Streams of Income

I’ve chosen this life, this freelance life.  And with it the responsibilities, joys, aggravations, anxieties and freedom to express the whole of who I am.  Perhaps you can describe this lifestyle as pieces to a puzzle, designed to baffle or to test ingenuity or resourcefulness.  Last week, though, on an audition (ahem, interview), I likened this more to a mosaic, the disparate parts of colored stone, tile and glass coming together to create this wonderful, beauteous whole.

No matter how I describe this life, I’ve realized—over the last months and years—the following for me to work and play at my optimum:  These puzzle pieces or mosaic bits must overlap. The streams of income and creativity need to flow effortlessly…

I’m finally at a point, after much MUCH effort and focus, back in the black, financially.  While I have yet to be comfortable in this place and still have concerns dropping back into the red, opportunities are now coming to me more often than before.  I feel less anxious, which is a good thing.  For example, this past Friday I was not only paid for my first contracted assessment (test) writing gig (yeah!), I received an email from that organization inviting me to be a part of another educational writing project—which started this past Monday.  And I also booked a twice-a-month rhythm and drumming gig at a local nursing home.  Tributaries…

Of course, I continue to focus on my other “water sources,” both here and back East:  Percussion and rhythm programming for kids, families, teachers, and seniors; Golda Meir performances; and acting in TV and film.  

And I have a new project I’m researching and hope to have as a viable current flowing soon: homecare health aid consultant.  I am now developing the model and business plan to help families find long-term home care for their elderly relatives, so they can remain in their homes rather than transfer to a facility. I’ve been successful finding home care for my own parents, and the Internet, Skype, and Craigslist is a beautiful thing.  I begin the writing of my plan this week…

Juggling

I’ve been back from PA for over a week now, and it’s been a constant, ongoing, intense juggling act—taking care of all the nonhumans while my husband was away, house maintenance, Helen maintenance.  This is in addition to keeping up with my freelance work (percussion and acting gigs), marketing of same, prepping for new gigs (I love exercising the old noggin!), and paperwork.  Constant paperwork—confirmations, invoicing, collections. 

On the horizon for next week and beyond:  resuming the creation of a website specific to my commercial and educational writing endeavors; submitting for commercial/educational writing gigs; submitting for acting gigs; resuming taiko drumming classes; and researching how to use email marketing and my Facebook performer/educator page (shameless plug:  https://www.facebook.com/HelenTrencherCreativeEducator; “like” it if you wish) to grow my client/fan base.

…And, I wouldn’t have it any other way!

Looking to 2013

With just 11 more days till the turn of the year (and beyond!  No, I do not think the world will end tomorrow; lol), I plan to spend the time continuing with what I have been doing over the last month or so:  Re-aligning my vibration to attract the focus, physical flexibility and abundance I’ve decided, once and for all, I need and want.   As I near the end of the fourth decade of life, I’m getting a bit tired of living on the edge.  Really.

The end of November was quite confronting.  I sat down with the husband and looked at my actual income flow for 2012.  As busy as I have been with performing (as The Percussion Lady, Golda Meir and acting gigs)—the most I have ever been since I embarked on this life path—I have not brought in enough income to meet my minimal monthly budgetary needs.  For most of 2012, I’ve been about $200 behind every month.  No wonder I have felt like a hamster on a wheel in terms of financial stability!  Wow.  Confronting.  That’s why I’ve taken time off these past four weeks from my regular acting workshop and Taiko drumming classes to reevaluate and refocus.

So this is the plan:

Submit to commercial writing gigs.  I have resisted this idea in the past, because it didn’t seem perfectly creative to me.  But the idea has stayed with me since September 2011 when I took a Denver Woman's Press Club workshop on the financial viability of commercial writing.  I felt intrigued.  I have taught formal writing on the college level, and I have good solid skills.  Additionally, I have the experience and a Masters degree Education with a focus on adult education/instructional design.   Why not take advantage of these skills—on my own terms, as a freelancer—and make some decent coin?  So, since Thanksgiving I’ve been submitting for commercial and educational writing gigs, and I’m developing a WIX site specifically geared to writing.  And just yesterday, I snail mailed back a signed contract with an educational publishing contractor; I’m keeping my fingers and toes crossed that I will attract substantive work soon.   

Continue with my creative writing efforts:  contribute to this blog and my cat blog regularly.  I’m pleased to have just posted my final kitty essay for 2012:   http://lifelessonsfromlumpsoflove.wordpress.com/2012/12/19/turn-turn-turn/.   In addition, I will look into turning my now 25 posts into an eBook; working title: Life Lessons from Lumps of Love:  Essays and Musings About Life and Living I’ve Gleaned From my Cats—Volume 1.  I might shorten the title, but I do love alliteration…

Continue to hone my marketing efforts for acting, percussion lady and Golda Meir.  These are good sources of income, but I will only accept terms that align with who I am as a person and performer.  This year has taught me that quality as well as quantity counts.   

Resume a regular yoga practice.  Last winter I took a tumble on black ice.  I fell forward this time (usually I fall back on the butt).  For a good part of 2012 I’ve been out of whack with my hips and pelvis, resulting in my right leg extending longer than my life (I’m sure there is a medical/physical therapy term for this) and a slight limp.  But even more distressing, I’ve had pain in my hips, thighs and knees and thereby have not been able to fully engage in the walking and hiking that I love without chomping on ibuprofen.   (Interestingly enough, I feel nearly no discomfort swimming and bicycling.) But I was able to swing (one bill just waited to be paid) one physical therapy session in September, and the exercises that I’ve been taught have been helping.  Then just last week I decided to add some standard yoga poses (like warrior two and triangle) to my routine, and I have felt a significant difference in a mere seven days!  So, 2013, I will return to the Iyengar Yoga Center Denver for weekly classes.   

And, finally: to resume my participation in the drumming and acting I love.  As I emphasized to the spouse last evening:  it’s through these efforts that I engage my creative reservoir.   Everything flows from my connection to this source of energy and love.