Ow, ow, ow. I talk a lot with my clients about the importance of creating good habits. Yet I know that is much easier said than done. And sometimes, it just doesn’t seem to be worth the time or effort.
For example, today, I spent hours making pysanky (pee-sah-n-key), those lovely Easter eggs created with dye and bees wax.
The darker, multi-color ones are over 40 years old!
Unlike my relatives in Europe, however, I don’t blow out the eggs and start making them in January. No. I wait until a few days before Easter to crank out dozens as quickly as possible. And it shows. Both in my skill (I have little) as well as in my back and shoulders. Ow.
The egg contains new life.
So what does one do with an activity that happens maybe once a year but stresses out the body to the max? For me, it’s easy. I take breaks. I eat, stretch and dance between eggs. There are two benefits to this: not only do the eggs get to sit in the dye longer and thus become rich with color, but I get to play and have fun while relaxing my body.
That’s probably why I don’t like to dance in bars. For me, dance is about stretching away the cobwebs that make my bones creak and ache. Dancing like that in a bar will bring the looks. Believe me, I know. And it’s not desirable. The looks, I mean. But there’s nothing uncomfortable in cranking up some good tunes at home and using the music to inspire extension. I start slowly at first, with long smooth movements that sometimes extend for several beats. Once I open up the tissue, I start moving more to the beat. It’s a wonderful way to be creative and expressive while celebrating the joy of being in a body. And, it allows me to decorate more eggs.
Of course, it’s important that I watch my posture while applying the wax. Unfortunately, that isn’t so easy. As much as I work at keeping my shoulders wide and open, I’m working on a stool at the stove. I don’t have the option to sit up straight because the wax would dry before it got to the egg. I end up hunching over to get as close to the burner and pot of wax as possible. Sure, yeah, I could rearrange everything to be ergonomically correct, but what’s Easter without carrying the weight of a few dozen eggs in my shoulders? Besides, I like the breaks.
The multi-color ones on the right were made by relatives from Europe. Mine are the simpler, asymmetrical ones.
I’m hoping to have some good weather over the next few days so that I can share the eggs I made this year with passers-by while I work on the 14th block of the Pearl Street Mall. You can follow my whereabouts on my blog in the lower right column, or you can follow me on http://twitter.com/debbiemihal.
I hope to see you!
Nice eggs — and nice inspiration to dance at home. Thanks.
By: Ina R on April 10, 2009
at 3:14 am
Thanks for checking out the site, Ina. And I hope you make the chance to dance at home soon!
By: Debbie Mihal on April 10, 2009
at 2:35 pm
Debbie, those eggs are beautiful!
By: Kathy K on April 10, 2009
at 6:14 pm
Thanks! Feel free to stop by when I’m downtown and pick one out for yourself.
By: Debbie Mihal on April 10, 2009
at 6:48 pm
those are gorgeous! Maybe you could teach a class next year?? Now I want eggs..lovely eggs
Happy Easter
By: Cindy L on April 10, 2009
at 11:51 pm
Thanks, Cindy. Who knows, maybe next year I will do a class. Thanks for checking in!
By: Debbie Mihal on April 11, 2009
at 2:21 am
Those gorgeous eggs got me in the Easter spirit! Thanks for your charming post.
By: Gail S on April 11, 2009
at 2:37 pm
Thank you!
By: Debbie Mihal on April 11, 2009
at 2:43 pm
Wow, those eggs are amazing, Debbie — as is the talent, care and dedication that goes into making something so beautiful!!
By: Andrea Meyer on April 12, 2009
at 1:15 am
What wonderful eggs! I really like the purple ones, of course, my favorite color!
Hope you have a Happy Easter! Maybe we can connect soon. Good luck sharing your eggs on the mall.
By: Lin on April 12, 2009
at 5:35 pm
Yeah, the purple turned out awesome this year. I have no idea why. The dyes sometimes take, sometimes don’t, even within the same batch. Go figure!
By: Debbie Mihal on April 12, 2009
at 8:38 pm
Deb,
Love your post—wisdom for the real world. And how about those eggs! They’re crazy!
By: Mel on April 17, 2009
at 3:58 pm
Thanks to everyone for checking out the site.
You’d think those colors would have drawn in spring, but we’re having a long snow/rain here. I’m glad we had some nice weather last week so I could share the eggs on the mall!
By: Debbie Mihal on April 17, 2009
at 6:45 pm