For the Love of Summer 2016

It's a wrap!  This creative commitment is complete!  Scroll down to the next image if you'd like some catch up on the subject.  And, especially if you'd like to play along (it's never too late).

Some extra notes on how this process benefited me (aka my realizations):

I document (almost) everything in many different ways.  I use photos, a monthly journal and a large month-at-a-glance calendar.  When I participated in the DAY 2 exercise, though, I had even more clarity after designing yet another way to "map it out".

I had the most jam-packed summer to date AND I had more energy than I have ever had before.  I guarded it with a fine tooth comb.

Had I not participated in morning pages on DAY 6, my vision for the summer of 2017 would have easily become a should (rather than a vision).

My mantra for fall isn't anything profound but it's so easy for me to lose my focus when it comes to living my dreams.  Luckily I was able to look back at my journals over the course of this past spring and summer and remind myself that the facts don't lie: All arrows point in the same direction.  Keep going!

LOVE YOUR LIFE

With transition comes another creative commitment!  I call this one "For the Love of Summer".  Just a wee (but powerful) way to honor what was, express gratitude and move into a mindful fall.  

DAY 1 : what are ten reasons to be grateful for regarding this summer?
DAY 2: map out your summer (make a list, draw a diagram...) 
DAY 3: remember (and relive) your biggest summer laugh
DAY 4: recall your favorite summer visual
DAY 5: what was different this summer than last summer?
DAY 6: dream up (go big) your summer of 2017
DAY 7: create a mantra for fall

Choose the creative voice that works for you.  Yeah, even list making counts.  If you choose to share your daily acknowledgements, use the hashtag #loveofsummer.  

The idea behind creative commitments gives me another opportunity/structure to continue my practice of creating everyday.  


The tiny print (in a larger font):  Why does taking tiny steps like this really work?  For (almost) eight years, now, I have been creating EVERY day.  Sometimes my daily endeavor takes on the role of a meditation or a form of expressing gratitude.  Sometimes it's an opportunity to just focus on me for at least 10 minutes (while dropping the rest of the day away).  The point, here, is that all that is required is setting aside intentional time - just a small bit - to create (your life) everyday.  Sometimes the results of these actions create a ripple effect and this leads me to the larger picture of life BUT, ALWAYS...yes, ALWAYS, taking actions like these strengthen my creative muscle so showing up becomes less of a novelty and more of a habit.  Why wouldn't you want a stronger muscle?  If you think about it, it inspires others to show up too.  I think you'd agree: a world full of daily creatives is a better world all around.

With a commitment to creating everyday:

• I have established a strong foundation (a "root stock")
• I have found a way to express myself every season of the year
• I persist (most of the time), and as a result, I am always experiencing new growth
• I continue without interruption (the stronger the root stock, the easier this becomes)
• I regularly repeat and, as a result, renew
• I am unable to see an end - creativity has become my life purpose
• I experience more rapid succession the steadier my practice of creating is

Become a part of a community that is showing up for their creativity in a small, imperfect, inspiring way every day.  Create Everyday.  

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