My 100 day project has two parts--listening to the audiobook of Virginia Woolf’s The Waves for 5 minutes. Then I will use something with in it--a phrase, an image, an idea, an atmosphere--as a springboard to write for at least ten minutes.
I’m sitting in that purgatorial space between kingdoms, one month post autologous stem cell transplant for multiple myeloma. Leading up to and during my time in hospital, I blogged like my life depended on it, and now it’s come to a screeching halt. So! My 100 day project will be to pick up from where I left off, focusing on sharing perhaps useful information for others preparing for SCT. I include photos and personal stories so that will continue as well as the daily beach walks that feed my creative soul and give me space to grieve. To this community and Suleika, thank you for so generously sharing your stories. - Amy J.
Suleika-Sending you healing thoughts and keeping you in my prayers.
On May 16th, my husband and I will be traveling from Seattle to our new home in Palm Coast, FL. We will begin our 100 day project on the first day of our journey. We will be writing an inspirational quote (I've been collecting these for years knowing I would use them for something one day) on a rock and painting it with a simple design. We will be saving one of our masterpieces for our new garden and leaving one where we camp or at one of our stops along a route.
Mar 27, 2022Liked by Suleika Jaouad, Carmen Radley
I have identified a place not far from my home. I will go there each day to sit silently and observe the wildlife around me as it reveals itself. Time of day will vary. Length of sitting time will vary. 100 days.
Always an inspiration even in your present journey. You give me such hope. I can’t wait until Sunday mornings to read your morning inspirations.
I’ve been in a funk these weeks. I quit work last December for health and safety reasons. After 40 years of food styling for photography and food writing for publications meeting deadlines upon deadlines, it was time to cut the umbilical cord. Tough to do because deadlines are bit like a soother. Take them away and I found I was left looking for a replacement. Drank a few too many glasses of wine this winter as I shuffled about the house in my robe longing for a purpose. Someone said retirement is like that – a void that needs filling. Well, I hoped it wasn’t by way of self medication. I’m taking enough medication in my metastatic 12 year cancer journey. Currently in a holding pattern thanks to modern science. ✈️ ✈️ And I’m longing to rewire, not retire.
My darling husband always quotes my favourite Mary Oliver line when I'm in a slump, “What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” ~ Mary Oliver. Feb 16, 2016
In his wisdom he reached for a measuring tape. Stretched it out to 80 inches, each inch replicating a year. “You’re here,” he points to 66 inches. “Let’s say you make it to 80 (which would be a tremendous feat given I’m a petri dish for cancer cells). “You only have these many inches left.” It’s a startling visual exercise at 66. 👀 👀 Let me tell you.
I’m going to resubscribe to The Isolation Journals as I’m not sure if my membership is nearing an end or not. You’re like an electrical plug in and I would hate to lose the power. You remind me that anything is possible. And I simply cannot miss what inspiration you might feed me in my journey going forward.
I’m going to draft myself a creative contract over the next couple of days. Thank you for that suggestion. Steadfast healing, dear Suleika. You are a constant beacon of inspiration.
Reading all these wonderful project ideas is quite inspiring. I would like to do something around the theme of learning to swim in the ocean of uncertainty. I have a progressive vision disease (glaucoma) which has not been an issue until the last 2 years, during which I've had one surgery and a noticeable degredation of vision. Where it will go from here is uncertain. This has, on many days, hijacked my life and resulted in a tendency to pull back from the world.
I haven't fully formed this yet, but I am thinking of something like, each day do at least one act of turning attention outward and engaging with the world, however small that might be, and regardless of whatever feelings of uncertainty and anxiety are present. I have one 10-day hiking trip planned, which I wasn't going to do, but this has given me a nudge to do it.
Mar 27, 2022Liked by Suleika Jaouad, Carmen Radley
For my 100 day project, I’m going to shoot one photo a day on film. I just had my 3rd baby, so life feels very overwhelming at the moment. On the good days I hope to make the one frame very intentional, on the harder days I’ll make a photo of whatever is right in front of me. I’m going to wait to have all the film developed until the end!
