Kale, Keys and Creativity

Yes, we are transitioning into Fall. 

The last days of summer are slipping quickly by us and the busy-ness of the Fall season is picking up speed. Last week I felt like such a busy adult. Ending my summer lessons and transitioning into my Fall programs and routines... it left me feeling a bit tired and wondering where the all the time had gone?! 

In the midst of my busy schedule (or rather, my adjusting to a new schedule) I was so looking forward to attending at least one yoga class. However, my busy-ness and my brain were not working together, because in the midst of rushing to the Y for the class I love, I locked my keys in my car. 

Yes, this last week had me feeling very human, but not necessarily as creative as I would have liked. 

Regardless, I had one moment of creative triumph. That moment was my first try at preparing Kale salad. Yes, Kale. And I must say, it was delicious!

Everything else in my creative life may have slowly eeked and creaked along as I rushed by it all, but the Kale was awesome. Even though I had the incident with the keys, the Kale was awesome. Even though I am not a super human who can do it all, all of the time, the Kale was awesome. This is not a blog for recipes, but I have been thinking through recipes a lot recently (since now I have so many more to try since my Kale triumph of 2012!). 

Recipe for Creativity

Don't measure, just throw in what you've got when you've got it and mix it all together....

-humility

-presence 

-sense of adventure

-skills (ones you have & the ones you are learning!)

-faith

-endurance 

-fun

-laughter (making mistakes with grace for yourself)

-openness to learn

This is a recipe for the slow cooker. This Creative Life ain't no minute rice! Be gracious with yourself. When you feel like throwing in the towel, when you say you'll never paint again, or your "art" won't amount to much, remember that this is a process with new things unfolding slowly but surely each day. 

Don't focus on your failures (keys do not belong locked in cars) but instead find one small creative triumph to focus on and celebrate (what's your Kale?) to keep you moving forward. 

Do you have a Keys & Kale type of incident to share that brought some of these same thoughts to light? If so, tell us about it!

Keep nurturing your art, 
Court