Reflections on Finding Time for Creativity

Throughout the long months of winter, we grumble and wait for the warmth of the summer sun. Now that June is here, we cling to slow living. The lovely days of wildflowers and abundant foraging are fleeting, and easily missed.

Hello, my friend.

I am not very practised at writing lifestyle, creative blogs. When I sit down to type, my hands are clumsy and the words do not come easily.

What do the readers want to hear about? How can I bring them something beautiful through this little blog post? Should I go clean the kitchen and try again when I feel more inspired?

The blank page on my computer does not respond.

Fifty times I’ve simply closed the laptop and gone on to other things.

Unfortunately, inspiration does not come where it’s not welcome. Where there is no space for it.

So I am learning to make space for my own creative life.

I am learning to be gracious and patient.

Loving and kind.

To others, yes.

But most of all, to myself.

It is a lesson to be learned and re-learned in every season.

This is the wildflower season, and it is so wonderful here in Minnesota.

When I was a child, there were not many wildflowers in our yard. My parents liked to pour “weed killer” on everything.

To this day, I do not enjoy a mowed grass lawn. It is tidy, yes, but also bland. There is no life. No bright flowers to enjoy and attract the butterflies and silly, sweet bumbles. There are no seeds. There is no variation. Only flat, pokey little grass stems.

In my yard, now, the dandelions (which we harvested) are now gone for the year. In their place grow bright orange and yellow hawkweed. Pert groups of daisies and gentle violet heal-all. There are buttercups, little starwort, and thyme-leaved speedwell.

And one of my absolute favorites: the pineapple weed that sprouts in every nook and cranny it can find.

There is so much life and beauty and inspiration outside right now.

I am trying to soak it all up, and allow myself to be renewed.