“On my morning walk today, it occurred to me how difficult it was to walk and run on the red dirt of Western Australia.
Nature trails here in the Perth hills are slightly treacherous: hard and dry and uncompromising. Covered in tiny little slippery round pea-sized bits of rock. You need good shoes, and you need to pay attention.
It’s not easy to walk when the ground is shifting beneath us. We have to adapt second by second.
And yet … when we look at the bigger picture of our lives, haven’t we been doing JUST that? Haven’t we adapted, even as the ground seemed to be shifting beneath us?
Learning to walk. Going to school. Leaving home. First kiss. First heartbreak. First job. First child. Travelling. Dealing with Unbelievably Sad Things. Seeing Unimaginably Beautiful Things. Learning to dance or paint or repair a broken life. Surviving, when we thought we couldn’t.
The ground shifts. We adapt. We let go of our old selves every single time and become something just a little different.
Our lives are a tangle of new experiences and old learnings, past regrets and bold new moves. I mention regrets cos there are a TON of things I wish I’d had the wisdom or discipline NOT to do, but I know this:
I have NEVER regretted doing something that took me COURAGE to do. Never.”
***
I wrote those words eleven months ago, at the start of 2019. And now, two years later, as I look back on the Year of Covid – The Year of C – I am struck by how much 2020 felt like we were collectively walking on shifting ground.
For some of us, that ‘shifting ground’ was quicksand. Unimaginable suffering on a world-wide scale. For others, it was less dramatic.
For all, it was a Year of another C-word: Courage.
Living in Perth, Western Australia, I was spared the widespread sickness and death that Covid-19 brought. (Living in the biggest state in the world, in the most isolated city in the world, on the biggest island in the world, has its advantages!)
But spared or not, my heart was with the millions who lost loved ones, health or livelihoods as this pandemic spread. And my heart broke for my brothers and sisters in other lands, as I watched fragmentation caused by political turmoil, morgues spilling over with dead bodies, and the despair and rage of the oppressed.
Then, as Black Lives Matter protests spread around the world, eventually reaching Perth, I re-examined my own beliefs and behaviours, had many meaningful, thought-provoking conversations … and resolved to do better in my own life.
I also marvelled at the other growing pandemic that was finding its way around the world and onto my street – a contagion of Kindness and Compassion. From frontline workers risking their lives, to neighbours supporting each other with food and friendship, it was rare and beautiful to be part of a collective change in consciousness. All of us, every human, for a brief time in history, shared a common experience. We smiled more at strangers. We valued each casual conversation with a neighbour. And for the most part, we were kinder.
So 2020 was also the Year of Compassion.
And … I made a lot of art. Judging by the empty shelves in the local art stores, so did everyone else: 2020 was a Year of Creativity! There seemed to be many more hours in the day. With my studio workshops on pause, I was able to spend my time making art with no agenda, no plan, no haste. Those unusual, quiet months were less difficult for me as an introvert, than for many others – at times, they were a bit of a gift for a creative.
I even surprised myself by filming my own videos (without the usual help of a team + lights + equipment) and made a small free painting course, intriguingly titled (even if I say so myself!), The Blob and Brayer Project. My tech-challenged mind was definitely helped along by the presence of my beautiful daughter, Mary, who came home from England just in time to miss Covid in the UK. Her fabulously-timed return also meant she could help me edit those videos in a fraction of the period it would have taken me on my own! You can access this free mini painting e-course over here.
My studio workshops eventually resumed in with full vigour, with much joy and laughter. I LOVED having beautiful, brave people back in my studio and witness their surprise as they made gorgeous art! (Here are my classes in 2021. January classes are fully booked, and Feb is heading that way, so be quick). I also began a new private, one-on-one Creative Mentorship Programme, for a more intimate, bespoke experience. (First term is full up, but do email me info@maliniparker.com to enquire about April commencement.)
In 2020, I cleared the understory of my forest. I have over three thousand square metres of jarrah and marri forest, most of it carrying a HUGE fuel load in an understory that was choked with weeds, dead leaves and highly flammable detritus. With the help of friends, family and students, multiple borrowed rakes and hoses and SEVEN burnoffs, I can now walk through my forest for the first time, and feel the earth breathing beneath my feet.
The clearing of my forest understory held many metaphors. Not coincidentally, this was also the year that I worked with a psychologist to clear and make sense of some of the demons of my childhood. It was powerful work, and I’m beyond grateful to him for his kindness and skill and insight. A good therapist is invaluable. Most of us had very imperfect childhoods and expend a lot of energy emotionally tripping ourselves up from the life-long patterns that emerged from them. I know I certainly have.
And so, 2020 became my Year of Clearing.
And finally, a Year of Connection: Through local community groups on Facebook, I received help when I needed it most, got to know some people in my neighbourhood, and even acquired a couple of gorgeous handbags! I even took part in a gentle, low-key street party just outside my house, once social distancing restrictions ended. There are some good people out there, and it felt wonderful to meet the folk who share my slice of the world. And in the last days of December, I had the audacity to invite myself into my sister’s end-of-year family vacation break on the beautiful south-west coast of Australia. If that wasn’t naughty enough, I asked if Mary could come too! We had a marvellous few days together, united by our love and kinship, masses of hair (or lack of it 🙂
As we look back on 2020: The Year Of C, let’s find beautiful things to be grateful for, no matter forces shaped our world.
