✨THIS is my FAVORITE doing daily video I created…
It was day 9 of #doingdailywtmm a year ago. A spontaneous moment that worked out so well.

New York had its first big snow storm of 2020. We received an amber alert to not go outside. So I put my jacket and gloves on and went to the center of Central Park. I buried my iPhone in a pile of snow. Then hummed this song that I LOVE from ‘Beautiful’ Carol King the musical. “So far Away”

At the time I only saw one light. The center light. When I got home and edited it I saw all the lights! Like a well lit stage. It reminds me of a classic scene in an MGM film. Picturesque and almost like a painting. To my surprise I overlaid the song I was humming and it fit so well. I’d never edited videos before daily’s so I was pretty happy with how this worked out. Maybe that’s why it’s my favorite. Or, it’s just my never ending love of the classics, a cliche and beautiful color and scenery.

At 100 videos I received the most horrible voice message I’ve ever received. The words that were said echoed the insecurities I’d been trying to overcome. As a result I deleted most of my videos from Instagram. I didn’t create anything for six weeks.

This is a story for another day, but in short, this voice message was pivotal in my journey of doing and overcoming. It was the beginning of learning to ‘manage my mind’. Learning to separate thoughts from facts. Understanding my thoughts are different to others and being okay with that. Acknowledging my feelings, and learning to work through the many challenges my mind throws at me.

Super shout out to Dana Wilson and the WTMM Community. At 100 videos the deep work really began. And continues.

While I’m not creating a video daily anymore, I have developed and addictive habit to create often. God created us all individuals, with unique gifts. Here’s the kicker: to share them. So spiritually it makes sense that I’m feeling a little freer then I was this time a year ago. Creativity may have been the biggest thing missing from my life.

I’m excited to share what I’ve learnt in the following blogs. For now I’m working on creating larger projects and navigating away from Instagram’s instant scroll then see ya later culture. Sometimes art needs more space then a 1:1/ 9:16 BUT it does have its benefits!

During the height of the pandemic I watched a few people complete the doing daily challenge. Inspired by episode 1 of Dana Wilson’s Words that Move Me podcast, I decided after my little Imovie creation that perhaps I should commit to seven days of doing. In attempt to keep my mind busy and get me up in the morning I did just that, I made a commitment, I stuck to my word. I started to create a video daily.

With encouragement, progress, and play seven days became thirty, then fifty. Eventually I’d created 100 videos in 100 days plus some.

What I learnt from this journey.

Deep Breathe!

How to edit and edit fast. Not comparing my ability and ideas with others. Sticking to my word. Making creativity a habit. Trusting my ideas. Acting on my ideas. Starting something. Finishing something. Dancing for camera. Owning my style. Developing my style. What works and doesn’t on Instagram. I learnt not to care about Instagram. Sharing courageously. Breaking down perfection. Accountability. And more…

Featured over 100 videos were sad days. happy days. nothing days. Romance, travel. adventure. I documented the day my mattress grew some legs and my apartment slowly became furnished. I danced in snow, rain, sand, confetti, paper, and yes, if you’ve followed… wine glasses

100 videos brought fresh perspective to my life career and relationships.

I was also introduced to a group of awesome artists who were doing daily at the same time. Together we shared ideas, support and encouragement.

Forever inspired by the doers who are some of the best friends now.

1:30pm on this day one year ago I edited my first little video.

I was in a dark place.

As the world began to re-open after the pandemic and things seemed a little brighter, I found myself waking up at 1pm daily, crying, going to work, repeating the habit the next day.

Months of almost no income and zero unemployment. A falling out with a big influence in my life. Almost all my friends had moved out of New York. The one thing I did have, my bike, was stolen and I’d been living on a mattress on the floor for 4 months.

You get the idea. It sucked.

At 1:30pm on this day I rolled around to some ‘Lianne Le Havas’ tunes. Trying to do that thing where you let your emotions out through movement #artist. I filmed it.

As I dragged the cursor over the video on my IPhone I realized the movement looked better sped up. So I consulted iMovie. Then and there I edited my first ever doing daily.

For a good 30 minutes I became hyper focused on creating something. When I finished my thoughts were ‘Werrrkk Hannah’ you did something today! In that moment I felt a little proud, accomplished and energized.

This was the beginning of 100 consecutive days of creating. discovering, learning and playing.

This was the beginning of a new season of growth as an artist, dancer, and human.