It’s Been A While Since I Created
The last time I tried creating I was sitting in our apartment in the dark. Only tea light candles illuminated the room. There was no power and not much else to do so I tried putting something down in my sketchbook. It didn’t last longer than an hour before I gave up. That was late May since I seriously tried working on my art. Since then I’ve done some warm ups and swatching but for the most part my art practice and all creativity halted after the typhoon while I was Guam. Since I’ve been back in Dallas after living in Guam for 6 months I’d be lying if I said life isn’t much different. The very first thing I realized was different, after the dryness of the air, was how much less inspired I felt being back home in Texas. And just how much inspiration I had while in Guam. It was great to say the least but I wasn’t going to be there forever so this realization was inevitable. So how can I get reinspired? That’s the question.
For the last few weeks I’ve been reorganizing, rearranging, restratagizing my entire life and now I see it was probably cause by the dramatic change. Like I said this was inevitable and Im glad it happened now, right before entering a new age, but maybe I’ve been trying to cope a little. So my best guess as to how I can get out of this rut is to relax. Always easier said than done. All of that re doing wasn’t in vain though I’ve come to some really great ideas pertaining to the future of my platforms and what I want to do with my business as a whole. One of those Ideas is this blog, another is reimagining my YouTube channel, where I want to take my art, and getting my mind right about what its going to take to juggle all the life things.
If you’re a creator I highly recommend checking out Dan Koe YouTube and newsletter for brand and business structuring and strategy. I must say I always felt so insecure about pursuing entrepreneurship by myself. And with being introverted I didn’t know what questions to ask and where. Or who to ask. Most days its extremely overwhelming so I either don’t focus on that part or just get discouraged completely and stop working on everything. Those habits have definitely set me back but its all a learning experience and every time I come back I feel a little more knowledgeable and confident. And this comeback in particular feels special.
Have I mentioned my birthday just past? I turned 24 this year. I’m normally the person to celebrate all month long but this July has been so busy and flew by for me. The one thing I knew I had to do this year was continue my diy photoshoot tradition. The previous two years I put little to no effort into this tradition due to burn out so I felt especially motivated to create pictures I really loved this year. To answer the burning new age question, do I feel different? This year I would actually say yes and as enthusiastic as my emotions could muster. I haven’t completely found all the words to articulate the differences yet but the overarching them is to be better. To be completely honest Ive grown quite tired of lack of disciple and excuses as to why I can’t achieve my goals. Twenty-four year old Blake isn’t make excuses (as much) for things being difficult, not if I actually want to achieve more, which I do. I know over the year I will go deeper into this new level of adulthood.
Things I’ve been Loving
I found an enjoyable nighttime routine
My favorite thing to do before bed is put on my headphones and write in my journal. Earlier in the year I received fancy noise cancelling headphones (Sony xm5 in Beige). They are great for me and look really nice. My new journal (moterm travelers notebook from amazon) is an unexpected favorite. I thought I wouldn’t like the size but I immediately fell in love. Ive been writing so much more these days. Theres nothing like listening to a good playlist and getting all the feelings out after a long day.
I came to terms with what kind of hair routine fits my current lifestyle
Experiencing that feeling of dread from needing to do my hair is a (almost) and feeling of the past. Although I’m still getting the hang of it, my current hair routine is definitely a keeper. I spent some time finding a style that meet all my needs and finally settled on a heat training journey. Every time I do my hair I do a silk press and I make it last as long as possible and after 4 weeks Ill do it again. Some times it’ll stay straight for the entire time, other time I might only get 2 weeks and then reset it on perm rods or put it in a log bun. Overall I love being able to brush my hair daily and keep it detangle while still getting to the curly for styles when it gets old. Ill go deeper into this soon.
I’m a paper planning girl
As an early bday gift from my husband I received a Moterm Personal Versa Agenda Cover. Its beautiful. Along with having something pretty to use I came across a planning system called The Getting Things Done method. This is still new to me but so far I’ve already completed more to dos. I have yet to read the book but I did enjoy David Allens Ted Talk. If you’re an over planner but enjoy planning like me and need to focus on action I recommend looking into the GTD method.
Being mindful of my water intake
I got my mom a Simple Modern Cup for mothers day this year and purchased one for myself too. Its huge but handy and I take it everywhere and Cuter than the Stanley IMO. I got my mom the blush color and the almond birch color for myself. I have my eye on the Fuscia and chartreuse color too!
Still growing my habit of reading for fun
Ummm I got a Kindle! Its great so far. It looks like paper, its light, small and has bluetooth so I can listen to audiobooks with bluetooth headphones too. I’ve only had it a couple days and just started reading my first book so I cant give much of a review but first impression so far: its everything people say it is