Today is day #2 of a NEW mini-series focusing on the question, “How do I live a creative life?” I’m excited to share with you unique perspectives from a variety of my blogger friends all week. Each of these ladies has a defined style, career focus + family life, and creativity plays a key role in their everyday. Yesterday Kyla Roma shared her perspective with us, be sure and check it out if you haven’t yet!
This week we’re focusing on outside perspectives with the goal that YOU leave here feeling inspired, and to encourage you to take a fresh new look at the creative life you already live ♥. Next week we’ll dig a little deeper, so I hope you’ll be back for week #2 :)
Let’s get started, shall we?
This week the question is, “How do you live a creative life?”
Hi friends, it’s Heather from Just Lovely Things! For as long as I’ve known I have tried to make do with what I have, yet always dream to obtain more from it. When I was a kid and my hard working single mom couldn’t get me the barbie dream house, that didn’t stop me from playing with my barbies. I have a distinct memory of flipping two cups upside down, placing a ruler on top and letting my barbies play at the ‘breakfast bar’.
It’s no different now since obviously I’m accustomed to having some sort of creativity always running through me since as long as I can remember. Sure I want a lot out of life, but that doesn’t mean I want a lot of things. I try to surround myself with items that mean something, usually items that I had some part in making or finding, refinishing or reworking. Everything I do and everything I see has potential, and although it can be great it means that a creative mind sometimes never rests.
I try to live my life in a way that I surround myself with people that do the things that make them happy too.
Creativity can be the way you take photos, plant your garden, or even the things you cook. As you can see living a creative life means all of your life is that way. It really can be quite fun! I think one of the best parts of having a life like this is supporting and surrounding yourself with others that love it as much as you do.
I think we all have creativity in us, its just not all of us seem to use it. If you notice the beautiful things around you and aren’t completely oblivious to how lucky we are to be able to create then that’s living good.
LET’S DISCUSS: Do you have people around you that live their life doing what makes them happy? Do *you* live your life this way? xo
What a beautiful series. I have a few people around me living their dream but I see it more through blogs. I feel I’m living my dream being a Mom (something I always wanted to be), a writer (mostly on the blog these days), and an artist.
Catherine Denton
what a precious comment, catherine!
I am loving the new series. I am so excited to check out your blog each day and we are only on the 2nd day!! I do have a few people that are living the life they love. I agree with Catherine’s comment about seeing it more on blogs. That’s where I really see people living the life they love and it shows through. I’m not currently living my life this way, but I’m really trying to figure out how to make it happen!
do you think there’s anything to more people living their dream this way? it has me thinking… what has made them get to that point in life and what is keeping the rest of us from getting to that point? i’d love to know more! :)
That is a really good question! The people that I know personally that are living their dream…the opportunity came available at the right time. With another friend, she wanted a break from her full-job teaching job and decided to start her own pet-sitting business {something she had already done on the side}.
With the other part of your question…I can only answer for me…and honestly what is holding me back is fear and security. It’s nice to have that steady paycheck, whereas, doing your own thing is a bit unsteady. :) However, anything really worth doing means taking a risk…and once I push myself to get past those barriers in my head…I know it’ll be worth it in the end.
Nicki,
Fear can really paralyze us, especially when it comes to needing that steady paycheck. Mine story is it started out as a hobby and turned into a business. I didn’t foresee a biz at all, it happened because I was doing what I loved, sewing, I posted things on FB and friends wanted the aprons that I was making. I was stunned.
If you are doing what you love, it will shine thru you. You will talk about it freely, not for biz purposes but because it’s something that makes you happy, that you love & defines a part of you.
Good luck!
Mmmm… this is good!
” Sure I want a lot out of life, but that doesn’t mean I want a lot of things.”
Love that!
SO WISE, huh?!
I sure do! My father is a self-published author, which has secretly been his dream longer than he really knew.
I’ve been lucky to be raised by parents that encourage you to do what you love in life. I mean, how many parents while try to encourage their child to switch majors in college from a practical one to something in theater? Unfortunately like most kids, I didn’t always listen to them. So it’s taken me a bit longer to realize that you should never give up on reaching for your dreams & doing what you love. Being someone who feels they constantly have to take care of others, I’ve usually forced myself into the sensible things & saved my creative side for ‘me time’. I’ve finally woke up & realized you can take care of others without giving up your dreams, you just have to work a bit harder at times to get there. So while I haven’t lived my life that way much since I became an ‘adult’, I’m working on it!
what a gift your parents gave you by raising you this way!!!! wow! so awesome :)
i was always the quiet one…… until i became older and found out i have a voice. i find myself in leadership positions and indie biz owner and wonder how i ended up here. i don’t sit back and let the world go on without me. i always have to be doing something to make a change. i strive for that while doing what i love to do.
this series also made me think of a parenting book i read when my boys were toddlers, “creative discipline” by lisa welchel. a parent must be creative in parenting and discipline or else…..
loving this series!
i love this, “i don’t sit back and let the world go on without me. i always have to be doing something to make a change.”
what a powerful mindset! you’re 100% hands on and that’s so amazing! :)
Great series! i would have to agree. I didn’t grow up with a ton of stuff, either, and it helped me grow my creativity! And I would say that I’m half way there. I’m building the life I dream of living! ^_^
I want to be there SO BADLY and I’m experiencing some serious growing pains. The secure things in my life don’t feel quite so secure. After all am I happy? Could I survive on less? If I needed “less” security and had more time to live the dream I wonder what doors that would open for me?
Next hurdle…getting buy in from others as I let some of the “secure” things in my life go.
I love Heather!!!
I feel that for the most part I’m living my dream (being a mama!) and I love the creativity that my little blog and business has given me. I feel like it allows me to still maintain a little bit of the old me. My husband is definitely living his dream. He’s a firefighter (Has wanted to be one since he was a little boy) and working for the exact department he’s always wanted to. He’s definitely one of the happiest people I’ve ever met. He worked really hard to live his dream, and I couldn’t be more proud of him.