What is Project Perseverance? Journal Entry #1 Monday 5 February 2018 New: Project Perseverance I’ve been 31 for a little over a week now. Looking back at my year as a 30-year-old, many things changed. I moved to a different country: from England to the U.S.A.! That was one overarching major change. Now that I’m in my new year and I’ve been in my new Minnesota life for five months now, I have discovered a theme in my life, one that I’ve actually noticed over the past few years, and especially now as I’ve been fighting all the battles associated with change and settling in. Photo by Disha Sheta from Pexels Not only do I need to, but I struggle to…persevere. Probably on a daily basis I want to quit something. I don’t quit, but I usually want to. Life is hard. That’s one guarantee. I am stubborn. I am trying to make changes in my life because I want to grow. When I don’t grow, I am stagnant and the pain of growth, for me, is so much better and more worthwhile of a pursuit. One area in my life where the struggle to persevere is clearly played out is in my relationship with books, reading, and writing. I love books: the smell, look, feel. I love reading! I fall in love with the characters and I love to learn. I am a writer. I regularly have narratives of thoughtful essays spinning through my mind– colourful dialogue between characters I’ve only just met darts about my imagination. Enter: Project Perseverance. I am committing to read books in their entirety, pressing on toward that last page. I am committing to read for pleasure and to read to learn. I am committing to writing regularly about each of the books I endure and enjoy in my year as a 31-year-old. I am excited to give value to how I spend my time with words. Photo by Thought Catalog from Pexels What is something that you struggle to persevere through? In what areas of your life would you like some more grit? What activities require an extra dose of encouragement for you? Sign up here for some creative encouragement regularly delivered to your email inbox. Leave me a comment, if you like!
Should you write, paint, or teach? Why I’m doing it all! Who am I? I am Molly Ovenden, a writer, visual artist, educator, and creative coach thought partner, based in northern Minnesota. Creativity has always been a part of my life, but after moving to England in 2010, I felt compelled to take creativity more seriously. After seven British years, I returned to Minnesota in 2017 with a bearded Englishman carpenter for a husband, dual citizenship in the U.S.A. and the UK, and a renewed confidence in my identity in Christ as a daughter of the King of kings who is deeply loved by my Heavenly Father, and as a writer and artist who has valuable words and beauty to share with the world. I have continued to pursue a creative life, which, as of January 2021, has become a creative career. Molly proudly posing in from of the feature wall of her exhibition at the Johnson Heritage Post Gallery in Grand Marais, Minnesota in December 2019. What inspires me? Beauty in Nature I’m fascinated by color, line, and light, and my paintings are often an exploration of how these elements all interact with each other. I love the freedom of experimentation since I cannot be in control of what actually occurs. I work mainly with acrylic paint, watercolor and felt tip pen and I am learning to experiment with an even wider range of materials, such as coffee (yup, you read that right–it’s not just for drinking in this gal’s studio!), and various recycled materials for collage and mixed media pieces. Sharing Stories: yours & mine As a writer, I also value telling stories. Not only am I intentional about how I title each painting, I love to write stories, fiction and true. Capturing what I learn from God through everyday life, I tell stories through devotionals and personal essays. The concept of how humans simultaneously live their own vibrantly intense lives intrigues me, too, so that idea is the source of my current novel and short story projects. My Students I teach online community education classes on creativity, writing, and art. My students are a constant source of inspiration. Their questions and enthusiasm propel me into consistent creativity, learning from them as well as being challenged by their different ways of thinking. Why start a blog? I am learning to love sharing my own story! As a five on the enneagram (a personality , I’ve lived in unhealthy mindsets of being overly private and hoarding the information, experience, ideas I have. Often I’ve lived in fear and scarcity–although I can live like it’s the reality, it doesn’t have to be my reality (or yours!) and I’ve realized that the more I share of myself, my creativity, what I’m learning, the more I experience abundance and overcome fear. What will I write about? What I’m learning: as an artist through exhibiting and sharing my artwork in exhibitions, cafes, galleries, and online.as a writer, and tips, ideas, inspiration for your own writing life.in my spiritual life from God and from others around me.What books I am reading, how I’m growing, developing, and healing as a lifelong learner.What I’m writing, drawing, painting, and otherwise creating and where you can find it.How I make creativity a habit, how I grow as a creative person, and ideas of how you can stay in creative growth, too.What I’m doing for self-care, from healthy eating to marathon training to sleeping well. Why do I want to write a blog? I’m a writer! I want a platform to share my writing journey. I’ve learned so much from hearing about other people’s processes and I want to give back in hopes of helping someone who’s where I have been. I want to share to encourage you toward personal growth.I want to inspire you to try new things and to live a creative life.I want to overcome my own fears and maybe, help you do the same as I share my transformation story and process.I want to create with regularity and consistency to stay accountable by sharing what I’m working on with you.Ultimately, I want to tell my story to bring freedom and hope to you in the midst of living your own story. I’m thrilled you’re on this journey with me. Leave a comment below and let me know what you’d like help with: What keeps you from pursuing creativity in your life?