Category: Creativity

Posted on by — 4 Comments

Your banner

20140108-183417.jpg

We all have a banner over our life that declares who we are without even speaking.

One of my favorite parts of my reflection pages is the section that I ask myself;

What is my personal character?

What is my personal culture?

Who is my community?

What is my personal contribution?

Everyone one of these questions forms the banner over our lives.

I spent today with a very old friend, someone who inspires me every time we hang out.

She is creative, she is successful, but mostly the banner over her life is generosity, peace and love.

She is someone who impacts people around her just by being.

She made me something special today.

She whispered to me as she handed over my new gift, you are everything this banner declares.

Oh my.

What a special gift.

What an opportunity for me to believe this banner even on the days that I feel far from it’s inspiration.

What is the banner that your life speaks?

I hope mine is what this banner declares.

I hope to live this new year inspired by it.

#inspire14

All my creative love

Amanda

20140108-183001.jpg

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Uncomplicated friends

20140107-203745.jpg

I have spent the last couple of days with friends that are uncomplicated. Camping, drinking hot chocolate, walking to the beach, watching the sun go down over crashing waves, laughing, talking, just generally enjoying the strength of many years of friendship.

You know the kind of friends that hanging out takes no effort.

The kind of friends that silence reigns one minute and then deep spirited, robust debate ensues the next moment.

Friends who are easy to be with.

Flexible with their holiday plans, generous with their food, open hearted with their time.

Life long friends.

20140107-211357.jpg

Are you that kind of friend?

Are you hard to relax around?

Are you always talking and not listening?

Are you generous with your bits and pieces?

Doing life in community with friends who make your days light, is the most beautiful symphony.

Relaxed and peace filled

Amanda

20140107-204944.jpg

Posted on by

freshen up

freshYesterday I could have pulled the covers over my face and stayed in bed all day. Last night was one of our closest friends birthday parties and it took every ounce of energy I had in me, to get dressed and go out last night. Once I was there though, I had the most fabulous evening, with old friends and new ones.

This morning I woke up bright, fresh and was up and out of bed ready to go to the beach and take on the world. Team V, went to the beach early this morning and stayed there for hours looking at pelicans, people fishing, building sand castles and getting a little sun kissed.

What changed between yesterday and today?

Nothing.

No major conflict, no difficulties, no trauma.

Some days I just struggle to get out of bed and get motivated and others I don’t.

How about you?

The only difference I can find, is no matter how I wake up, if I get out and get moving and start creating, no matter how the day starts, it always finishes differently.

If I force myself to do the things I don’t want to, it has a significant ongoing effect on the next day as well.

Fresh perspective always comes.

If I walk the beach, if I eat and drink good food, if I spend time with inspiring and caring people, my perspective shifts and I freshen up.

If I read, meditate, quieten myself, fresh perspective rises.

What do you need to do differently today to create a shift in the current season you find yourself stuck in?

How can you bring simple changes, to bring a radical shift in perspective?

How can you freshen up?

image

(#inspire14 here is my visual journal entry from today. )

Happy 2014 everyone.

It’s looking like a great one.

Amanda

 

Posted on by — 1 Comment

Make beautiful things

20140104-171853.jpg

The last two nights my husband has been on nightshift so I have had plenty of time to myself.

A bit of crochet, a bit of reading, a bit of Downton Abbey, okay a lot of Downton Abbey!

One of my dear friends is about to give birth to a little baby girl, so I made some little bits for her.

The funny thing about creativity is it is so satisfying. I know its a gift for someone else, but I feel like I’m the one that has been given the gift. As the little precious things begin to appear out of a ball of wool, my heart sighs.

Crochet may not be your thing.

In fact I would pretty much guarentee it.

But what is your thing?

What is it that you were designed to make?

I believe everyone feels the most satisfied when they are producing what they were designed to make.

You all have a make button.

20140104-171903.jpg

Some days we just need to find that button and then keep practising and get better at it.

Do you like to draw?

Then draw.

Get great at it.

Do you like to cook?

Then bake.

Get brilliant at hospitality.

Do you like to write?

Then write and keep on writing.

Find your make button.

We all have one.

#inspire14

20140104-171916.jpg