Creative States

I read a biography on an author once who spoke of taking writing retreats to work on her novels several times a year.

At the time, I thought it was strange that she mentioned needing ten full days for her mind to rest and recover before she could really get into the creative space needed to delve fully into her work.  Writing has always come so naturally to me; an easily accessible extension of who I am.  

But the past few months, I’ve noticed that has shifted at a time that is a little critical in getting my words and work into the world.  I’ve dealt with a lot of shiznit in my life before this point, but maybe not in quite such a condensed way, and it feels like that has put a damper on my creative outflow.  

I sit to work and get distracted by a thousand and ten things before I get to the mental state that I write my best in.  Or I just don’t get there.   Even the “easy”(tedious😬) work of editing Light of Dawn, my fiction, has felt nearly impossible.  

But I’m trying to give myself Grace, lots of love and good nourishment as I decompress from the past months and prepare for the work ahead of me when I return, having faith that the words – and the books – will be finished and ready for the shelves when my mind has come fully back to itself from that place of hiding and protection.  

It’s so important to acknowledge that sometimes we just have to spend time in survival mode to get through the storms and to the blooming gardens on the other side.  I feel those flowers close.🌸🌷🌻😉

When the words won’t work, I’m finding other ways to stay creative. Today I visited a sweet little farmers market at the McAllen library in Texas. I purchased some delicious spreadable chèvre from a lovely goat farmer – which I snacked on with some slices of giant radishes we bought along with fresh chopped nopales from a beautiful little Hispanic lady. Nopal is a cactus fruit commonly eaten down here.

To be honest, I had zero idea of what to do with the crunchy, limey flavored “fruit”, but I had some smoked turkey and a bin full of other veggies so decided to try my hand at a creamy soup.  

It was a time-consuming soup.  So much love put into this golden beauty.  But as it turns out, nopal is a new favorite.😎. The soup was fabulous with an avocado crema and some tortilla chips.  

Feels like a triple win, supporting abundance mentality, emotional healing and growth. ✨

I love supporting local farmers and small businesses at farmers markets, I got to try something new with ultra-fresh ingredients and have enough soup to last a week or possibly three because I don’t know how to do anything small.🤷‍♀️

How have you been supporting your creative states, emotional health and abundance mentality lately?  I’d love to read what is working for you!⬇️🥰

Sending love from Texas💖