Unrelated, but one of my fave photos from our Hawaii trip in 2006.
Readers,
How’s your week going? I’m getting sick but I’ve also been reading a lot and getting my apartment in shape, so that’s good.
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how I want my life to look when I am old and look back to reflect. And thinking about what in my life gives me joy currently. And it’s become abysmally clear that I want to be more creative.
Sure, blogging is creative and I love it (and you guys! Thanks SOOO much for reading and your sweet comments!). But I want to be more active with my hands. I want to try sewing and quilting and baking and gardening. I tried screenprinting and just want more (I need to take photos of what I made to show you!). I want to try glassblowing. I really want to get back into pottery (I used to be pretty good on the wheel). I’m brimming with inspiration and plans.
My obstacles are time, accessibility, and lack of focus. I can’t pick one thing to get started with. My evenings after work are taken up with dinner preparation, the occasional social outing, and blog stuff. I’m trying to save some money and don’t want to blow it on a hobby that I decide I don’t like in 6 weeks.
(I should say now that I am not planning to give up blogging at all! I don’t want you to think that’s where this is going!).
Basically I’m frustrated. I’m inspired but I don’t know where to start. I’m motivated but don’t have the skills, knowledge, or tools to move forward. I see before me this ideal of a life that I want but am not sure how to get.
How do you incorporate creativity into your life? Do you sew, or write poetry, or bake, or dance? Do you have to set aside time or does it fit in naturally? And what, in your opinion, should be my next hurdle? I look forward to reading your responses, so please comment (and delurk!) Lastly, would you be interested in reading a series on this topic (fitting creativity into your day to day life) and what would you want to hear?
P.S. The book discussion for “Tales of a Female Nomad” will be in one week, on the 1st of July! Even if you’ve only read a few chapters, I’d love for you to participate, so be sure to pick up a copy if you haven’t yet!
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Have you read/heard of “The Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron? It is so amazing for whatever type of craft/hobby/art you want to pursue and will help you wrap your mind around it all. Try it!
hey maggie! i can’t really say that i’m “delurking” because i just found your blog yesterday, so hello! first, your photo is beautiful. we spent 12 days in kauai last year and i remember those gorgeous sunsets so vividly. second, i understand where you’re coming from with your work day & dinner preparations zapping your energy and leaving you little room for creativity. there’s a lack of time and a lack of drive to do anything but sit on the couch after we eat and read blogs/watch tv. i try to be most creative in my cooking because it’s something that i know HAS to get done every day. i also crave the weekends when i do have the energy and time to do the things that i love. though i don’t have an answer on how you should achieve the life that you want, i encourage you to assess the life that you currently lead now, and find little joys throughout the day that will help you find contentment. i’m doing the same thing
I’m looking forward to the book discussion – I finished it earlier this month & can’t wait to hear what others thought of it.
I also wish I was more creative. But it is not an innate ability for me. The only thing I do that could somewhat be considered ‘creative’ is knit. Which I love to do. I would like to learn to sew, though. I just don’t know where to start! I should probably look into taking a class at a craft store or something.
I am feelin ya on this one. A lot of people have this misconception that stay at home moms have all this free time on their hands and are just sitting around doing a bunch of fun stuff all day, but that is so not true! At least not until the kids are in school someday. Right now it is amazing that I even fit in any blogging time. I think a whole blog series on this would be really great. And I agree with Jill on the book, I have never read it, but heard it is pretty good. My advice would be the 15 minute rule. If you can find 15 minutes a day for your new interest that will at least get the ball rolling and hopefully it will snowball from there.
Yes, I’d love for you to have this creativity series! I have a feeling it will be inspiring for everyone & such a great learning experience, too.
Here’s where I put on my coaching hat & ask you all sorts of questions to help you find your way. Questions like:
* How much time do you have to devote to your new hobby? Take away work, blogging, social commitments, sleeping…what’s left? Is that too much time? If so, how much are you willing to devote to it?
* What would make this the most enjoyable experience for you? Do you like group experiences, or learning on your own? If it’s a group experience, do you like a classroom environment or something more casual? Based on your answer, you can probably eliminate some things from your list (ie you probably need to take a class for pottery & glassblowing, but if you want a more solitary experience then you might want to go down a knitting or gardening route).
* What’s available to you in your area? If you want to knit, is there a place nearby where you can get the materials you need? If you want to blow glass, is there a studio that you can drive to easily?
* It seems like you’re having trouble picking what you want to pursue first. Would any of your interests serve another part of your life (ie learning photography or graphic design might help with your blog)? Or, it you strip everything away, what calls to you most? What’s the biggest pull? You might want to close your eyes, ask yourself what you want to do, and see what comes to mind first.
Hope that’s all helpful! I know you’ll be a wonderful sewer/quilter/baker/gardener/screenprinter/glassblower/potter!
I’m with you – by the time I have free time to devote to a project I want to do I don’t know which to do first so I end up in front of the tv playing sodoku…so frustrating…
Sounds like you’re in a very exciting transformation… The Artist’s Way might be the perfect thing for you right now. I started reading it, but had to take a break as it’s pretty intense. It sounds like you might be ready for it.
I also just did a book review on my blog that you might find inspiring as well. It hits upon achieving your childhood dreams. It’s a good one!
I know this sounds stupid, but I think your problem is that you’re thinking too much about it. Instead of thinking, just do. It doesn’t have to look great at first. Just keep practicing and creating and you’ll get better. I promise. Stop thinking. Start doing.
I would love to see a series about this, Maggie. And I wish I had some advice for you, but I find myself pretty much in the same position as you…lots of ideas/dreams yet no idea where to start.
I was going to mention Michelle’s blog as somewhere to go for serious motivation, but I see she already commented. Should be a great place to start!
Ladies,
Thank you all for your responses! I haven’t read The Artist’s Way, but I’ll look into it. I’m definitely thinking of expanding this idea into a series, so let me know if you have any ideas! I think that this is something that many of us creative people face (and if you’re into design blogs, you’re probably creative, or could be!)
Looking forward to exploring this.
xoxo Maggie