Bilbo: “My dear Bagginses and Boffins, Tooks and Brandybucks, Grubbs, Chubbs, Hornblowers, Bolgers, Bracegirdles and Proudfoots.” [cheers]
Old Proudfoot Hobbit: “Proudfeet!”
[Hobbits laugh. Bilbo waves dismissively.]
Bilbo: “Today is my one hundred and eleventh birthday!”
Hobbits: “Happy birthday!”
Hobbit: “Happy birthday!”
Bilbo: “Alas, eleventy-one years is far too short a time to live among such excellent and admirable hobbits.” [cheers abound.] “I don’t know half of you half as well as I should like, and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.”
[There is a dead silence from the crowd. They gaze at each other blank-faced, trying to figure out if they were just insulted. Gandalf smiles.]
Bilbo: “I, uh, I h-have things to do.” [fidgets with the Ring behind his back. Whispers to himself] “I’ve put this off for far too long.”
Bilbo: [to the crowd] “I regret to announce — this is The End. I am going now. I bid you all a very fond farewell.” [whispers to Frodo] “Goodbye.”
Clarity
Dear Sparkles:
Other than Jesus’ farewell “My peace I leave with you, my peace I give you” (John 14:27), Isn’t Bilbo’s farewell speech just the greatest?
Please don’t be alarmed, but I, too, must make a bit of a farewell speech.
Listen: I can’t do it.
I’ve spent a whole month or more just thinking about blogging and vlogging while taking a break from them both, and I’ve realized that I just can’t do it. I can’t keep up with weekly blogging and vlogging.
These weeks have clarified for me something that I didn’t even know was an issue. You see, all the social media gurus say that you MUST create quality content that helps people, and you MUST do so on a regular basis so that the social media platforms will show your stuff to your audience so that your audience will be helped, will build rapport, and will buy your art.
I love the idea of helping people: it’s one of the reasons that makes living worthwhile to me.
I love building relationships with people: who doesn’t like having friends?
I love selling my art–my art has a mission, and I love to see it move out into the world to accomplish that mission.
So it’s not a matter of not wanting to do the things that will help you, build relationships with you, and see you blessed by what I do.
It’s just that I can’t.
It’s become obvious over time that the content I produce is not really helpful to anyone. Maybe if I keep creating content, at some point I will learn what most benefits you. So I will continue in hopes of that.
It’s also become obvious that you and I are not really building any kind of a relationship. My invitations to engage with you in conversation here on the blog or over on the YouTube channel are simply ignored: I know you’re busy and I’m just as caught up as you are in the game of scrolling to get the dopamine hit, so I understand and don’t blame you.
Lastly, my art doesn’t really minister to you. At least not enough that you want to have it in your possession. I thought at first it was the price, but I tried putting my art on cheaper items that could be purchased and that hasn’t seemed to be helpful for you either.
“I have things to do”
What I CAN do is make art. I’ve had so much fun this month just making. Making and teaching. Making and teaching and getting myself and my art out in front of you IN PERSON. It seems that that has resulted in all those goals being met: not so much the “content” portion, but the relationship building and my art blessing people so much that they exchange a small part of their life to take it home.
That’s a clear sign that perhaps trying to build an online business isn’t the best trajectory for me. That perhaps banging over and over and over again on the door of your inbox and mobile notifications is best left to those who do it well.
It’s simply not the best use of my time and energy.
I’ve Put this Off Too Long
I am learning! I really feel like I’m learning where to focus my creativity! I’ve tried for so long to “make it” here on the Internetz, but now I’m realizing it’s just not the best use of my gifts.
It takes me SO LONG to learn these things. I’m so grateful that God is very patient with me.
My creativity is not best exercised in writing. It’s not best displayed in video format.
Unlike Bilbo, I cannot say that I regret to announce this. Following the path God has clearly shown me is never something to regret. But I can say that “this is the end”. I can say it with relief and freedom and anticipation. Keep reading, though–because this may not mean what you think it means…
I’m Going Now
Yes. I’m going now.
I’m going now to focus on the things I do well.
I’m going now to get out and see people in person and share my art with them.
I’m going now to spend unhindered time creating my art without complicating that time with setting up video cameras and planning things to say that might encourage and help you (only to find it’s not really doing that at all).
I’m also going to say things when they need to be said. So when I really have something to say, I’ll still be here on the blog saying it. When I have something to share on video, I’ll still be posting over on the YouTubez. I will be posting as usual over on Insta–I’d love to have you follow me there. It’s the single best way to see what’s new with me and my creativity.
This IS NOT THE END of anything except my efforts at being something I’m not, and catering to an audience that clearly isn’t benefitting and trying to satisfy algorithms that are all about benefitting someone besides myself and my mission.
I’m not going away.
More importantly, the gallery/store is not going away. It is still here for you, and I’ll try to keep it up to date with available art, ceramics, and prints and smaller items you might enjoy purchasing.
You, however, may choose to go–to unsubscribe from the blog and the Magic News newsletter (it’s both and the same). You may find that the sporadic journal-type posts and somewhat “unprofessional” approach to store-keeping is a waste of time for you. If so, I totally understand. I hope you’ll stay in touch, maybe on Instagram where you can just pop on to see what’s happening or where I’ll be in person next, but if not, no hard feelings. If I can’t help you, if you aren’t blessed with the content here, please go find something that draws you closer to God and blesses your life and maximizes your giftings. That’s what I’ll be doing.
I’m not saying good-bye. I’m just saying “I’ll see you when I see you”.
You can be sure to find me hanging out in my princess tower in Rivendell most days, or in the marketplace where we can have a warm, in-person chat. My art will be viewable where it usually is: here in the gallery or, even better, over on Instagram–I consider instagram my “refrigerator door”, and I hang all my coloring pages and vacation Bible school creations over there so I can look at them whenever I want.
I’m still available by email and by the comment section here or on any of my social media accounts. Feel free to strike up a conversation.
I love you. Keep on looking for the music, listening for the colors, reaching out for the magic, and awakening the wonder and worship in your heart.
I’ll see you when I see you.
