Hi friends and happy Wednesday!
I’m putting together my workshops for the writing retreat I host and teach twice a year. This year we’re meeting in December in Virginia Beach. Christmastime at the beach. I can’t wait! I’m already daydreaming about the various decorations we’ll have. I’m thinking lots of whites and soft blues, maybe even soft pink. We were in Cracker Barrel last night and they had a beautiful tree decorated in whites, silver, and soft pinks. I normally wouldn’t gravitate towards pink hues, but with the white lights, it was beautiful. If you’re attending my retreat just ignore this last spoiler sentence. But I plan to bring a small tree to decorate and have by the beautiful fireplace.
Why do I take time to decorate an Airbnb for a writer’s event? Because I believe our environment and our surroundings have an impact on our moods and us in general. Think how you feel in an overcrowded and musty garage filled to the brim with storage and handyman or handywoman objects. If boxes are piled high, they can have that “closed-in” feel. Contrast that with a house overlooking swaying seagrass and the tumbling waves. Where everything is in its place, the space is open and filled with cozy candles—the flames glistening off the silver Christmas balls on the tree. That’s what I want all my attendees to feel when they arrive, that they’ve walked into an oceanside winter wonderland. Why? So that they feel comfortable, cozy, and inspired. Yep. Inspired.
Inspired? Yes. I believe your environment, especially one near nature can stir your creativity. Something happens in my brain when I’m at the beach. My stress evaporates (hence my kids say I need to live at the beach because I’m a “stress bunny.” Not proud of that fact but they’re right). But I digress, when I’m at the ocean, it settles my mind, and for whatever reason, my creativity blooms. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve sat writing furiously on the beach on my legal pad with a pen. Stories and ideas just tumble forth, and I can’t ignore them and write later because the words are pouring forth and to be perfectly honest, I’d forgotten half of it by the time we come off the beach after sunset.
I teach writing, literature, and speech to homeschool high schoolers one day a week and this week one of my students gave a speech on the effects of nature on our health. Some of the facts and statistics she shared only confirmed my belief that being near or in nature helps your mind, body and I think your soul. Why? Because God is the great Creator. He called creation into being and when we spend time in God’s creation, we (at least I) greatly feel His presence and where does creativity itself come from? God. He is the great Creator and we’re made in His image. Our creativity blooms when it’s anchored in our Lord. There are lots of ways to spend time in nature—go for a walk, go to a park, go hiking, or sit on your porch with a cup of coffee and your Bible. Sit in the silence (this is a hard one for me because my brain likes to go non-stop). Being still and soaking up quiet time in the Lord’s presence will guide you in your life, and if you’re a writer, in your art.
Question for you:
What stirs creativity in your life?
As always, thanks for joining me this week
Best,
Dani
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I couldn’t agree more that nature increases creativity!
Absolutely and you’re such a great example of it with your daily walks 🙂
I like quiet….stillness, just listening to nature or if in the house the natural sounds, no music or TV, just quiet. The beach is a wonderful place to relax and rest and be still.
Absolutely and you’re such a great example of it with your daily walks 🙂
Sorry, Naomi. Not sure why my response to Becky duplicated and under your comment.
I agree. Stillness and quiet is such a joy. I love getting up before everyone else, grabbing my cup of coffee and watching the sun rise. So peaceful.
I agree, nature definitely stirs my creativity. God put so much detail into our world for our pleasure. It leaves me in awe. I would, also, add my family and a good soundtrack. My ADD mind likes something in the background to help me focus and pick up the creative pace.
Nature, for sure. I would also add other’s creativity. I could watch videos of others being creative all day long and walk away feeling full of my own ideas.
I love being outdoors! I walk and pray in my neighborhood every morning (when it’s above 40 degrees and not raining!). And I sit outside and write whenever the weather allows. The beach is my favorite place to enjoy God’s creation, so I’m thankful to live within 30 minutes of such majesty. I don’t get there as often as I used to, but just knowing I can is a blessing.