As I lamented the other day, creative time has been in short supply for me the past week or so. As I mentioned the other day, I have been feeling vaguely out of sorts and a little bit guilty for feeling like I need to take some time to write or just think! So I was thrilled to come across this article by one of my favorite bloggers, Andrea at Superhero Designs, whose writing never fails to inspire me.
How do we live a creative life and pursue our passions and dreams while still raising our kids, having full time jobs, caring for elderly parents, etc.? We speculate on how those people out there do it, those folks in the magazines who seem to be so shiny and happy. We assume that everyone else has somehow figured this one out and we are the only ones who are exhausted, depleted and undernourished by creative juice at the end of each day.
You are SO not alone people.
Here are some tips for creating more balance and creative nourishment for YOU:
#1. Permission
Give yourself permission to do your creative work. Yes, your work is important (even if you are not making money from it) No, it is not self-indulgent. No, it does not mean you are selfish or that you don’t love your family.For creative people, (that means you) part of nourishing ourselves is making time for our creative lives. It is our life blood. It is part of what makes us feel alive. We feed ourselves with our creative work and just like food, sleep and love, we need to feed our creative spirits to stay vibrant and alive.
Fact.
Click over to read the rest of her advice. I feel like printing her post up and putting it on the wall, or tattooing it on my forearm (well, I guess I’d need much longer arms).
June 25, 2008 at 3:41 pm
Another great post. I get persnickety about the word “permission” but your meaning is spot on. Creative people create and they may or may not get paid, but that is what they do. Guys who sit at the bar hour after hour or go play baseball several nights a week don’t get any hassles when they’re not offered a big contract. Not sure why many people like to chuckle at a person who writes, or engages in another creative act. These same people go to the movies and are wowed by what’s on screen or laugh at TV or look for a book to show them how to remodel their basement. Strange, isn’t it? Until I figure that out, I’ll hang around at http://www.bentpage.wordpress.com.
June 25, 2008 at 6:43 pm
I never feel creative, but I am reading all this hoping that will arise someday.
June 25, 2008 at 7:13 pm
So true! thanks for the link!
June 25, 2008 at 11:33 pm
Thanks for the pointer to Andrea’s post. I read it and realised that I have been doing many of things already: I gave myself permission this year and have 60,000 words under my belt, I asked for help and had my husband and father-in-law look after the kids so I could have a six-day writing retreat, I organised a writing group who have now become the cheerleaders of my book, and I write in the cracks and corners of my day. These are principles that work! But it starts with the permission – that is critical.
June 26, 2008 at 12:51 pm
Daniel — that’s very true. Writing and other creative pursuits are valuable in and of themselves!
Jan — really? I wouldn’t have guessed that from your lovely blog!
Shellyfish — You’re welcome!
Charlotte — You are living proof that these techniques work!!
June 26, 2008 at 8:08 pm
So nice of you to affirm me like that. Thanks.
July 2, 2008 at 8:55 am
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