I’ve been indulging my sense of creativity in midlife and I think it’s good for me. There is something special about this time. I’m no longer consumed by parenting and have more space inside of my heart for creativity. It is the first time that I’ve been able to indulge in the creative side of my soul. If you haven’t tried something new, I really encourage you to take a chance and do something that perhaps you’ve always wanted to do or something that is out of your comfort zone!
Painting
In the last three weeks I’ve been to three painting classes at a local studio called Painting with a Twist. I’m hooked! At first, I was very nervous but when I realized that I could just let go, I began to enjoy the process more. Now, I’m in no way an aspiring artist, but during that time, my mind was free from the daily worries and routines. It made me smile just a little bit more.
The last session I went to was for my dear friend’s birthday. I surprised her because she is the last person on earth that would sign up for such a thing. She’s my analytical left-brained friend. I’m happy to say that she had a great time and was surprised at how much she enjoyed painting. As we experience more birthdays, we should forget about the presents and instead focus on experiences.
Remembering My Grandmother’s Creativity During Midlife
I felt humbled by memories of my grandmother. She used to paint and would give her paintings out to her grandchildren. I don’t know why we didn’t appreciate it more. Now I understand how difficult it was for her to paint. When your hydrangea painting comes out looking more like a muppet, you understand that the painting of a ballerina she gave you was about love. She was a lot deeper than we gave her credit for. I feel that my last three classes have taught me a little bit more about the woman that she was, outside of the categories that we all placed her in. Isn’t that true for all of us? The hats that we wear define us for other people, but at our very hearts aren’t we so much more?
Spring into Creativity!
So my dear friends, spring is upon us, a time of growth and new life. Painting is just one example of creativity. Other include planting those flowers, writing, indulging in photography or simply spending time in nature. Take the time to remember who you are at the very core of your being. Indulging in the creative side of your soul is self-care. Spring is here!
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