I used to consider myself an artist. Back in the late 90’s I was still living at home after college in New Orleans and I started a commercial art program at Florida Metropolitan University. I ended up moving to California after several months and my life took a different trajectory.
Isn’t that always the way?!
But I was still an artist in my heart. Drawing makes me happy. It sends me to a place of relaxation, where I could live for a lifetime. Here are a few of my creations…I drew this one in honor of my mental health advocacy.
And this was an illustration I did for Ellie, she loves fairies like I do.
This is my favorite mental health mantra. A simple drawing but I love Dory’s quote so much.
A couple years ago I used my creativity to make t-shirts with this illustration and sold them to raise funds for suicide prevention. I called it the Blogger Butterfly. I often think about selling them (or a new version) again. What do you think?
Also, my mom has a really cool stipple drawing (created entirely with dots of ink) that I love. It took me a full 12 hours to finish it and it hangs in my parents foyer. I’ll have to get a photo of it from her.
After Ellie was born and I experienced terrible postpartum depression and anxiety I then found that making jewelry was my artistic outlet. I took a couple of jewelry silvermithing and precious metal clay classes, and I even had an Etsy shop for a while selling nursing necklaces. Here are a couple examples from my PMC class. Oh man I want to do more of those classes! So fun!
But the demands of parenthood, work and life often keep me from taking the time to do these things that I love. Or perhaps I keep myself from it focusing on other things or being depressed. I suppose my artistic outlet the past couple of years has been my blog, my writing, my creations for posts, and my photography, which I have certainly enjoyed learning and improving.
In the end, my creativity is hugely important to me, no matter what form it takes. It’s a part of who I am and enables me to be a complete human being and be productive in the things that I do.
Affirmation #9
Creative energy surges through me.
Today I will repeat this over and over, because creative energy is a part of what makes us who we are.
If your “job” (which I put in quotes to mean career and/or parenthood) is not traditionally “creative” it’s good to remember that you are using your creativity to make things happen, to come up with the right solutions, using your building blocks to build and rebuild again and again.
What is creativity to you?
Please check out others in the 30 Days of Positive Affirmations series (click below).
#6: Support (with Mental Health Resources Printable)
#18: Organization {plus storage giveaway!}
Umm!m yah! My “Blogger Butterfly” shirt is WORN out and I need another one!!!! So Paleeeez do another one!!
I wear mine all the time! I’m seriously thinking about it. Thanks Julie! Would you like another of this design do you think? Or should I do a 2016 butterfly? 🙂 might be time to pull out the art markers.
I’d love to see your butterfly morph and grow into new meanings in 2016- We are constantly in a different place and evolving- this affirmation is no exception- to be creative one must also have part of them that is fluid, that views through fresh eyes. There’s no doubt in my mind you’ve got creative energy!
Thank you Jenna. I’m trying to feel that way about myself. You are the creativity queen! I appreciate you saying that. 🙂