And as we look forward to the new year ahead, let’s resolve to make it a good one. We cannot avoid adversity, but we can make very good lives out of challenging circumstances. The best way I’ve found to do this is to magnify every Tiny Good Thing that happens: every sweet moment, every friendship made, every beautiful conversation, every juicy colour we add to our palette.
2021 can be made of whatever we choose to focus on. Let’s make it a beautiful, textured, layered piece of art.
With all my love,
Malini x
PS If you would like support over the course of 2021, I highly recommend Your Year of Miracles mentorship programme, which is commencing in mid January. I’ve been part of this programme for years, and have learned a great deal from the kind, wise and helpful mentorship of Marci Schimoff and her co-facilitators. They have some free resources available right now for a short time that you can access here, and a fabulous year-long mentorship that changed my life.
“When all your desires are distilled,
you will cast just two votes,
to love more, and be happy.”
– Hafiz
www.maliniparker.com
Comments 24
Fantastic blog Mal, you captured the essence of 2020 with insight, joy, sympathy & hope. Thank you muchly
Yvonne
Author
Thank you Yvonne! 2020 was a TRICKSY little year to capture. Writing this pushed me to really focus on those Tiny Good Things, until I realised they weren’t so tiny after all. I’m glad you enjoyed it. I really appreciate your friendship and support. Happy 2021!
Happy New Year & Thank you for your musings, a great blog.
I love the last photo with the sun rays, that would make an awesome painting.
God bless see you soon xx
Author
Happy New Year to you too, Maxine! Glad you liked the musings and the image… taken in my forest during one of the burnoffs! Happy New Year to you too! Xx
Wonderful blog and I love how you wove the journey together.
Author
Hi Sandra, the year certainly presented some challenges – “weaving” and otherwise!! But I’m grateful and honoured that you enjoyed my slice of the world and I hope you have a meaningful and beautiful 2021!
Happy New Year Malini, wishing you all the best for this year. Your pictures look so happy as we are in lockdown in cold Blighty.
Best wishes Claire
Author
Hello Claire, I thought about it a few hundred times… sharing my year meant perhaps reminding some of my readers in other countries less fortunate, Covid-wise, of freedoms they have lost, and I was concerned about this. I hope it lifted your heart and helped you look forward with hope. Everything passes. Some things take a bit longer. Happy 2021!
Hear Hear. I could have almost written this myself. . . . (surprise, surprise :)) I too, am in the fortunate position of being isolated from all the Covid associated devastation here in the Territory, but watching it all unfold for the rest of the world gave me massive anxiety and adverse affects of my intense empathy for everyone that was experiencing (and still) trauma. I had to everyday actively go searching for space in gratitude for my own fortune . . . .the outcome? Super creativity.
Author
Hello newly acquired cuz/kindred spirit! So glad your creativity was a sanctuary for you. I believe living in the remote isolation of Alice Springs is quite a feat in itself so I’m so glad Covid spared you additional challenges. It’s been wonderful discovering you… another “C” to add to my Year of C: Cool Cousin!
Love your newsletters
Author
Thank you Cheryl! I love that you read them!! Happy 2021! X
Beautiful post Musmu!
Looks like it was actually a wonderful year- so good to look back on all the things and see the lessons and bless’in’s- you achieved SO MUCH!
I’m going to try to look back and do that too
Author
So glad it’s inspired you to do that, Rachel. This post took me much longer than most… and actually disappeared off my computer 5 times, in an un-retrievable way!! Clearly, the Universe wanted me to work at it 🙂 It wasn’t an easy year to reflect on, but Tiny Good Things are to be found everywhere, and the more we examine them, the bigger they become. Perhaps that’s why I had to write it 5 times, haha!!You and your munchkins were part of the love, and I’m so grateful for that. xx
As always, a wonderful read. And I’m looking forward to doing your Blob and Brayer Project when I find some time to be creative!
Author
You are one of the most creative people I’ve ever met, Carmel, in a million different ways! So I hope you make the space for your amazing gifts and talents to be expressed even more in paint, as the world needs your creations! Much love xxx
Love the heart you instil in words. Beautifully captured reflection of a significant year for us all.
Author
Thank you for those warm sentiments, Helma my dear. So much love to you xx
Beautifully written. A wonderful take on a difficult year
Author
Thank you so much! So grateful for the people we got to share it with, that made it full of love and support! Xx
Loved your perspective on the year 2020. Every cloud has a silver lining, if we’re willing to look for it. Best wishes for 2021.
Author
So true – we must be willing to look for it, or all we see are the clouds… sometimes it’s hard to see past them! Feels like my glasses need adjusting, haha!!
Thanks for your kind words, Vimla and Happy 2021 to you too!
A beautiful and nourishing read Malini, thank you x
Author
Thank you for your warm words, Marie! Xx