Circular Time

In celebration of meandering and returning.

Hello, friends -

My birthday was on a Tuesday this year. Which might sound like a bummer, but I was born on a Tuesday so it felt a bit like an official return to the start. I also had zero meetings, time to ease in with coffee and my sketchbook, and I finished writing an article for my day job that I felt good about (which is always a relief). In the evening, I got to play music with friends and enjoy my favorite ice cream. (Salted caramel from Purple Door! If you’re in Milwaukee, I highly recommend getting Purple Door ice cream in a freshly made waffle cone!)

It was basically a day where I got to do a grown-up version of all the stuff I’ve loved to do since I was a little kid: draw, write, play music, eat ice cream, be with people I love. This is really all I want for myself for the rest of my life.

Here is my drawing from the day:

Sometimes I get weird and wistful on my birthday. But this year felt different. Lately, I’ve been feeling more at home in my life. I think (or at least hope) that it’s because I’m doing a better job of not waiting to be happy until I achieve X or Y. It’s tempting to think… if only I get this job, or finish this project, or live in this place… then I’ll have arrived! Life can begin! I’ll have made it!

But there is no moment of arrival. Unless you count the moment we show up here on Earth. In which case, we’ve all already arrived! What a relief, let’s just try to enjoy ourselves, shall we?! (If only it were that easy!)

The concept of seasons and feeling more connected to circular time has been recurring topic for me as I’ve come to terms with the (obvious!) fact that life isn’t one grand march of consistent growth. It’s more complicated and uneven. More seasonal and unpredictable. With all that in mind, I strung together this poem throughout the day:

Circular Time

This life is not linear
my years grow uneven
meandering…

trying to teach me
to stop fighting my reflection
and embrace the rhythm of
returning…

the ebb of the tide
the flow of circular time

In the weeks that followed, I turned it into this:

Thanks for reading!

In case you missed it, last week I shared In Awe of Opposing Feelings.

xoxo,
Sheri

P.S. At the end of the month (which is soon!), I’m sharing ALL my August art downloads in one tidy post for paid subscribers. If you want printable goodies, upgrade to a paid subscription!