Something that I’ve really been enjoying recently is tapping in to my creativity. Being creative is incredibly important to me as shared in my previous post on identity and chronic illness.
There are so many times that I’ve been too exhausted to even consider anything creative that when I’m able to have the energy to use my imagination I embrace it. Creativity comes in so many forms. It can be something you do physically or mentally. You might not have the energy to make something physically but even designing and thinking about the idea in your head is a way of being creative.
Adaptive Creativity
The way you use your creativity may not look the way you used to or how someone else uses theirs. that’s what’s part of the joy in the process. Adapting and pacing creativity in a way that enables you to enjoy it is what it’s all about. Think of Frida kahlo and Matisse who adapted their art to their disabilities. Lying in bed, using different mediums, mobility aids to accomplish their visions. @karajanesings creates music one line at a time. @henryfraser is a phenomenal mouth painter. @katestanforth is an ambulatory wheelchair user and fantastic dance teacher. Kitty strand creates the most fantastic art and cards. Josie George’s beautiful memoir is a perfect example of finding joy and creativity in the everyday.
Making it work for you
Now I’m not a phenomenal painter, dancer or singer, but I can embrace creativity in my own way. Pacing the design and creation of my works. Singing a few lines of a song a day or on better days a whole song. Lying down and imagining dancing to my favourite songs. Moving things around in my room, curating a small home decor vision of my dreams. Looking after the (ever growing) collection of plants in my room. Experimenting with makeup and fashion. Can I do these all the time? No and often not in the way I’d ideally like. However, I can do some things some times and that’s what I cling to.
Here are just some of the many ways you can embrace creativity: flower arranging, growing plants, gardening, cooking, baking, photos, drawings, paintings, knitting, crochet, crafts, poems, daydreams, blogging, Instagram, singing, dancing, decorating, room decor, hair, makeup, fashion and so much more.
Joy really is a revolutionary act as the wonderful author @keahbrown says. And I’m here for it in whatever form I can find.
How do you like to embrace your creativity? I’d love to know. Let me know in the comments below.
