"Who Moved My Cheese?"
Dee Short - 4/22/13
The theme of the very first(!) Support Sistahs workshop on April 14th was "Who Moved My Cheese?" a silly title from a less than silly book about the inevitable changes in life, and how we respond to and cope with them. Here’s a fun little YouTube cartoon that will give you the gist of the story: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDNhEYpBPbY
My Cheese Story.
One view of my office from the doorway
My kitchen (aka crafting) table
I am self-employed and work out of an office in my apartment. It’s a big office, but it also serves as my crafting space, with the kitchen doing double-duty as well. If you craft, you know how supplies can quickly overtake your environment. I am now at critical mass. The most frustrating part is that the clutter and awkward spaces makes it difficult for me to be creative and enjoy my hobbies. Worse, I’ve been feeling overwhelmed and depressed.
The apartment on the third floor of my house is vacant. It’s been vacant off and on since I’ve lived here (11 years this July). It’s small, with a bedroom, living room, kitchenette and bath. About three years ago, I thought to move my office up there, but like Hem in the story, I was afraid–mostly of the added expense. In a bad economy, it seemed foolish.
Instead, I daydreamed longingly about what I could do if I had the space: I could set up a paper cutting station, a die cutting station, a sewing station; I would have ample shelving for all my stamp sets and storage for my vast collection of papers and punches; my kitchen table would be free of clutter. Organization and room to spread out and create! I could invite friends over and teach them fun techniques. I could share what I love doing! And I could finally set up an Etsy store, which has been a dream for about a year.
Another benefit: by freeing up my current office, I could de-clutter the rest of my house! But I waited too long, and the apartment was rented to a couple relocating from Florida. The good news: they were only staying a few months, just until they bought a house. The bad news: it took them almost two years. But now they are gone and the space is free. What to do? What to do?
What to do?
Before the workshop, 'what to do' was basically the same as always: nothing. Well, nothing coupled with dreaming. The Support Sistahs validated that I needed, as Mary pointed out, “A Room of One’s Own.”* A place to regroup, exhale and indulge in soul-nurturing creativity. I told Ann it was to be my ‘girl cave’, and she thought it needed a better name. Jokingly I said, "Dee Wee’s Playhouse" but maybe that’s it!
What did I do?
A rough layout of my new space
The day after the workshop, fortified with energy and conviction, I negotiated with my landlord and acquired the space for more than 50% off what he could rent it for. This provided another boost of energy, because in the past I would’ve been terrified to try negotiating. But I found the ‘win-win’ and went for it! I fixed the move-in date at June 15th, to give myself time to get moved and organized (with the help of Ann, space organizer extraordinaire!).
Who Moved My Cheese?
During the workshop, Cheryl asked which of the four characters I felt I was. Good question! (If you haven’t watched the video, now would be a good time.) As I looked at the list of characters and their responses to finding and losing the cheese, I realized that at any given time, I have been–and no doubt will be again– all of them. In the context of my desire for creative space, first I was like Hem, afraid of what would happen if I tried something new. But now I would have to say I’m like Haw, who put this writing on the wall: What would you do if you weren’t afraid?
Sistahs, I have to admit that I’m a little afraid. It’s a risk and it’s a bit scary. But I am way more excited, because I believe in myself enough to know that if I work hard and stay focused, it will lead me to new cheese, better cheese, and maybe even some wine and crackers to go with it!
I hope to see you on May 19th for our second Support Sistahs workshop, "Eating the Elephant".
*a novel by Virgina Woolf