In creating, the only hard thing is to begin: a grass blade’s no easier to make than an oak. ~ James Russell Lowell
Art is not a treasure in the past or an importation from another land, but part of the present life of all living and creating peoples. ~ Franklin D. Roosevelt
True happiness comes from the joy of deeds well done, the zest of creating things new. ~ Antoine de Saint-Exupery
I’m always thinking about creating. My future starts when I wake up every morning… Every day I find something creative to do with my life. ~ Miles Davis
At first, I see pictures of a story in my mind. Then creating the story comes from asking questions of myself. I guess you might call it the ‘what if – what then’ approach to writing and illustration. ~ Chris Van Allsburg
Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself. ~ George Bernard Shaw
Today I probably should have been creating schedules for our faculty as we are going to head back to work soon. Yet, instead I took advantage of one of my last days of vacation and finished knitting a baby bonnet (I have a lot to make, as there seems to be a massive amount of babies currently on the way)! I put a movie on and I started to knit. It was so wonderful to be able to zone out and enjoy my day, while creating something at the same time. It felt so good to finish the project and know that I have something very concrete to demonstrate my productivity today.
I find that being creative, whether it is knitting, quilting, drawing, dancing, playing and instrument, acting, etc. is a great way to rejuvenate. Being creative is a form of freedom (as long as you can be creative AND turn off your self-critic). When I am creating, I am given a break from the stresses of day-to-day life – it is a gift.
Today, 209, days ’til 40, I am thankful to carve out some time to be creative – I hope you can too!
~400daystil40
Fortuitous Forty!!! 
buckwheatsrisk
July 27, 2012 at 00:13
same here, i like to dance or paint, or blog. 😉
400daystil40
July 27, 2012 at 23:45
I love to dance – do not do it as often as I would like!
buckwheatsrisk
July 28, 2012 at 00:27
there’s something about it! i actually did a dance workout today 🙂
changeforbetterme
July 27, 2012 at 00:55
I do try to carve out time to be creative…every time I write my blog I feel creative….guess that’s what they mean when they say “creative writing”…. 😉
400daystil40
July 27, 2012 at 23:45
I do too (most of the time…… as long as it is not late at night and I am struggling to get something out!) 🙂
Another Thousand Words
July 27, 2012 at 04:28
What you have written here is true, 400…creating something…ANY thing…does relieve stress…by giving each of us a feeling of accomplishment….or perhaps, fulfillment.
400daystil40
July 27, 2012 at 23:44
Yes, definitely!!! 🙂
Spider42
July 27, 2012 at 12:56
All I have to say to this is : Could not agree more.
And love the Shaw quote you’ve used here a lot!
Cheers..
400daystil40
July 27, 2012 at 23:41
Thank you!
saymber
July 27, 2012 at 17:31
I love to knit and watch tv too – keeps my hands out of the snack cupboard lol. Yesterday I spent several hours making some wire jewelry and sun catcher for a friend. Just feels so good to manifest a thought into a tangible reality! You should post pics of your baby bonnet!
400daystil40
July 27, 2012 at 23:38
Yes, I need to do that more often (keep my hands away from snacking!) Yes, it really does feel good to do these hands-on things!
The Quiet Borderline (back in hospital)
July 27, 2012 at 20:30
I’ve still got my sketchbook and pens with me in the hospital but haven’t been able to get back into it. Maybe you have given me inspiration to start off again! Thx.
400daystil40
July 27, 2012 at 23:37
If you do, it would be great to see photos of your work on your blog! 🙂
viveka
July 28, 2012 at 16:12
Totally agree … creating is freedom …. you forgotten your blogging.
400daystil40
July 28, 2012 at 22:35
lol – yes, very true!!!
Lucianus Mauricius
July 29, 2012 at 14:49
I love your idea. My best time is when I’m walking around the house and either making up voices and characters, or making up scenes form movies I lvoe most and changing them to be pertinent to my current situation. There are times I even crack myself up which might make my neighbors think I’ve lost it at such a young age 😛 🙂
400daystil40
July 29, 2012 at 23:05
That is so funny, I have done things like that in the past too! I love making up scenes, etc. I am certain that many people have wondered if I was completely crazy – particularly when I am doing it in the car! I also used to practice lines to plays in the car (when I was in productions) and I got MANY weird looks! 🙂
Lucianus Mauricius
July 30, 2012 at 03:58
I’ll tell you a funny incidents. Eons ago I used to work for Walgreens, and one evening I was facing the shelves and filling them up. Since the store was pretty much empty and it was around 8 pm and I was bored I was reciting lines form Sister Act and this lady customer overheard me and went straight to the front register and asked to speak to a manager. She told him I was insane and that I should be fired since I was talking to myself and she felt I was dangerous. Needless to say my manager asked me to be more careful in the future, even though he understood I was just being silly.
400daystil40
July 30, 2012 at 15:12
This made me laugh out loud! That is so funny! That is the type of person that you want to play the elevator jokes on (look up elevator jokes on google…. funny one liners to say to a group of complete strangers in an elevator!) 🙂
Lucianus Mauricius
July 31, 2012 at 04:54
I’ll do that, thanks for the tip 😀
Lucianus Mauricius
July 31, 2012 at 04:59
I laughed so hard at all of them I thought I was gonna need to go to the restroom, LMAO
uselessanxieties
August 30, 2012 at 17:26
This is a belated comment, but… No quotations are quite as inspiring (I find) as those about daring to create. Our culture and society is so focused on the outcome (like, income) of creation that the process usually gets ignored (until someone makes a million bucks with their creativity). Is it possible for guilt not to accompany the creative process–especially for mothers? This nagging guilt and negative self-talk is precisely why I carry my Lulu Lemon reusable shopping bag around with me know… Inspiring tidbits at my fingertips!
400daystil40
August 30, 2012 at 20:38
I love this comment! I agree, we forget the process all too often!