Categories
Storidoodles

Storidoodle #3

Wishes.

At some point in our lives, we all make them. 

Murdock heard about wishes. He had first heard about them one night when he sat within an ice canyon and watched the night stars singing through colors. As he watched the purples and greens sparkle in song, he heard a little sound building momentum as it neared him. It was a voice echoing down the canyon walls. Now echoes were not new to Murdock. He thought they were the most unusual yet beautiful thing.

He listened intently as he usually did, collecting new words and wondering in thought about who spoke them, where they came from, and where they would end up. Suddenly, more words came whistling through the canyon. Wish. Wish. Make a little wish.

“What is this thing called a wish?”

His fluffy ears perked toward the echo as he closed his eyes to concentrate so that he might hear better. But he did not learn of what this unfamiliar thing was, or how to make one. 

Wish. Wish. Wish. He said over and over to himself. 

It was lucky for him that another, more experienced, polar bear overheard him.

“Wish?” said the wiser polar bear.

“You know what a wish is?” asked Murdock.

“Of course,” the wise one replied. “A wish is something you desire with all your heart.”

“Oh! Do you know how to make one?”

The other polar bear contemplated this, looking as if he was searching for an answer somewhere deep within his memory.

Murdock waited patiently until the other bear found an answer. 

“Yes, from what I have learned, Murdock,” said the bear. “You wait until you see a traveling star.”

“And…” encouraged Murdock.

“And, then, you make your wish. You share your desire with the universe.” And after giving Murdock this answer, the other polar bear left and went on about his business. 

“A traveling star!” said Murdock aloud. “I can do that.”

So, he returned to his favorite spot, night after night. And he waited, and he watched. And he waited some more, watching some more.

He kept his eyes loyal to the skies, which wasn’t hard for him to do. He loved stargazing. 

Now, reader, you may be thinking how in the grand universe could someone who loves to stargaze not have seen a traveling star before. Well, it’s quite simple. There is a multitude of wondrous new things to realize around you at all times, most of us don’t see them because we simply don’t think to look for them. And Murdock didn’t think to look for such a thing before. But with a little inspiration, he fixed his eyes on the sky with a very specific intention.

And then, in the night sky, he saw something unlike everything else. He saw something moving among the stationary stars. 

It zigged and zagged. It went up and it went down. It circled and did a few loop-de-loops before racing off, out of Murdock’s sight. 

“There it is!” he called. “A traveling star!” 

Astonished by the star, he nearly forgot to make a wish. But, he remembered just in time. 

And do you know what he wished for?

Well, dear reader, your guess is as good as mine. He never told. But, I will tell you that every night thereafter, it seemed he was never gazing upon a sky without seeing another traveling star… for the rest of his days. 

Wishing you much wonder and fixing your eyes to see new things,

Autumn


Categories
January Sketchbook Challenge

Sketchbook Challenge – Day 1

Here’s to new beginnings and creative challenges!

I’m excited and nervous about this sketchbook challenge. How about you? 

I’m excited because I love creative challenges, and I know that if I commit to a sketch a day for the next 31 days, growth will happen.

I’m nervous because, well, I must commit to it. I need the discipline to make sure I carve out time in my day to make a sketch. I don’t want this to be something I’m excited about in the beginning – and start off with a bang – to only fizzle out once I hit the middle of the month. So, let’s help each other to not let that happen. Shall we?

So, for the challenge…

You can sketch anything you like or take my suggestions. I won’t be giving a lot of instruction on technique or anything else, but I will give you some ideas of what to sketch. And, I will definitely give you encouragement and tips along the way. Feel free to reach out with questions as you work. I’m here. 

Here we go!

Day One: Pick a word for the year. My husband and I do this every new year. It’s a word to inspire, to work toward, to invite more of its examples and evidence in our lives throughout the year. 

My word: Discipline. 

I need to be more disciplined in order for my art business to grow. And, I most definitely want it to grow. Once my teaching year resumes, I get incredibly busy. My days are

 long and it becomes easy to neglect my creative side and my little sprouting art business. So, this year, I’m making it a priority. And, it will take discipline!

Now back to you:

Step one: Pick your word.

Step two: Doodle it onto the first page of your sketchbook. 

You can make it a fancy script. Or, big and bold. Maybe add flowers sprouting from it. Duplicate the word several times. Write it in different scripts. Fill the page or make it stand it out with a lot of white space around it. But Do Have Fun! 

If you would like, please share your word. Or, share the page. I would love to see your wonderful new year words!

Your friend in creative adventures,

Autumn