Since I have been blogging for over 20 years, I have some old posts I would like to share on Thursdays.
I hope you enjoy it!
Do you ever notice that it’s really easy to think of things you don’t like about yourself?
That inner voice is so critical all the time. What if it said nice things about you, instead of bad things all the time? I don’t know about you, but I have days where all I do all day long is beat myself up. I think at some point in our lives, we are told that liking yourself is conceded. It’s bad to wake up for the day and think “I am awesome!”, because some grown up, sibling, friend or bully along the way told us we weren’t, We could never be.
Well, I’m here to call bullshit on that one.
I’m sick of self deprecating. I’m sick of not feeling special, because you know what? I am, and you are.
YUP.
Do you know the odds of you even being here right now? The odds of being born is one in 400 trillion. 400 TRILLION. You can’t even think of a trillion things, I bet, and yet here you are.
I can’t think of a trillion things I like about myself, but here are 5 (which were hard to come up with!):
I like my sense of humor.
It’s weird, and unconventional in some ways, but dammit I’m funny. I like making people laugh. I love when something funny comes out that I didn’t even have to plan ahead of time. I can crack jokes with all the boys. I can make a joke and lighten a situation. I can even make people laugh when they are supposed to be mad at me. That takes skill, my friends, and I have it.
I like the way I can jump into action whenever there is a crisis.
Husband lost a job? No problem, no need to panic – let’s make a plan. Kid threw up in bed? No problem, let’s get that kid in the tub and those sheets in the wash.
You won’t find me sitting in the corner when there is a problem to solve.
I like that I obsess over stuff I love.
I like that I get really really obsessed with a subject, object, or hobby and have to research it until I know everything there is to know about it. I’ll even make note if something intrigues me to obsess about later. I’m never bored. I always have a project in my back pocket.
I like my ambitious side
I like how ambitious I can get. I’ve always been the believer of if you work hard enough on something you can make it happen. I often become a cheerleader for others who want to better themselves because of this belief. Come to me if you don’t want to hear that you ‘can’t do it’ again. I’ll tell you that you can.
I like being a Mom
I love how I love my kids. I never thought of myself as maternal – but sometimes I’ll be in a mommy moment and become impressed with myself. Especially when they are happy doing a project with me, smiling and laughing, or when Maddie tells me she feels better because of something I did.
Ahhh, I feel better about myself already.
Why don’t you take a moment to write a list of things you like about yourself today?
Do you ever feel like creativity is that elusive lightning bolt, only striking when the conditions are just right? It’s like waiting for that sudden, electrifying jolt of inspiration to light up your mind and spark your next big project?
Well, as someone juggling life with a beautifully chaotic, neurodivergent brain, wrangling the wild ride of parenting, and managing the entrepreneurial hustle — I’ve realized something:
Creativity can’t just be a one-off guest appearance. It’s got to be a regular feature in my life for my health, my sanity, and my overall well-being.
So, I am making creativity a consistent part of my day. By exploring new things, diving into fresh experiences, and understanding my own rhythm, I can keep my creative practice not just alive, but thriving! It’s about being authentic and intentional—making creativity not just a visitor, but a cherished housemate. So here’s to turning every day into an adventure and letting creativity be the star of the show!
Make Showing Up a Habit
When I finally carve out time to enter my creative space, I want it to feel like stepping into an alternate universe where time stands still and worries hit the pause button. Just a few minutes in this magical realm can shift my entire perspective (though let’s be honest, I’d love to stay there forever!). The trick is making this a regular habit—like my morning coffee ritual. Hmm, maybe with my morning coffee?
Showing up to my creativity is showing up for myself.
Exploring New Tech
I’m constantly drawn to the thrill of new tech. I have a cool collection of what I like to call my creative droid army. My motley crew of 3D printers, regular printers, cutters, sewing gizmos, and lasers has grown over the years – and some I haven’t touched in a long time, or have been too intimidated to use.
It’s not just about picking up a new skill (though that’s pretty nifty); it’s about embarking on a whole new adventure. Each beep, whirr, and buzz from these little creative companions is like a warm hug to me.
I need to pay more attention to my creative droids.
Child-like artistic play
When you walk down this aisle , do you feel it too?
Honestly, I’ve got so many art supplies stashed away that I’ve yet to even touch—waiting for the “perfect” project. But why wait? I can just grab a sketchbook and start doodling without a plan, like I did when I was a kid. Remember those days? When a blank page was the universe, and a crayon was your magic wand? Yeah, let’s bring that back! Sometimes, the best masterpieces come from a good ol’ fashioned play session. So, here’s to getting messy and letting creativity run wild!
Gathering inspiration
I could leave the house (yikes, I am such a homebody) and visit a local maker space or pick up a hobby that’s always piqued my interest but I have yet to try. My bookshelf has a stack of books that are a treasure trove of ideas. Documentaries, workshops, or online classes can spark a thought that might grow into something beautiful. I LOVE watching movies and stories of all kinds…
Sharing on Social Media
I have no problem sharing my professional portfolio because it doesn’t feel as vulnerable as sharing my personal creative work. I want to share my creative side to find my tribe and inspire, even though it scares the heck out of me.
Setting Realistic Goals
But as a recovering perfectionist, I know how easy it is to set the bar too high and feel overwhelmed. So, it’s crucial for me to set realistic goals and recognize small wins along the way.
And rest? Well, that’s a crucial part of the process, too.
If you want to bring more creativity into your life, I hope my experiences inspire you to embrace and share your creative journey, too.
Let’s support each other and create something beautiful together!