It Starts With You

The other day I was in a moment of gratitude and thanked a friend for their hand in how this goodness came to me. They replied, “Don’t thank me, remember it starts with YOU.”

I’ve been thinking about this statement.

The creative drive is within us all. Some call that a nudge or a wink. Others call it the muse. Whatever you call it, honor it. Because chances are if God plants a creative seed in your heart, you will not rest easy until you nurture it.

And once you give yourself permission to explore your creativity, something beautiful happens.

You improve your skills. You connect with others who are creating things. You feel a sense of wholeness and satisfaction—well before the project is even finished. And when you do finish, you receive a gift. It might be more confidence, more clarity, a deep friendship, a sense of courage or tenacity, or an insight about what’s really important to you.

The poet Theodore Roethke tells us “We learn by going where we need to go”.

These creative urges are our internal directives and marching orders of the heart. When we move out on faith into the act of creation, the universe is able to advance.

Often, we have creative dreams that we’d love to be able to fulfill but don’t know how to actualize them ourselves. I’ve learned that I need the support of my true friends who will read those early stream-of-consciousness bits and bursts to help give shape to what I’m trying to say. If you can find even that one person you can trust and trade your work with, you can nudge each other toward completing the ideas and dreams you’ve started.

I could not have created any of these books without my trusty side kick, my right hand, long distance office mate and true friend Kristen Alden. She’s the kind of friend that fixes your crown when it’s lopsided or tells you there’s mascara on your cheek.

And then there’s my mom for believing in me and instilling confidence. Yup, she’s an amazing role model and I know of no other way to live than with gratitude because of her. Love you mom. 

She’s also the person who’s always said to me “March Forward” whenever appropriate.

And so, mentored by the support and complementary skills of my tribe, Kristen, Kimberly and I were able to shape a series of illustrated poetry books that have become a symbol of higher creativity. Which proves what my mom knew all along—that we are far more and can do more that we think if we’re willing to follow the marching orders of our hearts and keep at it.

And that is the creative process. It’s showing up each and every day, coming back to the page, back to the canvas, back to the kitchen—over and over and over again.

What we make, makes us.

We grow into who we want to be and who we really are when we’re able to honor those nudges and winks and make the things that are called unto us. Even though we face our own challenges in the process, we learn a lot about ourselves and feel good honoring our commitment to our creativity.

We are creative beings. Our lives become our work of art.

“God is creating something new in you: a bubbling spring of Joy that spills over into others’ lives. Do not mistake this Joy for your own or try to take credit for it in any way. Instead, watch in delight as God’s Holy Spirit flows through you to bless others.”

– JOHN 3:8, GALATIANS 5:22

I’m incredibly grateful every day for all the inspiration and assistance I’ve received on this lovely trek. Thank you, Momma Annabelle, Kristen, Kimberly, and Jeana Jorgensen for our Foreword Review of Sage Smiles. Thanks for letting me share 🙏.  Here is the review in full:

https://www.forewordreviews.com/reviews/sage-smiles/

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