Happy New Year, all. I hope you had a super time celebrating with family and friends. We have been in Wales in my in-laws. Gosh, it was wet but oh so beautiful. We arrived back to the Midlands today and on the car ride home I had a chance to daydream a little, and to think about the year ahead and the things I want to focus on and, of course, this blog.
Finding the time to be creative: a call to action
I have been drifting in and out of blogging and finding it so difficult to find a niche or a direction to keep me coming back regularly. I want this space to be more than just a personal journal, I want it to be useful to others and I want to find other people who love the same things I do.
Anyway, I had a bit of a light-bulb moment in the car. What if I commit to posting a little creative challenge or idea every week? Something to get the inspiration flowing and to bring us together in our creative endeavours.
Introducing: Calm & Collected
I think we all need a reminder to take a little time for ourselves, away from work and family life, to do something we enjoy and to find the flow – that blissful state where you are in the moment and totally absorbed in a task.
For me that often happens when I’m writing or taking a photo, but perhaps for you it’s cooking, or knitting, painting, creating a garden – the possibilities are endless.
So, every week, I will post a challenge or idea or reflection under the banner: Calm & Collected. (I’d been dabbling with the hashtag on Instagram and I quite like it. I hope you do to.) It speaks to me of being centred, of finding time for ourselves, of gathering ideas and inspiration – all things I really want to focus on this year. I hope the challenges will inspire you to take a moment in your busy day to find some calm, to put your brain into a different gear, to find your mojo, and to just do something you love.
So look out for the first Calm & Collected challenge tomorrow. Eek! I’m excited – can’t wait to get started. I’d be thrilled for you to join in. Here’s to a calm, collected and creative 2016
Bex x
Have you just joined us? You can find the first challenge here and more information on the Calm & Collected page.
I do like the hashtag! I am feeling very calm, but not very collected 🙂
Monday, my boys will be back in school and hopefully, I will find some time to join in. Enjoy the rest of your stay!
Pauline recently posted…Christmas wreath workshop
Thank you, Pauline! Knowing my previous form I’ll probably only make it to two weeks of challenges – but I can try! Thank you for the enthusiasm. I am not feeling very calm or collected at the minute. Lots of work to do in 2016 x
How lovely! I look forward to seeing tomorrow’s post, and will join if I can. I’m feeling quite calm and collected after Christmas hols (and have been doing a meditation daily with the Headspace app) but it might all go out the window when I go back to work tomorrow!
Thank you, Molly! I’ve been meaning to try the Headspace app. I’ve got as far as downloading it! Oops! It’s so much easier to look after ourselves in the holidays, isn’t it. I’m with the my family in the UK and lots of extra hands to help with the toddler, and I am loving having a bit of extra time for myself. Let’s see if we can keep it up when normality resumes! Bex x
It’s a great idea Bex. I need to be a bit more of both these things lately. I feel like it’s been bit of a muddly start to the year for me. Here’s to being more calm and collected in 2016. I’m with you x
Aleasha recently posted…Notes from a Finnish Christmas
Hear hear! Wishing you a very calm and collected 2016, lovely xxx
Bex recently posted…Calm & Collected (one): Find a Word of the Year
What a lovely idea! We could all use a little more creative inspiration in our lives… I am enjoying writing more letters (and postcards) recently and also rediscovered drawing and watercolour (though I need more practice)… 😉
I look forward to seeing what your challenges bring!
Hi Gude! Thanks so much for stopping by. I am enjoying writing the challenges so much. It’s keeping me on my toes. I’d love to try drawing and watercolour. That is way out of my comfort zone but I would so like to give a go x