Dear Friends,
Today is the most important of all the days in this series. It is about enjoying and appreciating every moment that is given to us. It is our final day in the series and I am throwing colorful virtual confetti! Thank you so much for being with me this week. If you missed a day, you can find it here. Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5
As mentioned back on day 1 it is easy to get so involved in the “needs” of everyone and everything pulling us in so many directions that we lose focus on beauty and appreciating and enjoying our creative time.
Here is a list of ways you can keep the enjoyment of the creative process alive and well.
- Begin each day with a statement of gratitude. “Thank you God for this beautiful day.” “Today is going to be a great day.” What we place in our minds first thing sets the tone for how our day will be. It may be cold and raining outside but if we wake up and say, “this is a beautiful day,” our mind will find things throughout the day that are beautiful.
- Write 3 things down each day that you appreciate. Of course you appreciate your family and your home, but look for the little things in life like seeing that perfect six pointed snowflake, the creaminess and sweetness of your morning coffee, or the crisp look of your freshly made bed. This little exercise takes only a minute and will train your brain to see beauty even in our darkest days.
- Keep your creative calendar that we have been making handy and schedule in specific creative time for yourself. During this time the focus is only on you and enjoying the creative moment.
- Look for little 15 to 20 minute pockets of time in which you can be creative. Take along some knitting or hand embroidery to the doctor’s office to work on while you are in the waiting room. Those little pockets of time really add up and it is surprising how many projects can be completed by just working on them in short chunks.
- Limit the negative thoughts that come into your head. Turn off the doom and gloom news. You can get all the important information just be scanning the headlines of news on your computer. You can do that in 2 minutes vs 30 minutes of news on the TV.
- Learn to focus and not multi-task. Learn to really give your attention to one thing at a time and not be distracted to the e-mail and text messaging bells and beeps.
- Take a walk outdoors. Even if it is just to the end of your driveway and back. Deep breaths of fresh air and a simple change of scenery can do wonders for our soul.
- Find the enjoyment and creativity in all things. Appreciate the beauty of a freshly dusted shelf and add to it something seasonal. Enjoy the process of cooking a healthy meal and the beauty of the food we eat. Find ways to infuse creativity into work outside the home, even if the only way you can is by wearing a special necklace or setting a plant on your desk.
- Finally, Smile.
I hope you have enjoyed this series and that it helps bring to you a very beautiful and creative 2016.
With love and blessings to each of you,
Nancy
Be creative daily and live life beautifully
Thank you Nancy for this wonderful series. I have very much enjoyed it, filled with good tips and as always your cheerful input. Thank you for inspiring us all to be our creative best in 2016!
{{{ hugs }}} sprinkled with blessings,
Michelle
Thank you Michelle!
Hugs,
Nancy
Thank Nancy, I really enjoyed reading your blogs. They have inspired me to get going on some new projects.
Thank you Pam!
Hugs,
Nancy
This was a lovely and calming series. I enjoyed it very much and appreciate all the suggestions and ideas you have given me.
Thank you Joanelle!
Hugs,
Nancy
Love your statement on gratitude. So true.
Thank you Bobette!
Hugs,
Nancy
Thank you Nancy for this wonderful series! I pray you have a Blessed New Year!
You are so welcome Deborah!
Hugs,
Nancy
Loved this series just as I love your designs. I really appreciate the banner alphabet that I am collecting. And, I finally bought the baby closet organizers; I am going to be a great grandmother to a little girl come March. I already have a twenty month old great grandson. I wonder if you might consider making the organizers by age now. Maybe 1-10 or something like that? I have grandchildren in that age group and their mothers like organizing by size. Even bigger sizes would be great. I just love the organizer idea.
Congratulations on becoming a great-grandmother!! So exciting Susan. Yes, more clothes organizers coming up the pipeline.
Hugs to you!
Nancy
Hooray! I just finished an uncompleted project!! One down…so many to go!
You go Carol! Woot Woot!!!
Nancy
Thank you Nancy for an inspiring 5 days! What a great way to start 2016 with fresh ideas and a constructive way to get it all accomplished. For those that didn’t start it or only got to day one, come back in a month and attempt it again. It is never too late to start the process for improvement.
It is so true Kris, we can start anytime. Glad you enjoyed it and from what I’ve heard you are well on your way with Christmas projects this year!
Nancy