Mar 27, 2022·edited Mar 27, 2022Liked by Suleika Jaouad
Fabulous prompt as always.
I commit to writing exactly 100 words a day of advice from my 100-year-old-self.
Stream of consciousness little letter writing. No editing.
I did this during the height of pandemic and created little circular drawings -- and I look back on these little bits of wisdom now and smile. Our older selves have such perspective and wisdom.
Carmen, thank you. Suleika, thank you... too... and I wish you profound healing.
Mar 27, 2022·edited Mar 27, 2022Liked by Suleika Jaouad, Carmen Radley
I don't paint, I don't take photos for inspiration, I don't even have enough time to read all that I would like to read, and the garden will not quite be ready enough to commit to100 things, as a builder, carpenter, constructor though, I do have tools and I have labeled the calendar for later in the week - my project will be to fix, clean, care for, lubricate and/or nurture - one tool per day for my 100 days.
Mar 27, 2022Liked by Suleika Jaouad, Carmen Radley
My 100 day project is to write a letter to my heart each day. I want to acknowledge and have empathy for her wounds, both seen and unseen, her joys, struggles and resilience.
As a creative act, but separate from this project, I’m picking up the cello.
My 100 day project will be to dance to 1 song everyday! The goal is to feel elevated and joyful after the each song and to explore my body and it's desire to naturally express itself to music.
Mar 27, 2022·edited Mar 27, 2022Liked by Suleika Jaouad
My 100 day project will involve food. I will prepare one meal, or snack, every day with a consciousness towards beauty and nutrition. I will take a photo of this meal or snack. I'm doing this to honor and nourish my body and also to generate a daily gratitude practice for everyone and everything it takes to produce food. I will use creativity to develop appreciation and make my food prettier. I won't be posting my "food porn" anywhere!
I wanna write. I need to start indenting the first line of every paragraph. This left justify thing is symptomatic of my inability to breathe, to rest, to admit to a pause. I am too much left justified. And this is my first block.
Maybe for 100 days I'll indent more. Let pause happen. The closest I come to pause, to rest, to respite, to ennui is ellipsis. I dot dot dot (and occasionally four-dot) my way to exhaustion. It’s like having a conversation while you're folding laundry, or texting while you’re on a Zoom meeting, or asking someone who wants to talk with you if they can talk while you walk to your car, the copier, your next meeting. “Can you walk with me?”
I need to find some purchase of rest, a lip of rock for tired feet, a shaded bench, the steps in the shallow end of a swimming pool. I don’t have to tread water, create tension in the belay rope, or shield my eyes. I can just rest. For 100 days?!
I am loath to be bored. Perhaps I fear my own creativity. Block number 2. I am afraid of my own voice. That may be symptomatic of my codependent inclinations. I’m always listening for and seeking to match your pitch and tone. I am terrified of singing out loud. Really out loud.
I think my accountability might be found with my daughter. She’s a terrific writer. Intimidating. She’s better read than I am. She has never feared the sound of her own voice. She might be both mentor and muse.
Just write for 30 minutes every day. Don’t self-edit. Let someone else edit. Shit...let someone else read. My work is to speak. Let someone else listen.
I just wanna be okay with “wanna.” Contractions. Contradictions. The half-baked. The shot from the hip and the ensuing ricochets. I wanna feel my shoulders settle into their sockets. I wanna read something I wrote and be moved, just moved because it is honest and it is all exhale.
That’s it. More exhale. One hundred days of anxious but fearless exhale. So grateful for this invitation.
Mar 27, 2022Liked by Suleika Jaouad, Carmen Radley
My 100 day project: one photo a day - a good foto - a bad foto - it doesn’t matter. It is just to look at my world in a different way and think about what I am seeing.
