art nurture
  • home
  • about
    • contact
  • my book
    • the simple guide bonuses
  • work with court
    • 1-on-1 Creativity Cultivation Sessions
    • The Cultivators Community
    • Art School
  • kind words
  • Free
  • Asheville Workshops




 

 
​

Want to receive weekly tips on cultivating your creativity?
Join the Art Nurture Newsletter!
sign me up!

That moment in your creative process where you are so close to finishing, but you are completely exhausted.

10/9/2014

12 Comments

 

If you've read my book, Art Nurture: The Simple Guide to Cultivating Your Creativity, then you know I have trained for and run a marathon. 

I don't go into great detail in Art Nurture about the story of my training season and that fateful day known as Race Day, but those who were present have heard the story and saw me on my journey. 

I'll give you the readers digest version. I had an amazing training season. I was on track to hit my goal. Not a injury, not an illness, not even sore! My recovery runs were going well from my long days and all was lining up better than I could have anticipated going into race day. 

Then race day arrived and I awoke to something unexpected.

I was feeling off. It wasn't anxiety. Nope. It was the onset of a bug of some kind. I had a fever. Not a bad one (at first), but a little itty bitty slight one.

And, yes, I ran anyway.

I had literally trained for TWO YEARS to get to this day! I wasn't going to let anything stop me from this. It had taken so much mental resiliency already. 

DISCLAIMER: I do not in anyway endorse this choice for anyone else.

It was the best of times and it was the worst of times. 

In fact, I was off my time and my race the entire 26.2 miles. It was not pretty in any way, shape, or form. My mind and I had it out. We had conversations. Novels. Fights. We made promises to each other that we never intended to keep. 

And I'll be honest with you... even though I didn't actually feel ok for any of the 26 miles of that race, it was the .2 at the end that was the real kicker. 

It's that moment when you pass the 26 Mile Marker sign and you still can't see the finish line, because it's around the corner, and you still have 352 Yards left to run! 

That is the length of three and a half soccer fields plus 6 feet! 

I was feeling rough, but I knew I was almost done. 

The crowd is getting thicker along the edges of the race railing and you're searching for your cheering section. When all of a sudden, I see my little group. They have signs with my name on them. There was nice usage of glitter glue and bold markers. They are jumping up and down and screaming my name. 

All of a sudden, as ragged-y as I had been the whole race, I picked up my pace and began sprinting as fast as I could. I heard one friend say, "How is she doing this?!" And then she started running along the sidelines with me until I crossed the finish line. 

It took me an hour longer than I thought it would.  

 I learned a lot that day that has served me 
in my creative life well. 

I learned that I was stronger in my mind than I thought.

I learned that I was capable of more than I thought. 

I learned that, really no one would have judged me for stopping running that day. Really everyone would have understood. There is no judgement. Nothing to prove. 

I learned that the "cheering section" of your life is extremely important. Especially when what you are pursuing is really challenging and takes a long time and makes you really tired. It's good to have good folks in your corner. 

I learned that that day only happened because of two years of focused, dedicated, unwavering commitment and training. I had to show up. And show up I did. 

Also, I learned that good running shoes and socks are worth the investment. 

I definitely don't believe everyone has to run a marathon to learn this stuff. It was just a part of my journey. 

But having an A+ cheering section in your corner, when you are completely exhausted, yet so close to completion of your creative endeavors...

...priceless.

In fact, it's a total game changer. I can also say, as I approach the one year anniversary of the release of Art Nurture: The Simple Guide to Cultivating Your Creativity, that my A + Cheering Section was fully present for that as well. 

I learned a lot about myself, projects, working with others, and allowing others to help. 

I learned so much about the magic that happens when you let your community take part. 

All that to say, I'm feeling pretty sentimental these days and feeling pretty grateful for my cheering section.

  When you hit that moment in your creative process when you are so close to finishing, but you are completely exhausted, let your cheering section know. 

They'll help you dig deep. 

Those are the folks that believe in you and they want to make you glitter posters.

We don't do this stuff alone. 

Picture

 My heart with Art Nurture has always been to cultivate creative community and that is what has been naturally growing through the years here.

Right now the BETA round of Art Nurture's Cultivators Community is happening and it is amazing! Make sure to get on the newsletter list and find out about plans for the 2015 Cultivators Community when it becomes available. 

Art Nurture is about being fully alive and living life with the soul of an artist. A life filled with passion, intention, and purpose. Thanks so much for your time and your presence.
 
Cultivate & Nurture, 
Court McCracken

p.s. I've got something special I'm working on for you for the one year anniversary of Art Nurture: The Simple Guide to Cultivating Your Creativity so make certain to jump on the newsletter list to receive it!

