I’ve been thinking a lot lately about shifts. Shifting became our collective norm these last 3 years and I, like you, have not been left unscathed. I could fill a book with my thoughts about the past three years, but I’ll start where I am now instead. So, back to shifts. The main shift I’ve felt recently is a pull to creativity and divesting from some of the consumption habits that have carved a well-worn path these last few years.
Firstly, I want to define what I mean by consumption – anything I personally use or consume in my daily life. We all consume (food, entertainment, water, books, material goods, etc.) every day, but I am noticing recently the balance of consumption vs. creation in my own life and seeing that things have tilted heavily towards consumption recently. I read a lot, eat food, drink diet soda, buy things for myself and my family, watch my favorite Youtuber, and the list goes on. None of these things are bad. None of them. But, what I’ve been missing is creating.
I previously wrote a weekly email as a part of my job for a local arts nonprofit but that ended when I took a full-time job in my previous field during the pandemic. I would bake a loaf of bread (or 4) each week during 2020 and most of 2021. I would paint with my kids and make birthday cards for friends or family members. I would sew. I would write on this blog. I would create digital graphics as a part of my job.
While many of these “creations” still exist in some form in my life, I see there is a strong connection with the imbalance of creativity and my feelings of overwhelm and stress. Immersing myself in nature via twice or thrice weekly hikes with friends has largely gone away. I still walk and move daily, and take a weekend hike, but the shifts with friends’ lives have also affected mine. We’ve all had shifts in work, health, and with aging kids, more running around for drop-off’s and pick-up’s. This is life.
But, realignment happens too. And that’s where I’m at today. As a part of my intention to add creativity to my life, I’ll be writing here regularly again. Specifically, subjects that are calling to me now involve nature immersion, frugality, and trying new things. To this end, you’ll see shorter form essays and many list-type posts.
I’ll be writing here as an exercise for me, but it’s here for you too.
xo, LBG