Leading up to the holidays was a very fun time at common art, of making festive art and talking about plans and memories. Having these things to look forward to helped create an uplifted spirit in the community, even with the weather getting colder. Coming back after the holidays, however, I could definitely feel a slump among everyone in the community. Many of our staff and volunteers were away last week and will be away for a little while for varying reasons. COVID also hangs very heavily over me and the community at this time. So, I felt a little overwhelmed, in addition to feeling that lull myself, I also felt that I had to make myself bigger and have more energy to fill the spaces that were now empty. I know these coming months will be a challenge to bring excitement and art making to our community because of the winter lull.

Last Wednesday Program Director Mary gave me permission to set the bar lower for myself that day. I had told her how I felt a little stressed by the absence of our volunteers. I hadn’t realized that there was another option other than trying to fill up all those spaces myself! While I have had many amazing days at common art, sometimes it is hard to remember that it is OK to not be amazing every day. It is OK to recognize the energy that you have available and adjust the work you present yourself according to that level. Although in these coming months I want to work to uplift the community and help everybody push through these winter blues, I also want to recognize that I, too, am pushing through those feelings. Progress isn’t always big breakthroughs, sometimes it’s just being able to make it through another day with little bits of joy with friends. Sometimes progress is making a big exciting mural, but sometimes progress is just creating anything at all. Even more importantly, progress can be just being there.

– Marielle Carpentier