I
have been thinking quite a lot lately about why we choose to create. Whether it is a loaf of bread, a welcoming sanctuary, a poem, a short TikTok dance video, a new space in our yard to grow our favorite plants, the act of creating puts the outcome largely in our control.
While many arguments have been made as to why the sourdough bread baking became so prevalent, I do think one reason has to do with having control over something when so much all-of-a-sudden and in-a-hurry was not in our control.
As I
shared in last week’s newsletter, upon the arrival and assessment by my contractor about how we were going to be able to hang my exterior lights, although it wouldn’t be rectified that evening and I would have to wait, he projected I would likely now have time to find another project. He wasn’t wrong. Creating, changing, editing for more comfort and ease offers a feeling of participation or not being completely left up to the whims of the universe. And while lately, yes, some reopening and
phasing in of the life we used to know have begun to happen, so much is still wait-and-see. And so we wish to create.
During the slow return to a new normal, what can you do that brings you to the present moment fully? It need not be a project, it may not appear to be productive to the outside world, but when you create, cultivate something, anything that improves the quality of your life, you give yourself the knowledge of how to be calm no matter what is swirling outside around you that is out of your
control.
Even
if you create moments of tranquility such as your daily cuppa moment in the evening or afternoon or morning, you are creating something that brings you peace, that feeds you well.
Perhaps one of the benefits of living in so much unknown is that we have an opportunity to practice becoming better at something that will always be true – living in a vast amount of unknowns. We have always lived in this world (of vast unknowns), but now it is blatantly obvious that we do. So instead of waiting, why not begin creating whatever it is that will fill you up, elevate your spirits, provide a sense of realization that you do have
control over something, and you can do it so that your daily quality of life improves.
In
episode #100 of the podcast I shared 10 Things People Who Have Found Contentment Understand About Uncertainty which was written when the global community largely was doing well and the economy was steady, comparably to what is happening in our present moment, guess what? There was still vast uncertainty
then. It is just more obvious now and immediately in our backyard.
Choose to strengthen the skill that is being accepting of those things you do not have control over and consciously step into improving all that you have the opportunity to play a role in. Let your role add improvement, and carry that improvement as we move forward through and beyond our current times.
In
today’s newsletter, you will find three posts from the tail end of British Week as well as all of the posts from this week as we stepped back into our regularly weekly postings here on TSLL.
I
want to thank everyone again who stopped by during British Week for doing so, as it was a wonderful week to remember. I am looking forward to next year already – the third full week in May.
Have
a wonderful final weekend in May, and until next week, I will see you on the blog.