After reading through these projects, I am inspired and assured that this corner of the internet is one of the best ones to be in. So glad I found this and your work, Suleika. Thank you for having the courage to share your process with us. For my 100-day project, I will make a small doodle, drawing or writing piece for a project I have been working on for the last three years but can't seem to finish - a self - exploration journal for kids :).
My 100 day project has two parts--listening to the audiobook of Virginia Woolf’s The Waves for 5 minutes. Then I will use something with in it--a phrase, an image, an idea, an atmosphere--as a springboard to write for at least ten minutes.
I’m sitting in that purgatorial space between kingdoms, one month post autologous stem cell transplant for multiple myeloma. Leading up to and during my time in hospital, I blogged like my life depended on it, and now it’s come to a screeching halt. So! My 100 day project will be to pick up from where I left off, focusing on sharing perhaps useful information for others preparing for SCT. I include photos and personal stories so that will continue as well as the daily beach walks that feed my creative soul and give me space to grieve. To this community and Suleika, thank you for so generously sharing your stories. - Amy J.
Suleika-Sending you healing thoughts and keeping you in my prayers.
On May 16th, my husband and I will be traveling from Seattle to our new home in Palm Coast, FL. We will begin our 100 day project on the first day of our journey. We will be writing an inspirational quote (I've been collecting these for years knowing I would use them for something one day) on a rock and painting it with a simple design. We will be saving one of our masterpieces for our new garden and leaving one where we camp or at one of our stops along a route.
I have identified a place not far from my home. I will go there each day to sit silently and observe the wildlife around me as it reveals itself. Time of day will vary. Length of sitting time will vary. 100 days.
My 100 day project will be to write one sentence each day.
Dearest Suleika
Always an inspiration even in your present journey. You give me such hope. I can’t wait until Sunday mornings to read your morning inspirations.
I’ve been in a funk these weeks. I quit work last December for health and safety reasons. After 40 years of food styling for photography and food writing for publications meeting deadlines upon deadlines, it was time to cut the umbilical cord. Tough to do because deadlines are bit like a soother. Take them away and I found I was left looking for a replacement. Drank a few too many glasses of wine this winter as I shuffled about the house in my robe longing for a purpose. Someone said retirement is like that – a void that needs filling. Well, I hoped it wasn’t by way of self medication. I’m taking enough medication in my metastatic 12 year cancer journey. Currently in a holding pattern thanks to modern science. ✈️ ✈️ And I’m longing to rewire, not retire.
My darling husband always quotes my favourite Mary Oliver line when I'm in a slump, “What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” ~ Mary Oliver. Feb 16, 2016
In his wisdom he reached for a measuring tape. Stretched it out to 80 inches, each inch replicating a year. “You’re here,” he points to 66 inches. “Let’s say you make it to 80 (which would be a tremendous feat given I’m a petri dish for cancer cells). “You only have these many inches left.” It’s a startling visual exercise at 66. 👀 👀 Let me tell you.
I’m going to resubscribe to The Isolation Journals as I’m not sure if my membership is nearing an end or not. You’re like an electrical plug in and I would hate to lose the power. You remind me that anything is possible. And I simply cannot miss what inspiration you might feed me in my journey going forward.
I’m going to draft myself a creative contract over the next couple of days. Thank you for that suggestion. Steadfast healing, dear Suleika. You are a constant beacon of inspiration.
Reading all these wonderful project ideas is quite inspiring. I would like to do something around the theme of learning to swim in the ocean of uncertainty. I have a progressive vision disease (glaucoma) which has not been an issue until the last 2 years, during which I've had one surgery and a noticeable degredation of vision. Where it will go from here is uncertain. This has, on many days, hijacked my life and resulted in a tendency to pull back from the world.
I haven't fully formed this yet, but I am thinking of something like, each day do at least one act of turning attention outward and engaging with the world, however small that might be, and regardless of whatever feelings of uncertainty and anxiety are present. I have one 10-day hiking trip planned, which I wasn't going to do, but this has given me a nudge to do it.
