Living in Canada, and having four seasons is pretty friggin’ great. I love having the opportunities to experience a wide variety of outdoor activities, without having to travel too far. I virtually have it all at my fingertips! However, what I’m finding to be a bit challenging, is the transition from winter into spring and summer. I’m not sad winter is over. In fact, I’m unexplainably excited for what the spring and summer months hold for me, in terms of adventure and outdoor time. That simple fact is what has me frantically writing these thoughts down. I’m excited for summer adventures, so why am I having such a hard time getting motivated to get out of pursue these adventures that have my mind abuzz and thrill-seeking senses tingling? I see other people getting out and enjoying the things that early spring has to offer. Why am I having such trouble doing the same? Prime example, Matt is away on a fishing trip with his guy friends. I have all this free time to myself. Why am I not out enjoying the fact that I’m not having to share water with anyone? Why am I not enjoying a hike, just my dog and I? Perhaps it’s got to do with my newfound love for watercolour painting. I spent most of the winter months drawing and painting. Which I happen to think is a wonderful thing. My mind was beginning to feel a bit stale. The drawing aspect of things was really helpful in stimulating my brain. The painting side of things was just a super freeing and therapeutic element. Especially when using watercolours. I’ve always been super into acrylics. However, with watercolour, I find you have a lot more control and can layer the colours to add depth to your subjects. Watercolours are definitely my new favourite. Though, I’ve got an old pile of gouache that I’ve been threatening to dig out, so who knows where this road of paints will take me. The most appealing part of painting, to me, is that I get to take what I see while I’m outdoors, and put my own interpretations and spin on things. I can attempt for a lifelike take on a particular idea. Or I can try a more abstract approach. It’s mood-dependant for me. It’s really been an eye-opening realization, this art stuff. I guess it’s the same with anything. Writing, hiking, biking, fishing. If your mind isn’t focused, and your heart isn’t in it, it simply doesn’t feel right. It doesn’t feel true and honest. It’s not organic. I cannot force myself to sit down and write. I can’t tell myself that it’s time to sit down to create another little tiny piece of art. I can’t make myself go outside, when my mind, heart and soul just aren’t feeling it. It’s sad to say, but sometimes I’m just not in the right frame of mind for any of my favourite things. Sometimes I get in a slump. A rut of sorts. Some are easier to overcome than others. I guess it’s hard to sit in your rut, while you scroll through a feed of everyone’s best adventure moments, feeling terrible that you’re not out there doing something. I always feel like I should be moving. Doing something that has a purpose, or that will give me a sense of accomplishment once it’s complete. Then I wonder why I give myself such a hard time and compare myself to others. It’s the same with anything you do. When you finish writing the blog post, you’ll feel accomplished. When you summit the mountain, you’ll feel that sigh of relief. When you land that fish, you’ll feel complete. And when you put the final brush stroke on that painting, you’ll feel whole. Everything has its time and place. So, I guess what I’m trying to tell you, and myself, is to not feel guilty about the things you enjoy. If it’s a beautiful day outside, but you feel inspired to stay inside and paint, don’t feel guilty. If you enjoy it, if it makes your soul happy, don’t feel guilty about it.
MAL CRISPO 