The process of re-entry

Written by Diane Harris on May 12, 2023. Posted in Blog, How-tos and Ideas, Inspiration, Quilt Lifestyle

I’ve been gone a lot over the past few months.

So many nights away—some for business, some for personal.

Now that I’m home, I have to do what I call re-entry. Re-entry happens when I have no idea where to begin. It helps me to reconnect with various parts of my life. It’s a jump start. If I don’t practice re-entry, I’ll continue to feel overwhelmed and lost. Am I making any sense? Does this happen to you, too?

Re-entry: Kitchen

One of the obvious places to begin is the kitchen.

We have to eat. I practiced re-entry by making a big pot of vegetable soup. It’s delicious!

I feel connected to my kitchen again. I have a sense of what’s in the fridge and I’ve started a grocery list.

Re-entry: Husband

I’ve made time for him: catching up over coffee on local news, the farm, the projects in our yard. I’ve held his hand and rubbed his neck. He feels grounded again.

Re-Entry: Laundry

I unpacked one suitcase.

I’m unpacking the second and I’ve started the laundry. Tomorrow I’ll have choices about what to wear because everything will be clean. Done and done.

Re-Entry: Email

I’ve trashed a few dozen junk emails and flagged others as important.

I responded to the most critical messages and made notes about the ones that can wait.

Re-Entry: To-do list

I’ve started a new to-do list and am working my way through. I don’t separate work from personal because it all needs attention. I cross things off with a sense of jubilation. It’s silly but it lifts my spirits.

Re-Entry: Studio

This is the hardest one. I have dozens of WIPs.

I have a deadline quilt to bind and six new ideas to test. I’ve submitted ideas to publishers and if any of those are picked up, they’ll have to be created pronto. My desk is piled high with contracts, bills, sticky notes of stuff.

I started by sewing blocks and setting squares together while I listened to something and it got me going. Now I’m binding the deadline quilt because it must be shipped to France next week. I can’t wait for you to see it!

Re-entry is necessary and difficult.

It always takes me a few days to figure out where I am and what needs to happen next.

But soon I’ll be all settled in for summer, ready for the next wave of creativity.

Bring it on!

Keep quilting,

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