I found a great quote to illustrate for this week's calendar sketch.  Hope you enjoy.

  I'm really focusing nowadays on how to effectively use my time.  I've found that I'm most satisfied when I'm able to effectively use time through work or other proactive ideas.  To help myself, I've set up a list of some changes that I'm making to my life.
  I'm cleansing away a lot of activities that waste time.  I'm not turning into a monk or hermit, but replacing shallow activities with more rewarding ones.
  At the end  of the day, I'm either going to go to bed satisfied after a day filled with spiritually rewarding activities or not.  So to summarize, here's a list of some of my new goals:

1.  Internet use for checking email and updating my website.  
      -Time spent online is for a specific purpose, instead of aimlessly wandering around.  Blog posts will continue because I view it as an extension of my personal diary.  I also consider part of this to extend to my phone, which is also basically a computer.  The phone will serve merely to call.  Texts will also be limited.

2.  Gym time, no excuses.
        -On the days where I don't feel like going, I must remind myself that it will be even more rewarding once I'm done.  I always look forward to the gym, but I've been slacking recently.

3.  Spend more time outside.
         -As the weather gets nicer, I'll be spending more time sitting outside, walking and enjoying the weather.

4.  Healthier eating.
         -Cooking new dishes.  No excuses about not having enough time to make a meal.  Part of this is also drinking more water.

5.  Wake up earlier/go to bed earlier.
          -Another goal where I have to say, "no excuses".  I'm not setting a bedtime or anything, but I'll be going to bed earlier and getting up earlier.  I always read before I go to bed, so that is already a step which I've taken.  But I feel like I can spend even more time reading.
                                         ***

   So this is my list with some goals.  I'm already proud of the way that I live my life: I read a lot, I'm in good physical shape, my career is going well and my art is getting better every day.  This list is an extension with some changes that I feel are important for reaching a new level of happiness.

  I was super inspired today to do my calendar sketch inspired by some recent thoughts and the new manga that I'm looking at.  My recent thoughts have been surrounding the fact that possessions are worthless.  The only things that matter are your skill and knowledge.
 I'm so proud of the recent progress with my illustrations overall.  I've really been letting the pencil and brush do the work, instead of overthinking about technique.  I start now with a clear idea of what I want to represent, then I keep drawing until it looks good.  I've been using watercolor for these, which has been working great.
​  Just put on some good music and have fun!  

  I just got my copy of The Journey of Shuna, by Hayao Miyazaki.  The first thing that I think is really cool about it is how small it is (6" X 4.5").  Also, it has a dust jacket which is super cool.  My copy is in the original wrapping and has a small book mark that matches the cover of the book.  The book mark that's included, all the details and the fact that it's pocket-sized, make this such a precious book.
  I don't read Japanese, but I'll find a translation online.  For now, the illustrations are what I'm mostly interested in.