I know this isn’t the first time I’ve talked about Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way on this blog, and it probably won’t be the last. Whether you’re making a living as a sculptor, a dancer, a lawyer, or a clinical nutritionist, it’s important to nurture your creative side and set aside time to play.

Something Cameron talks about is taking yourself on “artist dates,” and while I try to be nice to myself as I would a person I’m dating and not be overly critical or impatient, I tend to slack on actually taking myself on “dates.” I’m making this weekend an exception, though.

I’m not going to lie–the past few weeks have been full of very positive things (starting a new job, finally graduating with my MS in clinical nutrition after 4 years of hard work), but they’ve also been some of the hardest weeks I’ve had in a while. A lot of it is run-of-the-mill New Schedule stress, but also some really emotional stuff (thanks full moon lunar eclipse). Often,  Big Things/Big Changes = Big Feelings, so no surprise there. Just. Wow.  It doesn’t help that it is seriously, like, Leonard Cohen-style “wash my eyelids in the rain” weather.

Last night I went to a graduation party and crashed early. After nine hours of sleep, I went to a favorite yoga class, bought some groceries on my way home, and made myself a nice lunch. My version of a diner-style brunch: 

Then I went to see Frances Ha. Loved it. It was the perfect movie to see by yourself on a chilly, drizzly afternoon. Or I guess if you want to take someone else on your date with you, it would be a good movie watch with a gentleman friend. Obviously, I’m totally the target audience, but I feel like it would be appealing to almost anyone. As we were leaving the theater, an elderly woman was talking to me about the film—we both agreed that the writing was great and the movie itself is about so many things at once but in such a subtle way it almost seems simple.

Anyway, my toenails are freshly painted, and I have an off-broadway play on the agenda for this evening with a girlfriend, probably f***ing around in the kitchen tomorrow. I’m working Monday because my benefits/holidays don’t kick in for another 2 months, so enjoy your Memorial Day a little extra for me, okay?

Do you ever take yourself on dates? What are your favorite things to do?