Simply put, it means so much, Say it slowly, with a whisper, gentle gratitude, soft on a cloud swimming gracefully by. Given not taken, expecting nothing on your breath.
There has been a reason I have not had time to write very much. I am going to blame YOGA! Yes, I am stretched and more flexible with renewed energy, However it is not my extra classes that have been stopping me writing. Far from it, I can always find time to write.
Yoga has helped me clear my mind from the usual chatter that has been filling it up recently, clearing some room for a creativity that is demanding a more physical and visual approach. Out have come some paintbrushes, scrapers, sponges and anything else I can use to release the images in my head. When my words start to turn to pictures, anything can happen and I am feeling a colourful sense of freedom.
So I want to say THANK YOU to my yoga practice and the lovely ladies who have encouraged me. I am also grateful to my walks that have inspired some amazing shapes and textures, from the sky to the roadside, the ocean waves and the soft sandy beaches, The creamy swirls in my coffee and the vibrancy of oranges and pomegranates picked locally from our trees. My mind is open and aware.
But unlike me, you do not have to be on a retreat, or on your travels to find something that will help you to offload, like any new habit that needs to be formed, we must find a way to stay committed. Maybe a yoga class every day is out of your reach, however, a small meditation or a short walk alone can take you inwards, to the silence you often need to be effective in clearing out the clutter. This could mean you will need to get out of bed an hour earlier, or turn off the TV. Look to the times in your day where you do nothing that is important and make some space to free yourself. Perhaps you could do this every day for one month, Set a challenge and call it a mental detox. for a creative flow.
A creative brain can often go into overload and leave you feeling overwhelmed and frustrated. This is why it is important to give yourself a blank canvass. If you think that you do not have a creative brain, do it anyhow and see what happens. Making room for some creativity is good for your health.
Painting yourself a different colour, I love this quote. I have argued this point many times. If you feel low, it is possible to lift your spirits by believing you are happier. It can be hard to believe this, when you feel lost. However it is scientifically proven now that this works. We can convince our mind that all is well. Simply smiling even when we feel like shit! will release Serotonin (The happy hormone)
The magic is in the smile,
I wrote in my book ASnazzy Tale. Describing how children react when you smile at them. Paint that smile and keep it there until your jaw aches. See the responses you receive from others. The happy energy will flow back to you. Be miserable and nobody will want to be around you. Be miserable and stay sorrowfully in that zone. Not only will you feel miserable, you will send that energy out to others. Find a way to let go of negative emotions.
It is all just a process. When art is used as a therapy, like writing poetry or a journal, there is always a journey involved. Often there is no forward planning. Where creativity resides it needs a river to flow from. You never know entirely the direction it is going to taking you, Art is like that, there is never a wrong direction, but I will say one thing. ‘It feels bloody good when you get there.‘
