The world is pumping out the New Year hype, and I do enjoy a good excuse to dream and give form to my vision for any given period of time. I’ve enjoyed naming a word of the year for a few years now, and I’ve made my share of resolutions and goals for the clean slate of a fresh calendar page. I’m learning from these experiences and taking what works for me and letting go of the rest.
Looking back at what has worked before I notice that setting intention holds more meaning for me than naming a SMART goal in most scenarios. Last year I had this goal to blog weekly and document the making of 52 creative projects. The intention behind it was simply to create more often, and I followed through on that intention. The goal to blog about it, however, was outlined with some rigid expectations that this recovering perfectionist managed to avoid and resist entirely, and although some projects were created and blog posts were written, I never got around to posting anything because nothing met the criteria.
I wanted to blog about becoming a more dedicated maker/artist/creative, and my defined goal got in my way. Eek. I did manage to become a more dedicated maker/artist/creative over the course of the year, though. I could probably even comb my morning pages, text messages with friends, and photo stream to find at least 52 creative projects completed within 2021. I’m not doing that though. I choose to trust my memory and this feeling that I am a dedicated creative being who makes pretty things.
I still want to blog. I can build from that intention: I want to share stories on my blog.
Here I am. In action. Shipping it. I’ll show up in this blog space weekly with a story for you about everyday creativity. That’s the extent of my instructions for this adventure. I’ll allow my creative energies to nudge the direction from there. Maybe I’ll share a kitchen story about a meal worthy of an encore, or maybe it’ll be a more artsy share about a collage I’ve pieced together. It might be as simple as sharing a question that seems to be influencing my creative shenanigans. Whatever it is, these stories will shine some light on my creative process and how creativity ripples through everything for me, and my hope is that these stories will open doors for you to recognize how your own creativity is playing in your everyday existence, too.
What about you? Do you have new intentions emerging, or maybe old ones that need to be revisited and dusted off? Leave a comment or send me a message (if it feels right). I’d love to hear from you.
I am so excited to see you in this space! I think if I set any new intentions for myself, it would be to be more active in the creative community. You inspire me to reach further and further outside myself every day. I look forward to celebrating your creative victories!
I love getting to witness your creative journey! You are an essential member of this creative community at Owl Create. Thank you for sharing your comment, and I hope anyone reading this will hop over and see the beautiful patterns this lovely being is sharing with the world on instagram @DesigningGeorgia
Im so proud of your accomplishments. Although, being big sis, I get to hear the stories you might write about through telephone conversations, I would love to read about them as well. Looking firward to what this year holds for you, lil sis!
Thank you for being here and supporting whatever crazy-head things I cook up.
THIS! “….was outlined with some rigid expectations that this recovering perfectionist managed to avoid and resist entirely”. That’s me:) <3
Thank you for sharing this. Your example inspires and supports me!
My last years intention was similar – and like you I have very quickly thrown the rigid structure I wanted to follow (can’t even remember what I set myself now! ) in the wind. But looking back I am proud to say I have created a hell of a lot. And my creative practice, though not as regular as I would like it to be, has already changed and deepened to a level of sincerity (in a good way!) I didn’t expect when I started out! So this year I keep going with monthly new moon intention as this has worked really well for me in the last half year. But I can already see that the intentions for my January new moon will be the ones woven thoughout this whole year – 1. community building and creating a more defined vision for it. 2. creating, lots and playfully, stretching the boundaries. 3. strenghtening and developing relationships. That’s a lot of clarity for a fluffy brain like mine :-))) xoxoxo
“And my creative practice, though not as regular as I would like it to be, has already changed and deepened to a level of sincerity (in a good way!)” I love this awareness and clarity! Your fluffy brain is brilliant Sandra. Thank you for sharing your reflections <3
Bravo Elizabeth!!
I Love seeing success born of out of The Journey.
i just had an internal struggle with what word to use after born out of.
Failure….challengs….suffering ….came up.
And the one I Love is The Journey. No judgment in this one.
There is no good and bad in The Journey.
All it asks is that we keep on moving.
Well Done Elizabeth.
I Love the leaf roofed cottage.
Diane, thank you for reading and commenting! Learning to surrender to the journey without judgement, or at least without attaching myself to the judgements, is the work.
The Leaf roofed cottage is from my 2022 wall calendar, and I just realized that the caption information I had for that image got lost in cyberspace.