12 Comments
victoria link
11/19/2014 07:40:27 am

Hello Court, congratulations on making it through the finish line! It must have been super satisfying to see the fruit of your hard work become reachable. The best of it all was your unwavering commitment to your goal... you could have easily said "I'm sick!" but you didn't. Thank you for sharing your story with us :)

Reply
Court link
12/23/2014 03:36:46 am

Victoria,
Thank you so much for taking the time to hang out here at Art Nurture and to listen to my story. We each have our own "marathons" in our lives...you know, those seemingly unattainable finishes...May you finish your challenges with commitment and satisfaction!

Reply
Belinda Whelan link
11/19/2014 10:20:02 am

This is a really beautiful reminder to me to ensure I complete what I start. Sometimes I get in the habit of starting different projects and never completing. Thank you for helping me remember the feeling of completion. It really is one of the best feelings to work towards a goal and tick it off.

Reply
Court link
12/23/2014 03:38:14 am

Belinda~I love talking about starting something and I also love demystifying the "process" of bringing that thing to completion. Sometimes we don't finish because the process is challenging or seemingly impossible. It's important to know that Process is where it's at and that finishing is possible. Even if it's not pretty, it feels so good!

Reply
nichole link
11/20/2014 12:58:22 am

This post was just what I needed Court! There's no feeling in the world like the one you get when crossing the finish line of literally anything. Seeing things through, challenging yourself to grow. I'm loving it. Thanks for the reminder.

Reply
Court link
12/23/2014 03:39:33 am

Nichole~ You are so welcome! I feel like I always run across the encouragement when I need it most too and am always grateful for others sharing their stories with me as well. I hope whatever process you are in right now, you dig deep and see it through : )

Reply
Beth link
11/20/2014 02:01:33 am

Wow, what amazing perseverance. Lots of great lessons in that experience for sure.

Reply
Court link
12/23/2014 03:41:01 am

Beth~ I have to say that running the marathon taught me more valuable lessons on finishing my art than I could have ever imagined. It really pushed me to the next level in my creative experience and taught me so much about process. The stamina built through that endeavor definitely spilled over into all other areas of life.

Reply
Silvia link
11/20/2014 12:41:04 pm

What an accomplishment! You did it Court. I can't even imagine running a marathon and have no aspiration to do so...but so admire those who can and do. You deserve a cheering squad and YES YES YES, it makes all the difference even when it's not a marathon.

Reply
Court link
12/23/2014 03:42:46 am

Silvia~ Absolutely! We each have our own "marathons" in our lives. It is going to look different for each person. I don't know that I will do it again, but I am very glad for the experience and what it taught me about needing a cheering section and also finishing something even when the process was not too pretty. The lessons learned from that experience have spilled over into all other areas of my life and I am deeply grateful for them.

Reply
Anne link
11/21/2014 08:23:00 am

This is so inspiring! You're right- I often power through not reaching out to help when it's right there for me. I'll reach out to my cheering section for some love the next time around!

Reply
Court link
12/23/2014 03:44:05 am

Absolutely, Anne! The cheering section is clutch! You've gotta have those folks in your life and you've gotta plug into them and the resource of support they provide when you are thinking of giving up. I love my cheering section so much, I cannot even express it in words.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Art Nurture Book Trailer


    Get The Book! 

    Art Nurture: The Simple Guide to Cultivating your Creativity

    Get to know me


    Court McCracken,
    Creativity Cultivator

    Picture

    To receive more Art Nurture goodness, join the Art Nurture newsletter!

    * indicates required


    Kind Words

    "Court has a knack for supporting others in tuning into the artist within..." 
    -Rebecca Stares

    read more kind words

    Resources


    Court's Reading List


    Most Popular


    The Top 17 Reasons Why The World Needs You to be an Artist


    Want to get creative? Laugh a little bit more!


    Three Simple Ways to Live a Life of 
    Daily Inspiration


    Reason #1 Why the World Needs You 
    to be an Artist


    My 8 Step Process for Moving Through Creative Anxiety

Work with Court
My Book
Court's Reading List
Free
About Court & Art Nurture
"If preparing to work with Court you should know that you will be challenged to be your best self and you will be given tools for how to do so. 

You may also find yourself realizing dreams and vocations that may have been easier in the short term to keep hidden, but overall will allow you to embrace this creative part of yourself and live more fully."   -Faith Josephs 
  • home
  • about
    • contact
  • my book
    • the simple guide bonuses
  • work with court
    • 1-on-1 Creativity Cultivation Sessions
    • The Cultivators Community
    • Art School
  • kind words
  • Free
  • Asheville Workshops
✕