I received a message from a friend a while back asking me if I still painted - in short, no,I do not and I haven't since college.
I used to write short stories by the dozens - Do I do this anymore? No.
And as for music, I haven't really sung or done anything musical since college either.
Hello working week.
I may end up taking a break from blogging (almost) everyday about little things- and try to get some larger projects underway.
It's so easy to get stuck in a daily routine. I try to take at least one moment everyday to do something for myself. Usually this involves day dreaming/ romanticizing some daily event as if I were living in a French film - but that does not solve the problem that I am not actively involved in creative endeavours, outside of blogging and maybe cooking.
Does cooking count?
Here are the Vegan - Frozen Hot Chocolates I made on Memorial Day. I adapted the recipe from the Serendipity Frozen Hot Chocolate recipe. It turned out rather well. It's like a chocolate daiquiri. This was the first time I used this Rice Whip stuff too.
Here is what I wore:
(Dress is from Mina UK. Lace Slip via UO, shoes vintage, necklace is from Erica Weiner)
Mario was gracious enough to suggest that I am also being creative through how I dress, but lately I'm not so sure. Since, again, due to time I just go to grab whatever is easy and comfortable.
I mean what do you do when you get into a rut? Not just a style rut, but a daily life rut?
Do I just need a vacation?
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I feel you on the 'no creativity' thing. I'm in a creative profession, and yet I often find that the jobs I get that pay well (commercials, industrials) are so much less fulfilling than the work I do for free (performance art, new plays, singing). Part of the reason that I blog is that I need to be in control of at least one thing that I put out into the world: actors are such a small part of most projects.
ReplyDeleteAnd frozen hot chocolate, omg omg, so jealous! They look delicious.
As for how to get out of a rut: write, maybe? For me, that's always been the easiest thing to just sit down and try. Set aside 20 minutes, and go for it. Or paint! If you can find 20 minutes to set aside, I bet you can find an hour :) Good luck!
I used to write and sometimes draw as well. Every partner I've had has always encouraged me to pick it up again but here's the thing - I like what I do for work. I do it in my spare time a lot of the times. I find ways to be creative within that (i.e. visuals/materials for public outreach and getting a message across, working out problems when presented with a s/n project or a "found" cat and where it might have come from, etc.). But I'm pretty tunnel-vision Type A so...there you go. After adding in taking care of my cats/apt (the upkeep is at least a half an hour a day and I could easily brush my cats for over an hour before their shedding shows any signs of slowing down - and I PAY someone to come brush them once a week!), feeding my feral cat colony every morning and packing my lunches...I barely cook.
ReplyDeleteI think cooking does count. It's tactile.
Sometimes I miss writing though. And especially reading! We should start a book club.
I've always heard that the best way to get out of a funk is to do something for others. But I think also doing something for yourself is important too.
I think about this a lot because my profession is somewhat creative, but in a really "right brained" way. The research component, writing, requires creativity, but it's conceptual in a really analytical way (and I'm not even a scientist). My nice artist friend once said that he considered me to be in an artistic profession, which was very sweet.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Mario. Conscious dressing is creative. Cooking is creative. Style is very creative. But definitely take time for yourself.
I was in a book club once and we mostly didn't read and just drank. I think no one liked my selection. That said, I'd like to get in another one. Just no "life of Pi."
THis has got me thinking...internet book club perhaps?
ReplyDeleteWhat Rad in Broolyn said...
ReplyDeleteActively make time to do whatever it is...even if it is just 30 mins you may find that tiny time of self indulgence enjoyable and restful in itself.
"Life of Pi" I didn't read it, but it peeved me that everyone said i HAD to read it.
I think that the cooking and blogging definitely count as creative actitities!
ReplyDeleteI feel quite sad sometimes that i studied art at college but i actually haven't drawn anything for years and years! One of my friends was trying to get me to go to life drawing classes with her the other week, but what with the job, the ebaying, etsy shop and the blog i just don't have time! But then some of my friends who have "creative" jobs work really long hours and have very little time (or money) to do anything else, and i realise i'd much rather be in my position! xx
I miss reading sometimes! Every night I read blogs until midnight or later and it's not that I don't want to or enjoy it, but my book has been sitting, 80% finished, since March.
ReplyDeleteI do consider blogging and photography and creating outfits a creative endeavor. I feel much better, creatively having to take a photo for the MacroMondays group on Flickr every week.
Even though I now wish for a better social life outside of the internet, this is an improvement upon my work-tv-sleep routine I fell into after I quit college.
So yes, cooking counts, and yes, your outfit is adorable.
Chic on the Cheap
PS. You've got an award at my blog!
I feel the same way, so much of my time is just life maintenance - that whole showering, grocery store, sweeping the floor thing that takes up my whole day! Luckily I work in a school so there is usually 1-2 days a month where I randomly get a day off and FILL that one with sewing and painting and cooking.
ReplyDeleteYour dress is beautiful and the lace underneath is so perfect and pretty!