It Was Just What I Needed

I'm so honored to be included in Stephey Baker's Courage to Fly blog hop! Over the next six weeks, 39 beautiful souls will be sharing their thoughts on creativity, expression and what it takes to spiritually soar alongside your dreams. I'll be sharing some of my thoughts on how I overcame a stubborn case of the winter creative blues. As my inspiration, I'll be using the question "What is one thing that you need in your life, that upon receiving it, would take you to the skies?"

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Spring is here! It's official!

The first sign of spring in my neck of the woods is the appearance of the crocuses and daffodils peeking out of the soil. It's always a very happy day for me when they can first be seen making their grand debut.

This winter was hard for me. It was long and cold and my creativity and creative spirit seemed to winter over along with the bulbs in my yard.

My business had the usual peak of the holidays and then, the ultimate lull afterwards. Holiday orders hit me hard and heavy this year... more than I had anticipated. I think it just wiped my creativity dry... physically and mentally.

Normally, once I hit the middle of January, my creative spark comes back and I'm ready to take on the world again. But, this year, things were different.

The words just wouldn't come.
The images in my head that compel me to create them just weren't there.
The music that usually gets me going was just falling on deaf ears.

Through this dark creative time, I realized that my body, mind and spirit were demanding what they needed. Just as my body craves vitamins and minerals, it was now craving time and rest.

So, I listened. I waited. I tried not to push.
And it came back.
With the Spring, it came back.

That quiet, that patience, those moments alone with myself is just what I needed to fly. The lesson that I learned was to listen to my "self," not to push and to give my spirit just what it craved.

As a small, creative business owner, it's drilled into me that I need to produce... I need to work... I need to hustle constantly. I need to have big ideas brewing all the time and be taking the big steps to make them happen. But my body and mind told me otherwise and I'm so glad that I listened.

As we change seasons, what is your creative spirit telling you? Have you just sat and listened? Thought and felt?

It's a powerful thing to let our creativity and our spirit drive our production. It may be the most effective way to work through blocks and experience true growth.

Listen, rest and bloom...

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It's a pleasure to participate in The Courage To Fly blog hop organized by Stephey Baker and Handmade Spark! Thanks so much for joining me!

The Steven Tyler Effect

If you're anything like me, and millions of people in America right now, you're loving the new season of American Idol. We all wondered what the energy would be like with the new judges and I, for one, am really pleased.

We all knew that J Lo was a kind hearted, sweet person who would judge with a soft hand. And Randy... we all knew what to expect from him.

But the real standout this year for me is Steven Tyler.

I never really knew much about Steven Tyler... he's the frontman for Aerosmith who I assumed lived the usual rockstar life. I figured he was a little flaky, probably a little lecherous and maybe even full of himself. That was all before I started watching him on AI.

He's shown what I now call "The Steven Tyler Effect." He's shown heart and kindness and a restrained, perfect amount of crazy to the nation. And we LOVE him for it. America is eating him up right now!

We loved seeing him lean in to the wheelchair bound girlfriend of early favorite, Chris Medina. The moment that Steven whispered in her ear and we caught the words of that very private moment, I heard the nation fall in love with him.

And it got me thinking, what part of myself have I never shown the world (even just my twitter or facebook audience) that might really make them "get" me? I challenge you to consider the same thing along with me. What small part of yourself do you keep hidden away that might make all the difference in someone really gravitating to you and what you offer, present or even sell online?

It might be frightening to show that part of you that is sentimental or soft, maybe hard edged or tough as nails. I've watched week after week now of Steven kissing male contestants on the cheek, grooving along with their songs with reckless abandon and showing that kind of passionate living that we all strive for.

It's being unabashedly yourself. It's loving fully and connecting deeply to those around you. It's soul stirring to watch and inspiring to consider trying for yourself. It's living life in truest rockstar fashion... in the moment, full of life.

So, do it. What do you have to show me?

Just do me a favor and don't trash any hotel rooms.

*Photo credit - Rockstar fine art photo print from Licorice Prints on Etsy.