🌸 The gift a creative life can bring to life’s challenges

I was sitting across from this chair waiting for a doctor.

The nurse had taken my blood pressure and then said she was going to take it again because it was high, but this time she would leave the room because she might be scaring me.

When she stepped back in a moment later I told her I had been scared before and that it couldn’t possibly be her. We laughed. I appreciate it when people use humour.

I wasn’t there about my blood pressure.

But of course knowing it was high I was reminded about what I had said to a friend who posted a picture on her Instagram the day before. She was in a hospital bed in an ER. Scared. I wrote with some suggestions and how to think about where she was.

So now I decided to take some of my own advice. I started looking for the repeating pattern on the fabric of this chair. I couldn’t find it at first.

I have taken a Surface Pattern Design course and learned how to use Adobe Illustrator (although like any language it’s fading with my lack of use).

But it brought me into the present moment.

It made the time disappear.

Turns out living a creative life can help at a time like this.

Being both practiced at noticing and curious (two tenets in Creativity) can bring one into the present moment. But also out of the situation- in a momentary way.

Long story short. I have pneumonia.

A couple of days ago I found myself kind of down, because it’s hard to be tired all-the-time.

I did what I have learned to do in grief. Acknowledge that sadness, feel it and move on.

The Spring weather has been increasingly lovely, so I took my new knitting outside.

I haven’t made this pattern before. I am following the instructions not really understanding how it will work, but knowing that the Danish woman who wrote the pattern is very talented.

Sometimes it is a bit of an act of faith to simply follow someone else’s advice in order to get to the place that they live, as they are generously explaining each step in order to bring you there too.

It is coming together.

In the warm sunshine, with Lilly next time me, and the sound of birds- I forgot that I was sad about not having the energy that I need for my business and my garden.

Making, being creative brought me into the present moment.

Time spent making literally erased my feeling and brought ease, the way the ocean tide comes and erases the footprints and marks-of-the-day on the sand leaving a smooth surface- a refresh like no other.

I’m not saying the weeds in my garden have stopped growing or the work in my business doesn’t need doing.

I’m saying creative moments can calm us so that with the limited energy we do have is not spent on worrying or fretting, but on looking clearly at what is at hand and spending the energy on that. A focus, with intention.

This week is my 5 Day Creativity Challenge.

I’m really excited about Creativity Week. I’m excited to go live again on Thursday so see where people are at- what they might have created.

I appreciate so much the kind notes and updates from those participating with what they are making and their well wishes for my good health. Such lovely connections from across the country.

If you are interested in living your life with more curiosity, presence, calm, and making fun stuff, you might be excited to know that I have opened the doors to my on-line community called GEMs (Gathering Experiences that are Meaningful)

As of today the doors are open!

Click the pink button below for more info and to sign up.

Doors close on Monday!

I wish you peace on your path,

Lise-Lotte

By the way, the pattern I am knitting is an ​The Robinia Sweater by Anne Ventzel