Words are hard to come by today. I've been sitting in front of my laptop for over an hour. I've typed lots of words and then erased them and then typed some more.
It's been pretty hot the past few nights and I haven't been sleeping well. And I may be a little cranky because of that. And even though last week was fantastic because I launched my first ever online class, this week feels like it's starting off heavier. Maybe that's inevitable after such a momentous occasion. Expand. Contract. The flow of energy of the universe. Or something like that.
Also? Totally distracted this afternoon because there was a brush fire only a couple miles from my house and less than a 1/4 mile from the grocery store I was at when it got started. With the way wildfires are lately, I know all too well how quickly a small fire can instantaneously erupt into a huge disaster in moments. Thank goodness this one was contained pretty quickly, only 70 or so acres. Which is just so amazing. It's hot and dry and windy today. So grateful. And it can make any emotional problems evaporate pretty quickly, taking the focus off anything I was dealing with and instead remembering what's important. Unfortunately it cranked up my stress response system pretty high. I'm a little on edge because of all that too. On top of not enough sleep. Oof.
All of this in stark contrast to the fact that I had an amazing day yesterday. I started by helping with a grape harvest. I live in wine country, over 50 wineries in the little county I live in, I don't know the exact acreage of grapes grown here, but it's more than tripled since I moved here 25 years ago. Then I ended the day volunteering at a fundraiser dinner that is all about bringing awareness to and promoting local agriculture. The food ~ from local growers and producers ~ was delicious to say the least. I've lived in this rural area of California for 25 years now and I'm a big proponent of getting folks to learn about and appreciate where their food comes from. Connection to place is something I'm definitely passionate about, whether that's through an agricultural lens, through a relationship to the wild places that haven't been developed, or by promoting healthy backyard habitats that are better for everyone humans and non humans alike. Humans are a part of nature not separate from it and I guess I feel that if more people understood that connection, if we were in relationship with the place we live, then maybe we'd all take better care of things ~ and each other.
One other thing I'm passionate about is the gift of creativity. Having a creative practice, whether it's professional or a hobby, has so many benefits. To be in the flow of a creative activity helps you to relax, gives focus to your mind, reduces feelings of anxiety and can increase your well being. You get to explore your emotions, pay attention to your thoughts, let your unconscious reveal things to you, and even in some cases process and release traumatic experiences. It's why I do the work I do, to encourage everyone I meet to discover and deepen some kind of creative path that is right for them. It's so good for you!!
But I'm also human. And even though I know the benefits of a creative path I too fall into ruts and forget to follow my own encouragement. I let the negative voices take over a bit too long and they get a bit too loud. To be honest, it's really confusing when this happens, because part of me says, "you should know better, this is what you teach and share with others." So, I have to find ways to take a deep breath, to remember I am not a super hero, I am not perfect, and I get to have my bad moments ~ or days ~ too. Today has felt like one of those days, where I need reminding myself.
But the thing is that because I know and share the benefits of a creative path regularly now ~ and I'm so passionate about why the reasons to do this is so important ~ I do have some ways of getting through those rough spells, and I'm glad to share them with you. First, I reach out to friends ~ I complain a bit and I allow myself the woe is my mentality for a moment or three. It's so much better to not isolate yourself, but that can also be really hard to remember. Moving my body is something else I do. I'll go for a walk, do some yoga, or go to the gym. Moving from my head to my body is such a brilliant thing to do, can't recommend that enough. Another way of getting out of my head is to actually DO something: I need to bust out my paints, make a meal, journal a bit, or even write a blog post. The act of creating something ~ using my hands ~ inevitably brings me back to my center. I can let out whatever energy needs to be released through the creative process of making something. Helping others through a cause I care about is another way I do this. Yesterday was all about that. Combining all these approaches is even better, they add up, and really make an impact. These are not magic cures by any means, but they usually help on some level ~ as long as I can remember to lean into them and do them!
So what's your creative practice? What are you passionate about? How do you get out of your head and quell the nasty voices? Share your ideas if you feel like it, we're all in this together and can encourage each other too. If you don't have any ideas or don't know where to start, well, I can help with that. Reach out, I'd love to connect.
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If you know you want to be a more creative person but just aren't sure where to begin, this online self-paced course is for you, The Portal to Creativity. The activities invite you to be curious, to start reflecting on who you are, and to find out more about what moves you in life. It's a chance to get to know yourself better. By the end you'll have a clearer direction of where to start your creative path, and know yourself even better too.
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