“Artist Date: A once-weekly solo expedition to explore something fun. Explore something that interests or entrances you. Artist Dates are assigned play. Plan an Artist Date ahead of time. Artist Dates are to be undertaken by ourselves, alone, with the reward of a heightened sense of autonomy. An Artist Date need not be expensive or exotic. It can be something as simple as stopping into a pet store. A favorite Artist Date of mine is a visit to a children’s bookstore. After all, our artist may be seen as an inner child. The point of the Artist Date is that it is something that feels fresh and exciting to you. The world is an adventure and we are adventurous souls.” – Julia Cameron
Two friends and I have a WhatsApp group where we occasionally pose questions of this nature. What’s been difficult? What’s been delightful? What are you reading? How have you been playing?
This summer I loosely joined a group who were reading through The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. Two things she believes deeply in are morning pages and Artist Dates.
Almost a year ago, a friend and I penciled dates on our calendar and outlined them in ink. The end of May found us flying to Florida and meeting up for a few days of magic, adventure, and fun.
I’ve believed in the power of meeting yourself for coffee for a number of years now. This vein wasn’t as much about play as the power of introspection and reflection and becoming your own friend.
Leaning in to play and embracing what brings us joy is a welcome companion to meeting yourself for coffee. It’s another step in companioning ourselves and becoming our own friend. There’s beauty in showing up to what you love. There’s freedom in no one else to please or no one along who really doesn’t want to be there.
While it hasn’t happened weekly, I’ve gone on a number of Artist Dates this year. I like the collection I’m creating. I’m still pondering and processing where it finds me. I know not everyone has the freedom or privilege to incorporate Artist Dates into their lives.
This week I motored to the city for a pedicure and an author event at Watermark Books. Both of these things are things I love and bring me delight.
“The invariable mark of wisdom is to see the miraculous in the common.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Delight is sprinkled in our days, but it takes deliberate intention. Isn’t it strange how goodness and beauty require work of us?
The miraculous in the common. Beauty in the ordinary. Play at our fingertips.
“Earth’s crammed with heaven,
And every common bush afire with God,
But only he who sees takes off his shoes;
The rest sit round and pluck blackberries.” – Elizabeth Barrett Browning
What would an Artist Date look like for you? What’s a simple way you like to play? What matters to you? What’s one thing you can add to your day and wake up with anticipation and excitement because of it?
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