Artful Living

My sister-in-law, Cinderella, and I have been talking recently about the importance of having people in your life who support your creative side.  We do this for each other and have great fun doing it!  For those creative souls like us, there also needs to be an outlet for that creativity so that our heads don't explode!  Whether it's writing, photography, cooking, sewing, planning events, painting, canning, gardening, scrap booking, singing...there needs to be something...and all of these activities are MY "things"...my ART.  

Sadly there are plenty of people out there with God given talents that are just wasting away.  The saddest part, though, is that there are people out there who are missing out on the everyday joys of their lives because they feel like they are being deprived of living out their dreams.  They blame this on their jobs, family, kids, or sheer lack of time.  But I believe that there is absolutely nothing about having a job, being a wife, and raising kids that should hold a person back from having their own little world inside their head where they are constantly spinning a web of dreams, ideas, and new projects.  I make it a point to try really hard every day to LIVE my art.  Finding my art in my daily routine saves me.  No.  "Finding" is not the right word.  "Creating" is more like it.  Creating moments in my daily life where I can incorporate something from my creative artillery into whatever it is I may be doing is what saves me.  I have always enjoyed my own little world apart from the everyday life I live (and love) where I dream up new ideas about this and that.  I believe everyone needs that place...that little secret they keep until they're ready to share.

This blogging thing has given me an outlet for all of the sides of me.  Not just writing in my own blog, but by reading the blogs of others.  There is an ocean of bloggers out there who are speaking my language.  It is my nightly adventure and it has opened up yet another door for me to express myself and create a legacy for my kids to savor when dear old Mom is someday gone.  

My point is...why does it all have to stay in your head?  Why can't it trickle out here and there?  Your day only has to be as mundane as you allow it to be.  And don't think you have to go to great lengths to make things happen.  INVITE your kids to have a picnic outside in the middle of the week and ENJOY the green grass together.  Choose a new recipe to COOK and PHOTOGRAPH the steps of making it.  Then post it on your BLOG.  WRITE down a favorite quote or scripture and leave it on your loved one's pillow.  You can THINK big, but START small.  Don't spend too much time or money and don't feel like you have to finish today or ever.  I'm the girl with the most amazing collection of scrapbooking supplies, but not a single complete scrapbook made, but I tell you what...when the moment comes...I'M going to be ready!

When I picture myself and my ideas, I see an image of myself with a tree growing out of my head where each branch is just another part of ME and the roots are planted deep into my heart and soul.  That is how I picture myself.  How do you picture yourself?  What is your outlet?  Do you make time for yourself and your dreams or just wait on the sidelines for someone to tag you in to your own life?  What amazing side of you will your kids completely miss out on?

My poor kids are gonna have to deal with all of my sides 'cause I'm not gonna sit on the sidelines of my life.  I'm going to teach them by showing them that your life is what you make it.  Make it sweet.  Make it artful.  Make it unforgettable.