For my 100 day project, I’m going to shoot one photo a day on film. I just had my 3rd baby, so life feels very overwhelming at the moment. On the good days I hope to make the one frame very intentional, on the harder days I’ll make a photo of whatever is right in front of me. I’m going to wait to have all the film developed until the end!
Fabulous prompt as always.
I commit to writing exactly 100 words a day of advice from my 100-year-old-self.
Stream of consciousness little letter writing. No editing.
I did this during the height of pandemic and created little circular drawings -- and I look back on these little bits of wisdom now and smile. Our older selves have such perspective and wisdom.
Carmen, thank you. Suleika, thank you... too... and I wish you profound healing.
I don't paint, I don't take photos for inspiration, I don't even have enough time to read all that I would like to read, and the garden will not quite be ready enough to commit to100 things, as a builder, carpenter, constructor though, I do have tools and I have labeled the calendar for later in the week - my project will be to fix, clean, care for, lubricate and/or nurture - one tool per day for my 100 days.
My 100 day project is to write a letter to my heart each day. I want to acknowledge and have empathy for her wounds, both seen and unseen, her joys, struggles and resilience.
As a creative act, but separate from this project, I’m picking up the cello.
My 100 day project will be to dance to 1 song everyday! The goal is to feel elevated and joyful after the each song and to explore my body and it's desire to naturally express itself to music.
My 100 day project will involve food. I will prepare one meal, or snack, every day with a consciousness towards beauty and nutrition. I will take a photo of this meal or snack. I'm doing this to honor and nourish my body and also to generate a daily gratitude practice for everyone and everything it takes to produce food. I will use creativity to develop appreciation and make my food prettier. I won't be posting my "food porn" anywhere!
I wanna write. I need to start indenting the first line of every paragraph. This left justify thing is symptomatic of my inability to breathe, to rest, to admit to a pause. I am too much left justified. And this is my first block.
Maybe for 100 days I'll indent more. Let pause happen. The closest I come to pause, to rest, to respite, to ennui is ellipsis. I dot dot dot (and occasionally four-dot) my way to exhaustion. It’s like having a conversation while you're folding laundry, or texting while you’re on a Zoom meeting, or asking someone who wants to talk with you if they can talk while you walk to your car, the copier, your next meeting. “Can you walk with me?”
I need to find some purchase of rest, a lip of rock for tired feet, a shaded bench, the steps in the shallow end of a swimming pool. I don’t have to tread water, create tension in the belay rope, or shield my eyes. I can just rest. For 100 days?!
I am loath to be bored. Perhaps I fear my own creativity. Block number 2. I am afraid of my own voice. That may be symptomatic of my codependent inclinations. I’m always listening for and seeking to match your pitch and tone. I am terrified of singing out loud. Really out loud.
I think my accountability might be found with my daughter. She’s a terrific writer. Intimidating. She’s better read than I am. She has never feared the sound of her own voice. She might be both mentor and muse.
Just write for 30 minutes every day. Don’t self-edit. Let someone else edit. Shit...let someone else read. My work is to speak. Let someone else listen.
I just wanna be okay with “wanna.” Contractions. Contradictions. The half-baked. The shot from the hip and the ensuing ricochets. I wanna feel my shoulders settle into their sockets. I wanna read something I wrote and be moved, just moved because it is honest and it is all exhale.
That’s it. More exhale. One hundred days of anxious but fearless exhale. So grateful for this invitation.
My 100 day project: one photo a day - a good foto - a bad foto - it doesn’t matter. It is just to look at my world in a different way and think about what I am seeing.
After reading through these projects, I am inspired and assured that this corner of the internet is one of the best ones to be in. So glad I found this and your work, Suleika. Thank you for having the courage to share your process with us. For my 100-day project, I will make a small doodle, drawing or writing piece for a project I have been working on for the last three years but can't seem to finish - a self - exploration journal for kids :).