Happier Days Ahead

TLDR:
*this means too long, didn’t read. I looked it up because I never knew what it meant
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Speak your mind even though your voice shakes

Eleanor Roosevelt

Backpacking and a book

I love to travel, and had dreamed of taking a round-the-world trip while in University. Then, after graduation from vet school, I moved to Florida and lived like a student while I worked 2 jobs, and saved all my pennies.

After about 18 months, I had saved enough for a ticket, happy days! I was scared. No, I was genuinely terrified by the idea of travelling solo around Asia. I hesitated. But I still dreamed of where I would go, and compiled a bucket list. Then, I started telling people about my dreams and my trip.
“What are you going to do?” asked some.
“Are you crazy?” exclaimed others.

What I noticed was that the more people I told about my trip, the more concrete it became. Rather than listening to the doubters and naysayers, I solidified my plans and booked my ticket. Thinking about my trip was easy. Speaking it made it true. I travelled for 18 months through SE Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Cook Islands and Hawaii. It was incredible.

I feel much the same way writing this blog post, announcing that I will be publishing a book in December of this year.

Finally, I took my own advice and decided to reserve judgement of myself and from others. What’s the worst that could happen? My passion for lifelong learning compelled me to embark on the adventure of writing a book. If other people can do it, I can too, right?

So what?
How will this make me happier?

I’m sure you are happy for me, but it’s okay to wonder “So what? How does this help me find happier days?” If your kids say you are boring, if life seems too dull, I can help. We will build new habits together, to allow you to take a chance on that thing you’ve been dreaming about. Whether it’s writing a book, taking a trip, starting a business, applying for a promotion, or learning a new skill, creative habits will help you start to take action. You will take more chances despite uncertain outcomes with a creative mindset, and worry less about what others think. Happier days, indeed.

Over the next 5 months, I am going to show you the 5 creative habits you need, in only a few minutes a day. These habits will connect you to your inner creative.  Remember her? She loved to splash in the puddles.  He loved to make mud bombs. They could lie on their backs in the warm grass, making stories in the clouds for hours. Those happier days are still accessible to you as an adult.

But I’m not creative, I can’t draw or sing.

First, let’s get one thing straight – being creative can be the hardest easy thing you can do. I won’t promise it will be easy, especially if you’ve spent a lifetime keeping it quiet. You don’t have to be artistic to be creative. In fact, you are probably already creative but you’ve decided that because you cannot create “art” that it doesn’t count. It counts and it matters. Choosing an outfit, making a meal, doodling on an envelope, creating a vacation itinerary (I wish!).

I’ll be here every step of the way to help you learn how to assess the risk of expressing your unique brand of creative (and the risk of NOT being creative). Also, meet your self-preserving, well intentioned but outdated operating system designed to keep you safe. That outdated system keeps us small, forces us to fit in, and to conform. Maybe it has helped us survive, but not thrive. Our environment is changing faster than our instincts can adapt. Let’s hack that system and create new pathways, new instincts, and new ways of working and living.

You might wonder how I went from my work as a veterinarian to become a passionate advocate of creativity.  Frustrated, I hopped from job to job, seeking…..something, in almost every part of veterinary medicine. I blamed the clients, the work, the industry and the salary. No! I never blamed the pets! In my search for a happier life, I looked outward to fill my cup instead of inward.

Initially, I was drawn to online business, to be home more with my small children. With one failed business, and one that became boring after it started to make money, I struggled. A late diagnosis of ADHD explained a lot. But with that diagnosis, I also figured out that I was not “flighty” or “noncommittal” or “unmotivated”.  

I was human.

I needed to express my creativity. Luckily, once I embraced my creativity and let go of the fear of judgement from myself and others, I felt whole. Happier Days ahead! It felt like I had been holding my breath for as long as I could remember.

Have your kids told you that you’re too serious? Ouch. Are they right? Do you ever wake up and stare at the ceiling, wondering how you are going to summon the inspiration to get through another predictable day? Do small things irritate you, which then infuriate you, because who is this grumpy person you said you would never be?

What’s the point?

Does it sometimes feel like you are repeating every day like Groundhog Day – only without Bill Murray’s wacky humour?

If you are seeking “something” and just can’t seem to figure it out, join me as we build a creative practice together. It will only take a few minutes, and you never have to touch a paintbrush or a piano. Pinky swear. Need more info? Contact me here.

You will see results. Science says so. Others who have taken the plunge say so. Less stress, more laughs with loved ones, new paths to explore, more confidence to be yourself, deeper thoughts, more success at work, and a richer lived experience, for instance. It’s not a unicorn parade in Rainbow Town, it won’t fix everything in your life. But you will see Happier Days ahead, and hopefully a regret-proof life.

What’s Cooking Good Looking? Here’s what I have planned for you.

1. Weekly interviews on Linkedin Live and broadcast to YouTube where the recording will be available with industry leaders and all around cool people who are not traditionally creative but who have used creativity to become better humans.
   If they can do it, so can you, right?
2. Monthly newsletters just like this one, with a new habit per month to practice, and strategies to embed creativity into your life.
   *click here to subscribe!*
3. I DARE YOU! Once a week I’ll create a video challenge to align with the theme of the month. I’ll do it first on video, then I’ll dare you to do it. 
   The I DARE YOU series will be available through my social platforms (see below) and will be sent out to newsletter subscribers once a week.
   This might be the most important thing you do all week. 
   Reading without action is just creative voyeurism. Taking tiny risks is CRUCIAL to start hacking your outdated survival mechanism. Repeat after me: Nobody cares that much about what I do. I won’t die because I look silly. In fact, you won’t look silly because nobody will care or probably notice anyway. Sorry, not sorry.
4. In September you’ll be the FIRST to hear about exclusive and fun ways to engage with my new book on everyday creativity.  In fact, hit reply and let me know what you would love to see in a book, or if you have a story to share. Maybe I’ll include it in the book!
5. Finally, sit back, relax, enjoy the complimentary imaginary peanuts and buckle your seatbelt. We’re going to act like billionaires and launch ourselves into orbit. The sky’s the limit.

Feel free to contact me for more details, or follow me on Instagram, Linkedin or check out my Youtube channel for more info on Everyday Creativity.