When you truly allow yourself to explore, amazing things happen. Ever since I gave myself permission to discover what makes me happy, I am learning that it is okay to take time out for myself without feeling sorry for it.
For years, productivity meant checking off things on my to-do list. The boring, never-ending list. And it wasn’t making any impact internally, because it wasn’t satisfying a need to accomplish something, something tangible I guess. But, now I have learned to simply give myself permission to explore and do things that make me feel like myself. One of such things is painting (writing is next). There is something exciting about picking up the brush and doodling on a page without any judgment and critique. You don’t know your next stroke, the mixing of colors and textures take their own personality, and somehow the process quiets the clutter around me. And to have people around me that understand the feeling, is priceless.
The intentional interactions with like-minded folks makes me feel alive. I feel connected, without knowing anything more about them except they make time for creative activities. Lately, I am scheduling time for such people and having my own voice in creative gatherings.
With the focus on intention, this past summer felt different from other school holidays. The biggest difference was that I didn’t spend as much time worrying about everyone’s needs or house being perfectly clean. I allowed myself to continue creating, and gave my boys room to enjoy their summer as they wished. There was an uplifting energy in having the freedom to follow your own rhythm.
With connections and time, I am also starting to be more intentional about social media. I am learning what to post and when to post. I am ready to put myself out there and explore the business side of this creative journey. I have realized the people that are going to criticize will do whether I do something or not, so why not just dive in and explore?
I don’t have everything figured out; I am still finding my voice in this journey, learning what I want, and discovering what kind of creativity feels right for me. But I am excited for Fall and ready to live in the present – to start small, to show up, to try something new, to meet like-minded people, and to create and see where it all leads.
Author’s Note: The ideas, reflections, and perspectives expressed here are my own. This piece began with my original writing and was refined with AI assistance to help elaborate on and polish certain sections while maintaining my voice and message.
