Some nights as I put myself to bed, a tremor comes over me with the thought that there’s no time. Of course there’s no time but what I mean is that in my house there is no baby, no little girl, no tween, no new bride, no young mother, no thirties, no forties, no fifties, no yesterday, no tomorrow, and no someday. This is real, people! There is no time to question how much or little time there might be, where to go or when, what comes after, how to end up, the next great thing I should or could do. The days of wondering are spent. — Paradise in Plain Sight
About a year ago, I recommended a documentary called Lost in Living that follows the lives of four artists in different stages of work and motherhood. You might have caught a screening of the film in your community, purchased a DVD or attended a house party viewing. Now, Lost in Living will be available for free streaming for 24 hours beginning Saturday, March 8 to coincide with International Women’s Day. This global Web screening event is an opportunity to share Lost in Living with women around the world. I know some of you have been waiting for this.
Before I say more, let me give you the vitals:
Here is the link to view the video which will be public for 24 hours only beginning at 8 a.m. PST on Saturday, March 8.
Here is a link to more information about sharing the live stream on your website or social media.
I hope you can find a quiet corner sometime Saturday to watch the film, not least because you’ll spending a few hours with yourself. That opportunity alone is worth cherishing. As you watch the film you’ll see beyond yourself into the connection women have with one another in every phase of life, and how motherhood transforms our aspirations. It’s poignant, funny, powerful and oh so good.
A few weeks ago I caught a screening of the film and heard director Mary Trunk talk about how she started the project that consumed seven years of her life. Her motivation sounds universal. She and her husband had just relocated to LA and she was home alone with a one-year-old in a new and unfamiliar town. She felt adrift and isolated. Her camera became her passport into friendship and collaboration.
As our lives change and children grow we find ourselves in unfamiliar places where we have to reinvent our work, rhythm and purpose. This is where I am right now — at the end of one stage without ready answers or expectations. As everything around me changes, I am changing too. Something new will appear and give me a new way to express my life. A new way to serve others. I don’t need to wonder what it will be. Generations before me have walked this path: an infinite world of women who live the story of becoming themselves.
Find the time to see Lost in Living this Saturday.
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Photo Credit: Lost Socks do-it-yourself project at Brilliant Like Fireflies.
This is wonderful and I got goosebumps watching the trailer. I feel so connected to this having all I ever wanted to do be being an artist and now as a home educator it’s been a huge challenge with time in general but I’m finding my way back. And to have my boys watch me make time for my dreams is valuable to them too. Can’t wait to watch this.
Comment by moongirl — March 5, 2014 @ 5:30 pm
I’m so glad you are offering me a second chance to watch this documentary! (although I won’t be sitting next to you…) Thank you so much for sharing, I immediately spread the word among my artists network and on my blog as well.
Comment by Roos — March 6, 2014 @ 12:06 pm
I need to watch this with a beginner’s mind. I’ve always thought about the fact that none of this was around, or maybe I wasn’t open and ready when I was running around like a mad woman raising my two little girls who grew up to be two fine women with their own sacks of woes. I’ve always looked back with regret thinking how much better it would have been for all of us had I “known”better, or at least known I had so much company. I think opening the windows into our lives ranks right up there with all the other great advancements of the times, to help, to support, to save and to heal, even if we’re beyond the battle,we can, (I can)certainly allow myself to feel the compassion under all that self pity.Thank you Karen, may God continue to bless your way.
Comment by Daisy Marshall — March 6, 2014 @ 9:46 pm
I just saw this documentary because of this post and I felt the strong need to refer you all to this post by Lisa Congdon on her blog: http://lisacongdon.com/blog/2013/09/about-my-mother/ I think it touches on the things in this documentary. And I love the sense it gives of the idea that our lives can start anew at any given moment. And the sense of doing something well, and when it is done you can start something else and do that well.
I think the problem we have today is layered, somehow a lot of people think that being young in a professional situation is a good thing that it brings “freshness”. Now I am not saying it is bad, but experience (albeit in life) has an incredible value. And it takes time to acquire experience.
Also society is not always kind to women. This leads to our breathlessly “chasing” stuff, things, work, diets, money when it might just be valuable to take in what is here in front of us right now, because it will never come back. And I feel society should respect that. Because that gives us the best people for the future.
Third I think parenting classes should be given to parents prior to having children. I felt as a child that my mother loved my sister more than me. A bit like the eldest daughter of the painter in the documentary. Now I have my own two daughters, I see how with my eldest I hesitate to let certain things happen, I put the brakes on it as it were, with our youngest, I think, let it go it will be OK. So they have the same mother but a completely different experience with that mother. My eldest “breaks in” my heart (like when you tame a horse by “breaking it in”), where my youngest already meets an experienced heart. It is really sad to think about. But it is what it is.
Fourth, we have to forgive ourselves, pick ourselves up and be kind to ourselves and allow ourselves to have the time we need with what we are doing. Having children is just very very joyous but it narrows ones life and perception of life to a strange degree for a couple of years.
(Sorry for taking up so much of your space,) thank you for the opportunity to watch the documentary. Have a wonderful day.
Comment by Simone — March 8, 2014 @ 3:23 pm