! I think once you get in the flow, you won’t be able to stop!! That’s what happened to me…
This is great! I think that once you start the habit, it will pull you in and you will really enjoy this form of creative expression. That’s what happened to me!
Release!
A LOVE FEST! I’m IN! 😀
Thanks for the inspiration – I too have been procrastinating about my blog. I will be watching!
cheers flora! be yourself and just let it flow. you have inspired me so much through your class and have changed the way I approach a canvas. enjoy your journey! ciao!
As I continue into my third week of “residency” at orangeland ( my studio) …. I am busy, thinking differently, making no mistakes, trusting myself, painting through the not beautiful phases….I often think of your most generous sharing in your online class. I needed to be aware of these ideas… Because otherwise painting can be a most frightening journey. I am enjoying the journey and being open leads to all kinds of great new places! You continue to inspire… So keep on keeping on!… And thank you!
Flora,
I know exactly how you feel. I know a blog is the best way to engage people and get your point across but, I always put off doing mine too. So I am going to join you in your love affair. Hmmm that sounds weird…….. You love your blog and I will love mine! Much love, Kori
Thank you. You have inspired me from the moment I first discovered you. You continue. I was just thinking of you in the last 24, wondering what you were up to, how you were doing. Thank you for including us in your lives, and in your process, and I think you are helping us (me) to discover our blocks, too. We are so on the same wavelength. I just realized in the last few days that I had all but discarded my Whole-Hearted Art workshops because I got scared. I was advised to contact people in my support group for, well, support! I’m seeing my fears about even trying to have my dreams come true, not to mention the vulnerability and fear of failure, lol! I’m happy to share my group with you. We have daily conference calls! http://www.reallove.com and follow links to conference call schedule. There’s a UK call today at 2:00 p.m. EST. It’d be the coolest to hear your voice!
Love the count down sticky notes that just might work for me. It has been over a year for me. I just froze trying to think of something clever to say instead of just trusting my intuitive self which doesn’t let me down. Thank you for your honesty! I will be reading.
This is just what I needed this month. I’ve been feeling bored with my blog and had been contemplating setting some sort of challenge for myself to simplify things and make blogging fun again. Love the idea of a love affair!
Thanks for the inspiration!
boy do i hear ya on this! like you, made a commitment to myself not last month to post more regularly ….for me saying 30 days is like an instant sabotage (ha!) so instead went with instituting small manageable projects to share and short random posts as they come to me.
especially like that you chose not call it a challenge cause that opens up a whole lotta extra pressure. looking forward to the next 30 days with you and your love affair.
Can’t wait to follow along! Looking forward to it 🙂
What a creative way to approach this!
Good for you Flora! Your “love affair” is making me feel inspired to let myself off the hook too and have fun with blogging.
Well I must say I have missed the “E” interaction since I finished Your “Bloom True” course last year…..so this is wonderful. Thank you!
Yay Flora! Big smiling, juicy wild hugging, happy dancing energy to you! May your blogging sails fly free and catch the wind. Love and joy, Karin
Your love affair is spreading through the air as dandelion seeds… into many other blogs I can see in the comments! … and into my blog too…:-) I will start to love my blog and we will see what happens… usually Magic when love is involved. Thank you for being such an inspiration!
Jenny
Flora thank you for your inspiration. I have been putting off my blog for months and months. After reading this, I am ready to kick start mine. I love the idea of 30 days. Keep it going….
Ok Flora… YOU are my mentor currently. I have taken two of your on line classes and will soon see you in Boston, MA! I, unfortunately, coordinate a Fine Art event that starts boiling over after about the third week of your class… So BOTH times I wasn’t able to stay focused for the third and fourth week. SO… This is what I plan to have a “Love Affair” with: Starting Monday ( my event is finished!), I plan on painting and blogging Mon-Fri ! It will be my Inspired by Flora Bowley blog! 5 weeks! YEEEEHAAA! YOU ARE ONE AMAZING AND INSPIRING WOMAN! I cannot wait to read your blogs daily! Hugs, Kim
Flora ,you are such a breath of fresh air,I love your idea,shall be following you.You are such an inspiration,
Well there’s syncronicity! Was reading your book in bed this morning before I got up, feeling rather flat and wondering what the day would bring. Next thing the window cleaners arrived so I have beautiful rainbows moving around my room – surley my spirits will lift, and a daily Art Journalling just has to be the way forward, so here goes! Thirty days …….now thats a challenge and we are not alone!Call of the Wild Soul is still calling….
I hereby commit my self to follow you every day
Oh love!! I too have not had a great relationship with my blog and my life went from busy to hectic in a split second. But I do love to stop by and be inspired by you. 🙂 So happy you are doing this. 🙂 You have a bunch of cheerleaders rooting you on. 🙂 Much love!
LOVE! That’s the spirit! So looking forward to seeing what you tumble into, out of, onto, over and all around discover in the next 30 moments! xx Two
Hi Flora, Love your shift in framing it a ‘love affair’!
Linked over from KRR’s facebook post! Love the inspiration from you both. Enjoy the love affair; i bet your best posts will come from it!
oh, how i love you calling it a love affair instead of a challenge. those words make such a difference!
I’ll enjoy reading your beautiful words this month most beloved you!
xoxo
An affair is a great challenge! I try to post three times a week and at least one of those days is a big reach. Love the idea of posting pictures too. You’ll love the stretch.
Love it, Flora! I’ll be reading 🙂
What a beautiful, honest post! I just discovered your blog therefore I am late by a few days -but will join right away! Thank you for the invite to join 🙂
Warm greetings from Mexico