Forces

For the past few months I’ve made the conscious decision to get up by 5am each morning. I’ve started the day with various activities including meditation, hot yoga and simple tasks I need to catch up on in order to stay somewhat ahead in this game called life.

Today was no exception. Naturally, I awoke at 4:44am and began with a cup of green tea. Next I went on with knocking out the tasks needed to make sure I could keep this blog up and running. I realize its been almost a year since I posted anything, but I have been feeling a bit of a tug to write again.

My focus this week is on the uncontrollable forces of life. So many variables are pushing at me these days and I thought I would share my theory on when we should allow ourselves to be leaves on the wind.

My theory is this: If forces are pushing us to better ourselves (i.e. be a better artist, companion, parent, worker, etc.), I believe we should just let go and roll with it. Sometimes this is hard, but this is the precise moment creative thinking can benefit us. I’ve found that in most cases, forces taking us out of our comfort zone make us better. However, there are times when your gut tells you forces are simply trying to push you out of the way with no concern for your well being. It is in these rare times we must stand firm and simply push back.

Creativity is a muscle, in my humble opinion, and exercising it regularly gives us the strength we need to understand the difference between letting go and pushing back. This is why we draw, paint, write, bake, garden, design. Creativity hones us. Trust your gut, my friends.

Becoming Loose

The first quarter of 2018 is almost over and I've been hustling. I'm always busy at the beginning of the year with things like post holiday clean up, taxes, professional certification renewals and winter garden projects. I can't believe I've managed to find any time to do anything creative. But this year I've got a new project management system and it's working for me. 

My journaling, gardening and artistic endeavors have come together into one notebook and I really like the way it's shaping up. There's more creative flow in my life and less rigidness.  I'm doing less, but accomplishing more. I can't explain it. 

I think part of it has to do with maturity and spiritual growth. Letting go of what no longer works is one of those life lessons that has taken me a long time to learn.  And I'm finally at a point where I understand what it means to embrace my feminine, right brain self. 

Very little is planned in my life right now. I just have an ongoing list of ideas I'd like to implement. If I lose interest, the ideas are tossed. If they pull me deeper into the rabbit hole, I fall freely.  Life is too short or at least that's my current perspective. 

How To Make A Paper Snowflake

Making paper snowflakes has to be one of the most mindful and rewarding activities for me. No one snowflake is the same and I as I cut random patterns, I'm always excited to see the reveal. 

Paper snowflakes require very little in terms of material. Just a sheet of paper and a pair of good scissors will help you make magic during the holiday season. In abundance, paper snowflakes can transform a window, door or entire room.

I've put together a simple demonstration on how to make a six pointed snowflake. My only advice is use a good pair of scissors. I prefer Cutter Bee scissors which can be found among my list of favorite things.