Hi everyone!
Yes, at 1:20 AM I should soooo be asleep since I have so
much to accomplish in a few hours, but this is what happens when a doctor gives
you 2 shots at 3 PM to try and help you get well. I had said earlier on Facebook that I knew
this would mean lots of writing for me and wow has that been the truth.
As I sat here trying to fall asleep, without much success, I
couldn’t help but think of all of my different projects. Creatives are often known for taking on too
much and finishing very little. On more
than one occasion I have had people ask me how I juggle the many hats that I
wear and I think I have found the answer.
I have always been a multitasker, hey I was an Army wife
for 18 years – I was taught this from the moment I stepped of the plane in
Germany. You hear me say over and over
how blessed I am, but I have an amazing career that lets me teach young adults
how they CAN come to like and even LOVE computers because we can use them to
make incredible things and literally change the world. I have a friend that for 14 years has laughed
and said, “Do you still love your job?”
And I can honestly tell her yes.
There aren’t many people that can do this.
So over the weekend I embroidered; today I was writing; and tonight I posted a picture of my Garden Glitter. How do I decide what I want to do? How do I get it done?
In July we celebrate Independence Day and for me July 2015
was not only a real life Independence Day, but it also marked a time in my life
when God opened doors for me I never thought I would have the chance to walk
through again. It was literally like the
butterfly finally getting free from the cocoon and being told, it’s all yours -
go for it – it’s time.
So I did, I swam with the Sharks and went back to
school. I wrote research and chapters
for my books at a feverish pace. And
then the funniest thing happen, then I started to see pieces of the puzzle of
my life that I only dreamed of in my writings take shape. The girl/The woman who had been told her
whole life she had a bad habit of not finishing things was doing it with every
ounce of her being. I dreamed, planned,
and brought to fruition THE Curiosity Cottage that had always been in my heart,
but now was a place I could show the world.
One by one, person by person, and detail by detail God let it all fall
into place – in a way that I had only dreamed of. But once again it so beautifully illustrated
that His timing is ALWAYS better than ours and when He is behind it the results
are truly breath taking.
So now what, how do I keep this constructive creative journey
going since my life is now free from chaos?
Well it starts by first becoming comfortable enough with me, finally
after 50 years, that I realize I love to do things and explore – after all from
the very beginning I have said Curiosity Cottage was “a place to explore my curiosity
of life” – and if I am not comfortable exploring the world in my own little
space, then how could I possible do this anywhere else? Yes it is time to simplify and get rid of
things that I don’t need. That will come
over the next several months. With each
new step; with each new accomplishment; and each time that I try out these new
wings, I will get there.
I have come to the conclusion that it is okay if I
embroidery sometimes, and write sometimes.
There is nothing wrong with making Garden Glitter in the spring so
people can put it in their gardens, but lamps in the summer out of tea pots
when people don’t want to go outside. It’s
OK to learn new things and go on new adventures.
In other words, there is no right or wrong way to be a
creative. We don’t have to pick one
certain craft, hobby, or passion and do that forever. For me personally I would die of
boredom.
When our community started Maker Mornings with Todd Henry as
the first speaker, I don’t think anyone fully realized the impact that this was
going to have. Just yesterday someone in
our Maker Morning Tribe commented on how we are not competing with each other. Instead, our creative energy is actually having
a snowball effect. I was being an
accidental creative before I ever heard about the book. I wanted to die empty before anyone every told
me I should. And I was combing art with
technology before I ever knew that LSU was turning this into a whole degree
program. I just thought I was out in
left field, never knowing there was actually a tribe out there doing this same
thing.
Being a creative can often be a lonely life. Often times some of the people closest to us
just don’t get us. If we aren’t careful
they can inadvertently crush out spirit.
But having a group of like minded creatives – well I think there are a
lot more butterflies in Central Louisiana finding their way out of their
cocoons than any of us could even imagine just yet!
Until tomorrow or later today…
Posts
