Rejuvenate

Rejuvenate

verb to restore to a former state; make fresh or new again.

It is important that as humans, we realize the importance of taking time for ourselves.  We need to give ourselves time to think about all we keep ourselves busy with in the day to day hustle and bustle.  For me, that time to think could not have come at a more pertinent time, than this weekend.  I recently found out the store I've been the assistant store manager at is closing, and the time for change comes again in both my job and soon enough my living arrangements.  I needed this time to rejuvenate in order to prepare for what the next few months will hold.  Just when things felt comfortable, they are being changed again. 

I had one hope for my time at home, and that was to be still.  The weekend far exceeded my expectations, and I was able to be still and spend quality time with family and friends.  I woke up each morning at home with no set plan for the day, but each held productive meaningful moments; a baseball game with my parents, good shopping/bonding time with my mom.  Going back to this "former" home (although I will always call it home) was exactly what it means to rejuvenate.  I even look at in a "back to your roots" sense.  Go back to what made you the person you are, the places that make you comfortable, and there you will find answers.  This can be your childhood home, your favorite place in town, or the porch with the people who know you best.  I confirmed things for myself while I was home.  There are jobs I now truly believe I will  or will not be happy doing, and neighborhoods I will be more happier living in than others. 

Take time to invest in yourself.  You can't truly invest in others unless you do that first!  Take a bath, lay in the grass and soak in the sun, BREATHE. 

She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future. Proverbs 31:25

Creativity

cre·a·tiv·i·ty (n)

the ability to transcend traditional ideas, rules, patterns, relationships, or the like, and to create meaningful new ideas, forms, methods, interpretations, etc.; originality, progressiveness, or imagination:

When I originally planned to write this blog post, I had a better idea in my head of what I thought creativity meant, and what it looked like.  I had been reading a book called "A Spiritual Hitchhikers Guide to the Universe" and the author, Paul Rademacher, begins connecting creativity to a child's mind.  The way children can think freely without caring about judgement of others is a beautiful thing.  Children also think with such enthusiasm.  I wish that today I could get as excited to start a new project as I did when I came up with a fake clothing store out of my bedroom when I was in elementary school.  To me the idea was genius, and Hallie and I called it "Funky Fashions."  We just created a concept and ran with it.  What halts that initiative for us as adults, when trying to be creative?  I believe its fear of judgement and fear of failure.  
Maybe bringing creativity down to that elementary level can help us actually act on our creative thoughts. Rademacher calls us out as adults by saying that we all feel compelled to grow up fast.  I think he is right to some degree.  I ran out of college ready to conquer the world with all the knowledge and confidence I gained at Meredith, and almost forgot to sit still long enough to take it all in.  I think that finding those moments of stillness are good for our creativity.  It's a space to let our minds flow and our new thoughts release.  For me, that is what blogging became, and what running is becoming.  So ask yourself "am I allowing space for creativity in my life?"