I believe that living creatively is rooted in having your eyes open to inspiration, focused, attentive and present.
While I believe this strongly, my personality is driven and I am often pulled along mentally to the next challenge or where i am headed tomorrow. I miss the inspiration. That exchange that happens when we 'respond' fully to stimuli in the present....a cookbook that sparks a desire to bake, a sunset that inspires you to run and grab your camera, a tickle with your child that causes you to laugh out loud together...all inspiring moments fully lived.
I have noticed an increasing desire as I get older and my children's personalities more 'full' to observe the seasons as a positive marker for the ebb & flow of life. Instead of observing our culture's freight-train mentality, I am drawn to slow in winter in order to conserve the energy to 'sprout' again in spring. Qld living doesn't often inspire this hibernation with its toasty warm days and only rugged up at night so I have to remind myself that this is the slow season.
Our winters for the past 5 years have been marked by close friend's extended stay and often I find myself whipped up in the enthusiasm for change that visitors can bring. But then I remember, this is the slow season...more books, more games, more baking, more together, more inspiration stored up, pondered, taken in for the coming Spring.
I believe that inspiration should be 'soaked in' during winter. Reading good books and like the spicy fruit macerating on my stove, pondered, considered, processed and stored. For out of this storehouse can come great productivity and growth in time. For now, I must remember not to miss the inspiration that is here for the seeing, right now, with eyes open.
What can you see that inspires you this winter? A good book? Board games or puzzles with your children, the knitting basket, a game of backyard soccer or family bikeride? Delicious smells wafting from the kitchen? Stunning sun drenched scenery outside?
These are just a few snaps of creativity happening here this weekend...
Ahh nothing like a sweet visual reminder to savor the moments and soak up the inspiration of the everyday. Hope your weekend was rich!
