Kimberly Wilson's Blog, page 140

wednesday well-being: projects

when i woke up today i knew there were many pending projects awaiting attention. after savoring two sensory-filled days up north, it's time to settle back into the writing practice with vengeance. my hope is to have many checked boxes before the sun fades today. good news, it happens around 10pm in paris.

tackling a few projects at once can feel daunting, so i tend to break them out into workable pieces. and ensure ample tranquility tools are nearby such as tea, favorite pens, lavender oil, a candle, and water.

i begin by penning them into my daybook to help stay focused in case i find myself going down a tangential rabbit hole. hello facebook. and then i'll determine which one to tackle first based on deadlines and excitement.

although productivity experts often encourage we conquer the biggest, most complicated task first, i find myself gravitating toward smaller, quicker ones so that i can open up brain space for the others. i also try to bundle similar tasks together such as writing, email responding, or social media.

next, i'll gather all the information necessary to work on the project and hunker down with the plan of hitting a milestone such as completion, five written pages, or a thoughtful email response.

one key part of the process includes regular stretch breaks and a possible dangling carrot. for example, mine today is to take an afternoon stroll to the montparnasse monoprix {a parisian version of target} i loved so much last year to pick up gifts and postcards, clear my head, move my body, and grab a treat for tonight.

although our to-do lists can look daunting, it's helpful to break projects down into action steps and to reward ourselves along the way with a walk around the block, a favorite iced tea, or a juicy read. do you have a project routine that you love? if so, please share it in the comments.

here's to moving forward in a mindful way. bisous. x

mon anniversaire: merci

 leaving paris apartment with bottle of bubbly veuve cliquot
  took train from gare du nord to abbeville
bread with flowers baked on top
veggie quiche with edible flowers ice cream, macarons + edible flowers

moi + my beautiful host, maite at jardins de valloires in baie de somme
jardins de valloires in baie de somme
mers le bains

my hosts maite + jacques at amiens cathedral
the above pics showcase the adventure of my last two days near the normandy coast of france with two lovely souls. back to paris this evening to continue final few days of writing before returning to dc. merci beaucoup for your sweet messages honoring my 41st, it means so much. bisous. x

week in review

  peonies
favorite section of whsmith bookstore
 fleur mosaic
 nephews + le pug
week in reviewsent love note to museletter subscribersflew to paris for writing workshopyoga hosted mindfulness/self-care session at teacher retreatpenned tranquilosophy: small steps penned wednesday well-being: parispacked for paris 4 writing classes in parisannounced summer's online book club pick vegan lunch at bob's kitchenwhsmith bookstore browsing literary walking touranthology editsmani/pedi mailed paris postcardsfacetime with le beau + furry family writing class homeworkdinner + rose sipping with former dc friend hide and go seek at studio, dinner + fro yo with nephews
weekend wish listfinal paris writing classeditingreadingwritingcafe time
et toi? what's on your weekend wish list?bisous. x

tranquilosophy: small steps

as i push forward with writing projects and the exploration of a new genre, i'm reminded of the importance of small steps.

of course we all know the saying "rome wasn't built in a day," however, do we really remember that when we're trying to learn a new skill?

switching from how-to non-fiction to memoir is an exciting shift in my writing practice. there are characters, scenes, and (gasp!) dialogue. it's exciting, yet scary to find my way in another genre.

i'm taking heaps of classes, reading all i can get my hands on, and consistently striving to move the ball forward. but the funny thing is that i love learning about memoir and have not been as good about writing.

you know, like a yoga teacher who only wants to read about the poses, a painter who only wants to go to art museums, or a chef who simply likes to eat.

to move forward, we must practice. and then practice some more.

one thing i'm learning along this journey is that i must carefully carve out practice time. not just for all the courses i'm taking, but for the actual practice of putting pen to paper.

and it really is about all the small steps involved. sit in front of computer. type heading "chapter one." turn off the internet. no facebook. set the timer for 20 minutes. just write.

our lives are made up of small steps. these simple moments. precious minutes of writing that turn into product on bookstore shelves. bisous. x

wednesday well-being: paris

 pamplemousse rose + pistachio  writing space overlooking jardin de matignon  sparkly eiffel tower  love the fleur stands  parisian street airport drop off committee
bonjour from paris where well-being feels like a way of life.

scents of honeysuckle permeate my morning walk to the american university in paris for daily writing classes. i'm back for the same 5-day course i took last year and feeling grateful for the opportunity to focus on writing. and well-being.

as i lugged my suitcase up the fourth-floor walk-up upon arrival, i savored the old musty smell of the spiral staircase. as i fell asleep the first night, i swear there was still a smile on my face. and it was still there when my eyes opened the next morning. there is always a sense of delight when i return to the city of light. as if i'm rediscovering this gem for the first time.

while i've been dealing with jet lag the past few days and missing my boys back home, i'm full of gratitude for this opportunity. writing is a lonely, arduous process and it's a gift to be able to focus on the art and practice of it in such a sensory-filled city.

one well-being tip that i want to reinforce is the importance of taking time to focus on your art, whatever it is. painting, cooking, parenting, teaching, gardening, writing. what lights you up from the inside? what could grow with a little more attention?

next monday (mon anniversaire!) we're half-way through the year. contemplate how you want the rest of the year to feel and flow. carve out the space for your art over the next week and watch your inner child come out to play. it's profound what can be tapped into when given the spotlight it deserves. bisous. x