I have done a thing...

I've been gradually feeling an increasing pull to spend more time feeding? training? indulging? my creative side. If you've been reading, you've noticed before now, and probably before I did.
So here's the plan: I am going to quit making excuses for why I don't have time to take care of myself. I've made great strides getting my health under control, and meeting my body's needs for proper nutrition. I've taken care of my back, which has been a major project. I've cultivated friendships that have made a tremendous difference in my life. I've gone back to school, which I generally love, although the present class is not what I would have chosen. And all of these things have fed some need in me, physically, spiritually, emotionally, whatever.
But what I haven't fed is my need to make creative things. I've always dabbled at a lot of different things: crocheting, a little sewing, occasional painting (abstract, of course, realism's too hard), scrapbooking, photography, and of course we all already know about the bad poetry. I got a little ego bump last year when Relevant online published an article I wrote, and when it was reprinted by another denomination in their print magazine, and I will continue writing. But I need to make things with my hands. I always have. And so I'm going to start making time to do that.
So tonight I took a big step. I opened an Etsy shop, and there's already a few photos listed. I'm not saying they're even all that good, but they're mine. And I've got a collage or two already coming together in my mind, and a little sewing project to work on this weekend. This is good for me. I don't care if I never sell anything (although I'd be thrilled if I did), but I need the outlet, and I need a way to share it, and maybe, just maybe, I'll do something someone likes and at least subsidize my habit.
Wanna see? There's a link in the sidebar.
No pressure, though. It's just something I need to do. We'll see how it turns out.