Refilling the Cup when the Stress Runs High

I’ve been carrying a lot these days. Two major conference presentations, end-of-year goals for my business, and the sting of slower gallery sales have all piled up at once. And everywhere I look—whether in my classes, among my clients, or in conversations with friends—people are stretched thin. Job losses, world events, uncertainty about the future…it’s weighing on everyone.

On nights like these, I barely sleep. The night before anything big has always been a lost cause.

So how am I trying to offset the stress?

I’m doing the opposite of what my instinct tells me.Instead of tightening the reins and pushing myself harder, I’m stepping away. I’m forcing myself to paint, to refill my cup, even when time feels impossibly tight. (This is something I talk about often with students in my painting classes in Boston —the moment you think you don’t have time is often the moment you need creativity most.)

Yesterday I even took a midday nap. It felt indulgent, but my body asked for it.

And over the weekend, I pushed myself to reset in another way. I took the family to Snowport—wandering the stalls, sipping hot chocolate and Tuscan mulled wine, getting a little literal distance from my daily whirlwind, even if it was just the other side of town. That tiny shift helped loosen something. It reminded me that stepping away, physically and mentally, creates real space.

Back in the studio, the creative process reflected all of this. Not every painting session is productive. Yesterday was a mess of wrong color combinations and frustration from start to finish. Today I had only 30 minutes, but those 30 minutes opened into an entirely new palette and a surprising burst of energy.

That’s the part I love—and the part I teach in my art classes in Boston and Brookline. It’s never about the time or the final product. It’s about stepping out of your head so new ideas have room to move. That’s when innovation happens, in art and in life.

And with how stressed everyone seems right now, I want to gently remind you to give yourself the same grace.Take a break. Find whatever helps you breathe again.

If that breather comes through creativity, we have a few beautiful ways to support you:

• Our upcoming half-day creative retreat in Boston is designed to help you ease into the holidays with grounding, art-making, journaling, and quiet connection. It’s been getting rave reviews and it’s one of my favorite offerings.

• Our Small Works show is now live online. If you’re craving inspiration at home—or searching for meaningful holiday gifts in Boston—this curated collection is a wonderful place to explore.

• For families planning ahead, our Black Friday camp special is still active. Our summer camps routinely rank among the most-loved kids’ art programs in Boston, and this is the best pricing we offer all year.

• And of course, our Brookline art studio is always open for creative team outings, private workshops, and community events.

  
  

Whatever you need right now—quiet, color, movement, connection—I hope you give yourself room to take it.

We’re here when you need us.