I decided I won’t talk about the weather in my little Four Things preamble today.  (Although we have been having wonderful Spring weather, and I’ve been delighting in my morning walks and time in the garden.)  I’m going to share some thoughts on embracing change…

 I used to love Instagram.  It was such a fun community and an easy way to share and connect.  Once the algorithm was imposed and Meta acquired it several years ago, it slowly became less enjoyable.  You’re constantly pushed to pay to promote posts to people who already follow you, and the number of people who organically see your post continues to dwindle.  You’re flooded with ads and hardly see posts from your online friends.  And there are regular prompts telling you how to post and share, how to increase your numbers, and how to play the social media game.

I felt burned out on it a few years ago and decided to be more of a Social Media Sniper.  I’ll pop in, post what I need, answer some comments, poke around for a few minutes, and get out.  I recently realized, though, that I was missing out on the best part of social media – community and connections with like-minded people.  If I’m figuratively entering a room, shouting what I have to say, and running out the door, I’m not making or maintaining those connections, and I’m not bringing anything of substance to the community.

So, I decided to worry less about the metrics and focus on community, on the people who made Instagram enjoyable in the first place.  I suspended suggestions, so I’m just seeing people I follow and a few ads.  I’m sprinkling comments on accounts I follow and enjoy instead of just tapping a heart.  I’m responding to comments with actual words instead of just emojis.  I’m spending more intentional time there instead of committing “post and runs.”  I’m checking who started following me and, if they are sharing things I like on a public account, I’m following them in kind.   I also turn the likes off on most of my posts, so I’m not fixated on what is going well and what “bombs.”

The result?  I’m enjoying it a lot more.  I am having an experience that feels more like the old Instagram, the one I enjoyed so much.

It’s been a good lesson to me about leaning into change.  I don’t have to shrink back and step away when something changes in a way I don’t like.  I can be open to the change and possible solutions.  It’s just another way to put creativity to work.

Here are my four things for this week: Vegetables the Italian Way, stunning visuals, empty days, and a spring in my step.

what I’m reading

It’s not exactly bedtime reading, but I bought Vegetables the Italian Way with some of my birthday money, and I have loved looking through it.  There are so many recipes I want to make.  This book is right up my alley for a few reasons.  1.) I love Italian food.  It’s probably my favorite cuisine.  2.) I love eating vegetable-heavy meals.  I’ve liked vegetables since I was a kid, but I enjoy them even more as an adult and can eat entire meals of vegetables. 3.) The photography is beautiful.  I like a pretty cookbook.

what I’m watching

Jeff and I watched The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford last week (he is still on his western kick.)  I never would’ve picked that movie since westerns aren’t really my thing, but I love a good story, well-written script, and beautiful cinematography, so I gave it a try.  It really is a well-made film with top-notch acting and stunning shots.  I enjoyed watching it for the art of it.

what I’m loving

“I always forget how important empty days are, how important it may be sometimes not to expect to produce anything, even a few lines in a journal.  A day when one has not pushed oneself to the limit.  The most valuable thing one can do for the psyche, occasionally, is to let it rest, wander, live in the changing light of a room.”   – May Sarton

This reminded me of Thoreau, writing about sitting on the step of his little cottage on Walden Pond, just watching the sun move, listening to the sounds of nature, and letting time pass in apparent idleness.  I am a person who is driven by productivity.  My favorite days are when I accomplish a lot and feel satisfied with my work.  This is a good reminder to me that there is value in setting the to-do list down for the day and just experiencing stillness, slowness, and the perfect pace of nature.

what I’m working on

The big projects since last week’s Four Things were turning in the manuscript draft for the follow-up book to Move Slow & Make Things and launching Pup Club Prints and the new online shop.  So, it’s been a pretty big few days!  I feel like I have good momentum, both professionally and creatively, which is propelling me forward.  Of course, there are lots of things happening in the background…  starting on the next book (due in a little over a year), marketing for Move Slow & Make Things, painting daily, and chipping away at other possibilities.  It’s a slow, steady march, but I feel like I have a little spring in my step this week.

Reminder, or in case you missed it – If you sign up for this month’s inaugural Pup Club Print (before April 28), you’ll be entered to win an original 8 x 10 oil painting commission.  You can sign up HERE.

Here are some of my paintings from the past few days…

What have you been reading, watching, loving, and working on?