Many of us are growing weary of the current climate here in our country and around the world. Politics, pandemic, job and financial insecurity, upcoming elections etc. etc. It has been a rough year all around, many of us are hanging on to our family rituals, friends and nature walks to keep us going. If your fortunate to be a person of unlimited creative energy and prolific (like my husband Dan and his friend Bob), you may be several steps ahead of the rest of us.
Inspiration comes in many different forms, inspiration to create or be creative is what I am focusing on here today. We can take great pleasure is simple things, I know for myself when things are uncertain, I become a less polished and a little funkier version of Martha Stewart. I know it sounds crazy, but I think my linen napkins some days keep me from a deep depression, it’s not so much the napkins as the process of setting the table with beautiful linen napkins, washing them and hanging them out on the deck to dry. Nothing makes me happier than creating a beautiful environment that includes a home cooked meal, flowers and depending on the season, a fire in the fireplace or a table set outside overlooking the small patch of woods behind our house. My instinct is to nurture, and I enjoy making things beautiful for others. I also need to remember that in order to be inspired, I too need to be nurtured.
During this pandemic serious problem have occurred, family and friends dealing with serious illnesses, loss of steady income, fear of the future, depression, watching the news and an overall sense of fear that trickles into even the most joyous of occasions. A new baby in the family, a postponed wedding, grocery shopping and the ever-present cloud of where and what will happen next seems to permeate the air.
When I think about my own inspiration and what inspires me, under normal circumstances, I am inspired by going someplace new, nature, a ride upstate NY, meeting new people, going for a walk downtown NYC. I also love having dinner and drinks with friends at home or at my favorite restaurant, these are the things that usually inspire me.
Being at home for all these months, living basically in one room (although beautiful and enchanting one room), I have on certain days lost my will to cook, create, socialize, talk, even to get out of bed. So why did I feel motivated to write about inspiration?
I have realized more than ever these past few months just how much I need to be inspired. I have also become acutely aware of who and what inspires me. What feeds me in a way that gets me interested and motivated enough to feel excited over an idea or a thought? During the past few months my inspiration seems to come from seeing something around me in a new way. Without the luxury of going someplace new for inspiration, I have been forced to look at things differently, to re-arrange, re-imagine what I already have. Organizing my bookshelf (color coded!), painting my old dining room chairs a beautiful shade of blue, collaging at my table, clearing out shelves to make room for a curated exhibit space for my found object collection has kept me sane and motivated.
Conversations with Dan at the dinner table or over coffee have inspired us to create a new and exciting addition to our business. CORE Creative Academy will launch in September!
I wanted to write about inspiration because I need to remain committed for my own survival, to go toward the places, the people, the rituals that bring me to life, not away from life. Now more than ever, I need to be inspired and uplifted. For today, I will do my best through words, actions and creative endeavors to inspire and uplift my family, my friends and my community.
What inspires and uplifts you?