April 12, 2016 – Like potatoes on Mars

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I’m part of a coaching group – there are 6 of us, all women, whose intent it is, to make an impact in a purposeful way with our work. We are each building businesses – we’re heeding a call, to make real in the world, the work of our hearts. We are led and guided by our beloved coach, Lissa Boles. We also guide and en-courage each other, with thoughtful feedback and reflections of our own. The weekly meetings of this group of women foster my evolution as a person, in addition, to supporting the unfolding of my work – my business, as it becomes real in the world.

Through my time with this group, I’ve also come to understand that what I’m up to, goes well beyond transferring the skills of painting in watercolor. I love watercolor, I love to make these paintings and to share with others, what I have learned about how it works – with the water, the paint and the paper. And I see, that there’s something else that’s more distinctly me, that I bring as I teach. I am a guide for the inner and outer process of becoming an artist, a creator. I didn’t set out to do this, but as time has gone on and as I’ve been witness to hours and hours of artists making paintings, something in me, has had me pay attention to what we say and how it is for us (me included), as we do what we do. This has given me a way to hold artists and their work, and talk about their process, that normalizes the challenges we go through.

More than a dozen years ago, I was in a session with Donna, (that is My Donna) at a time when I was still working in San Francisco, in the tech world. I told her that getting on the bus to go to San Francisco, felt like slamming my body against a concrete wall. I wanted to do anything, that would keep me from having to commute and attend meetings about things that I no longer cared anything about. I told her I had thought I might become a bookkeeper. I was doing the books for my hubby’s company, so maybe I could do it for others too. She told me I was up to other things. She said I was a teacher, and suggested I look into the website (www.thecoaches.com) of a life coach training company, that another client had told her about. I went home and looked it up. It turns out The Coaches Training Institute is headquartered right here in San Rafael. Reading the curriculum, I said to myself, “this is so me!” I had never felt this at home in any kind of work before.

At the end of the coach training and leadership program that I did afterwards, I was pretty much paralyzed at the thought of creating a practice as a life coach. What I realize now, is that though I loved all that I learned, I needed a vehicle for these conversations – an activity, a process that was real and had tangible results. After Shannon Brown hounded me long enough, I tiptoed out and gathered a group of five artists in September of 2011, to “paint together.” It’s clear to me now, that both my love of watercolor painting and the “in my bones” coach in me , who looks at the whole person in front of me, and all aspects of their life – pretty much all the time – have been combined to give me work, that I feel born to do. What has ultimately come of all this, is the creation of a special environment, that feeds creative expression – specifically in the form of watercolor painting.

Last Friday was the opening reception, for a solo show, of the work of Susie Rosenberg – one of the artists who came that first day in 2011. She has a show of 15 or so of her gorgeous watercolors, on display this month. Walking in to see so many of her paintings gathered all in one place, was a thrill for me. And she was beaming. I’m so glad that a whole bunch of her fellow artists from our groups, came to share in the celebration too. As she introduced me to people in her life at the reception, she called me her “inspiration.” But I take no credit for the energy-filled, inventive, and refined work she’s done. These ideas came through Susie, and it was her hand on the brush, for every square inch of painting. But what I do see, is that the environment that has come to me to create, has supported her evolution as an artist. And just like the old “lead a horse to water…” no one can make anyone paint, but us. She’s dedicated herself to her work; she’s missed very few weeks over the 4 and-a-half years, and she has painted as much as possible, in-between our weekly sessions. This has played an enormous part in the development of her work, and the number of paintings she has to show.

Last year’s movie “The Martian”, with Matt Damon is coming to mind. I love the scene when he goes into the greenhouse he’s built, to find his first sprouted potato plant. (Near the end of this clip…) As he touches it gently, he says “hey there” to the little sprout – the only other living thing on the planet. Nothing grows on Mars, so he had to create the right environment, including compost for the soil (from packets of his fellow astronauts poop), and water (from burning hydrogen). Whether or not the science in this movie is accurate, it tells a great story about creating an environment that fosters life,.

For the most part, the “normal” world isn’t as in-hospitable to creative expression, as Mars is to growing plants, but – providing an eco-system for our creative lives, does play a part in what we create – which sometimes has a sizable impact. There are some, in our group, who say there’s no way they can paint at home, because of distractions and other challenges, so the time to paint and be supported, and in the company of like-hearted artists is treasured.

I believe that the work that is in us, has a life of its own. The impetus to paint comes from mysterious sources. And what we paint does too – our art chooses us. But just as potatoes won’t sprout on Mars without the help of an astronaut botanist, our painting lives thrive when they are fertilized and watered – by the structure of a commitment, the freedom of full permission, and an enthusiastic rooting section of those who care about us and our work.

I’m guessing that when we all gathered in 2011, Susie didn’t imagine herself standing in a gallery space surrounded by her artwork on the walls – for sale! Just as I never imagined that I was heading down the path to my life’s work, as I tiptoed out to lead them that day. But does the potato sprout know it will grow bushy and tall, and create big round roots filled with energy, that sustain others up the food chain? Sometimes we do set out to accomplish specific goals, but sometimes – and I think often times – just putting ourselves where there is enough nourishment, water and sunlight, ends up creating a life that we couldn’t have ever imagined.

With my gratitude and love,

Cara