on my to-stop-doing list today

spending a considerable amount of time and energy stressing out over things that I swore I would never worry about, such as elementary report cards, feed subscribers and body shape.

saying yes to unnecessary obligations and tasks that keep my focus away from what I really love and enjoy doing.

believing that I must work a certain number of hours each day (and make a certain amount of money each month) to feel legitimate as a writer and photographer.

thinking about that screenplay, and actually write it.

being so serious.

some things that are helping:

take that nap by Lisa Baldwin

remembering your genius. the artist in you. by Bindu Wiles

the simplest diet for lean fitness by Leo Babauta

and Sir Ken Robinson, always.

Comments

[Xanthe]

Oh Ken! He is our hero. Happy Saturday x.

[Brenda]

Irene,

Oh, yes. we all need a "To-Stop-Doing" list. To think about those things that are holding us back and to let them go.

I just launched my own blog. I find myself obsessively checking to see if anyone has left comments; checking the number of feed subscribers; checking my Flickr stats for number of views - as if comments or views will change my words or my phtographs into something else; something better; something more worthy. Precious time I could be spending actually BEING creative.

Thank you for reminding us of what is really important.

[anghjula]

Of course You need to make a certain amount of money each month to live, but certainly not to feel legitimate as a writer and photographer. I really don't know how much I earn as an author. But the truth is that I don't care. I can assume each of my works. They just part of me, as the imperfect body I'am. I really Know what to do to sell in mass production. But I don't care. Some works are too intimate to suffer alteration. It's my publisher's job to make mass production, not mine. The truth is that I AM AN ARTISAN, I'm not a tradesman. I really think as an artisan when I wrote, when I paint, when I sew... when I create. You really need to be independent when you create. And independence is the first source of your pride as a creator. The smile of the bride at the last trying on, the eyes of the child on my images, or his parent's on my words... these are main parts of my satisfaction as a professional, the reasons why I'm still keeping on doing my job. But I would keeping on doing what I love even if it could not allow me to saying it "my job". We are really lucky to do what we really love and enjoy doing; Just think your life as a work of art...

[Marilyn]

i'm all for the to-stop-doing lists. in fact, plan to incorporate a lot more of them into my life. ;)

[echo]

A to-stop-doing list would be SO great for me right now. I never thought about writing one up...I could put it next to the to-do list that's on my fridge.

[Michelle E.]

your list was the perfect reminder of all the things i need to stop doing and / or give up too... thanks for that...