A License for Creative Adventure
“You’re doing everything I wish I were doing, or used to
do.”
“How come you get to go so many places?”
“You must be outdoors every week!”
I hear so much longing and envy whenever I post
photos of my adventures. I never have the right comeback.
On the one hand, I want to say, “You should see the beater that
I drive!” Or, “If you didn’t own that huge house and spend money on all those
gadgets, maybe you could do this, too.” Or perhaps, “It’s so great being an
empty nester!”
Then I realize: it doesn’t matter what I say. I want to spur on clients and friends to pursue their dreams, to spend more
time doing what they love, to leap into more joy. But I can’t give
them that permission.
Only you can give yourself permission to enjoy and
create – when you trust it’s right to do.
It might help to take a hard look at what it costs you not to pursue enjoyment.
What is it costing you in terms of mood? In terms of vitality?
In terms of restlessness and boredom?
Perhaps health is a factor. I suffer
from seasonal affective disorder, and so my
mental health wavers when I don't get ample light and fresh air.
Along with creating, adventuring
makes me happy. Whether climbing a mountain peak,
backpacking the California coastline, hiking the canyons of Zion National Park,
exploring a beach town, or snowshoeing in Montana—things I’ve done in the past
six months—I have learned that opening my heart to adventures helps me take in
more life, expands my creativity and my love of the world.
To create and play is
counter-culture. It demands a look at how our lives are set up. For you and me,
it means making the time and space for these pursuits. I’d like to invite you to focus on
you this spring, and into the summer,
establishing a habit that could profoundly change your days to come.
If you want to dedicate time to your writing, a Wildfire Writing Master Class might be the
thing. You’ll engage with a group of committed creators who bring their best
work to the table week after week. We’ve got a couple seats available, which is a
rare thing most of the year, so I’d love to hear from you and we can talk about
whether this class meets your needs.
For women only, Friday and Saturday,
June 2 and 3: “Sweet Pause in the Gorge,” a retreat of journaling, yoga,
creativity, sharing, solitude, healing, rest and space. We will recharge your
creative batteries and remind you how much you are worth a nourishing,
beautiful getaway. Info here.
I’m seeking to inspire others to
heights of healing, places of connection, deep creativity and fulfillment. I
believe that we can experience deep joy and wonder and creativity and love in
our lives, and rise above all the forces dragging us into people-pleasing and
workaholism, telling us that we
don’t deserve Life and all that it has to offer.
One writer recently told me, “It
sounds like you are turning your life into the adventure you’ve been seeking. I
will try to follow your example.”
It wasn't my comeback, but it was the best answer of all.
|