This isn’t a real post but I’m leaving the country for a few days and I’m sharing my art substack letter here in case you want details. 🙂 Back soon!
Hello, friend!
I try to always post here every Monday but this coming Monday I can’t because I’ll be out of the country. Long story short, as a true social anxiety introvert, I have exactly one friend in my town who I can call to grab a margarita at any time and she very rudely decided to live her one wild and precious life fully and that meant selling everything to explore the world as she works from her laptop. It’s been over a year since I’ve seen her but tomorrow I’m flying to the Canary Islands to meet up with her. YAY! (Now to quiet the travelers anxiety that tells me I will either not poop for a week or have nonstop diarrhea. Is that just a me thing? I feel like it’s just a me thing.)
Anyway, that means that I won’t be here Monday to mail you this letter and I don’t know how to schedule future stuff so instead I’m sending this now.
This weeks drawing is a little different because I wanted to make something travel-related since I always use my drawings to encourage myself when I’m feeling scared and so I decided to try grid journaling, which Lina Forrester teaches.
I put down painter’s tape on watercolor paper and then outlined the boxes and drew my own wild map borders.
And painted a little green and grey randomly…
And when I pulled off the tape, I had some lovely little art (and also a fair amount of small paper tears because I used really cheap watercolor paper).
It’s a fun and easy project if you’re looking for something mindless to do with your hands and I highly recommend it. (If you make one, tag me so I can see it.)
“I am not lost. Simply making my own maps.”
I went outside to take a picture of it and my neighbor walked by and said, “Oh that’s so pretty. ‘I AM NOT SIMPLY MY OWN. LOST. MAKING MAPS,’” and I was like, “Welp. Close enough, I guess.”
Love and canaries,
~ me
Oh, Jenny, I love you.
If you offered prints of this, I would buy one. (Autocorrect tried to change this to “buy none” and make me look like an asshole!) Anyway, even the way your neighbor read it was kind of lovely.
Have the BEST time in the Canary’s!!! I passed through Tenerife a couple of weeks ago on a sailboat heading to San Juan PR (we sailed in from Naples Italy via Tangier). Didn’t get to see as much as I would’ve liked but I loved what I did get to see!
That’s lovely.
Have fun with your friend.
Travel safely and have a grand time!
I hope everything goes smoothly including your bathroom visits. You are not alone in worrying about this. As I get older it seems like fiber is more important. 😳😬🤣💚💚💚
Love, Love, Love! Your thoughts on your poop routine while traveling is EXACTLY how I always approach any time away from my own bathroom. 😆 Sending vibes for a really great trip filled with some joy-filled moments! Thanks so much for being YOU! ❤️
I just love it & it made my day! Thanks Jenny & enjoy the islands!
I love the canary islands! Been there 3 times, different islands and its beautiful!
Which Canary Island? I’m very fond of Tenerife.
Anyway, well done you, and enjoy all those well-earned margueritas.
(It was Tenerife and it was lovely! ~ Jenny)
Not just you. Have an excellent trip.
I always want to know where the best public bathrooms are as I have IBS and anxiety related nervous stomach which results in exactly the same issues as you. Travel and bathroom anxiety go hand in hand. Fiber, toilet seat disposable paper covers and a good supply of wipes usually help make up for less than desirable public bathroom situations.
I hope you have a lovely trip with your friend and your stomach is your friend on the trip.
Lovely art work!
Oof. I definitely have those bathroom issues while in vacation! It’ll be a combination of both if the trip is long enough. Why do I find comfort with my own home toilet? I mean shouldn’t these things be relatively the same?
Beautiful, Jenny, and yes, anytime I change water sources it’s one or the other. <3
Have fun! I hope your bowels behave…
I find travel is so constipating. Also, I get jet-lag even when flying north/south in the same time zone.
Oh, you could definitely get constipated from flying. Be sure to stay hydrated during n after the flight. Also maybe wear a mask to avoid fellow passengers’ nasty cooties? Mainly, have a super great time and come back all refreshed and ready to carry on! 💕
Love your maps and the saying! I’ll be trying this!
Oh happy day, go with the birds LOL
Save travels, Jenny! Enjoy time with your friend!!
Love this idea.
No, you are not alone with travel anxiety. I hate traveling even if is to someplace I’m excited about visiting. Constipation always makes me miserable the whole time I’m gone. And I’m afraid to take anything for it for fear I’ll have an embarrassing accident.
Anyway, Have a good time visiting your friend! Focus on catching up with her.
I kinda like the way your neighbor read your words. I read them several times her way.
Beautiful! Now how about 1 AM NOT MAKING MY OWN MAPS. SIMPLY LOST.
Mei Ling
I’m sending you some of my travel non-anxiety… (should be with you right now). Treat yourself to a lovely snack at the airport, browse in the bookshop (I know, it’s a crappy bookshop but browse anyway) your holiday starts the minute you leave the house and nice things will happen the whole time 😊☀️
As a cartographer and someone who enjoys all the art you share, this week is a double joy. Wishing you a wonderful trip.
Have a great trip and visit with your friend! I loved your map art!
It’s not just you. I thought it was just me that quit pooping when I travel…
I love that! Isn’t it awesome when your creations take on whole new meanings for the people who experience them? It’s like you birth your little creativity babies and send them out into the world and you can never dream of what they might become out there in the world! 🥰❤️
Are you going to see Mail?? If so say hi! Have a great trip.
I love this! But, I read it wrong, too.
great
Have a wonderful time! I just learned from a dna test that a large chunk of my ancestors came from the Canary Islands.
Enjoy and just know that you are not the only constipated traveler.
Definitely not alone on the anxiety/gut thing. Once any mother in law said something kind of cruel to me and I had to immediately go to a porty a potty and empty my guts. UGH.
It’s gotten better with age for me, but I don’t know if I just dgaf anymore, or I’m just too isolated, but it did get better. I’m glad you get to/got to go someplace fun with a friend.
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