Time never seems to be on our side when it comes to having enough of it to go around. Some days, I need a few extra hours just to get my work done, let alone have time to do something in addition to my first wave of priorities. Time has a funny way about itself. It flies by, or it passes as molasses; there is no in between. A balance has to be found somewhere along the way. Passion projects often get lost in the mayhem. They may or not amount to anything, but they are still worth pursuing. We tell ourselves it is not the right time to jump head over heels toward a project, and I am guilty of this too, but there is never going to an absolute right time for anything. If we wait for the most advantageous and most opportune time, we will end up waiting ourselves out of an opportunity. Time waits for no one. It will pass you right by. So, if you plan on committing to a passion project, do it soon—do it now. There is no time like the present. Ideas are fresh, and nothing is really stopping us except for ourselves. We are our worst enemies. We are too busy. We are too tired. We are not good enough. We have to get ahead in life. These are the tales we believe and stay in the same rut that shuts out creativity. Enough already. Give it all you have and dive deep into a passion project. Regret is not an option. I did not want to look back at a chance I could have taken and wonder what it could have been. I had no idea what I was doing, and I sure did not have a plan for my execution. My heart was missing something, so I chased an idea to fruition until I knew what that missing piece was. I would not be here, right now, had I shut the thought out of my mind that night. I had every reason to say no, but I did not—I could not. My passion project happened overnight. I now make time for it. It is part of my weekly schedule. When you love something enough, you will make time. So, give your heart to your passions; you will be happy you did. It was one of the best things that ever happened to me. Had I have waited, I know I would be letting my creativity die because waiting kills creativity. Stay Curious, Kayla ©Inquisitive Perspectives 2017
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Some of my friends would probably call me a buzz kill when it comes to some outlandish ideas. I have that motherly look (you know the one; we have all been on the receiving end of one that makes us change our actions quick) and turn on my voice of reason capabilities to talk someone out of doing something they will regret later. I cannot help it; it is just part of my personality, and everyone knows it. I have earned the title of being “the mom” friend of the group. My way of going about doing things may not be flashy, but they always get done. I know how to have fun. And I know it is okay to have fun. It is encouraged, and fun is a driving force in life. But when it comes to getting down to business, we need to be disciplined in that work. The more than appropriate title of chapter nine, “Be Boring: It’s The Only Way To Get Work Done,” gives us clearance to be ordinary in a routine so that our creative attempts receive the untainted brain power to be fully committed. As my mom says, “we are only born with so many brain cells, so do not waste them.” I never understood the bigger picture of her catchphrase until now. In no way am I discrediting our day jobs by saying this, so hear me out. An established routine should be maintained. Having a predictable schedule in our day-to-day encounters removes the process of doubt and allows us to carry out our daily responsibilities without having to think excessively about them. Day jobs keep us grounded, so our passion projects have the chance to bloom. By all means, do not do your job half-brained, but be steady and regimented in it so that stored energy from committing to a routine lends itself to being allocated to creative endeavors. We should be confident in what we choose to do in life. No one wants to be unhappy with a career choice or have a regret from not jumping on an opportunity. It seems like we have to choose between a conventional career and the fun passion projects we hope to pursue someday. Well, in today’s society, lucky for us, we do not have to decide. By day, do your day job for the greater good, and by night, unleash those pent-up creative vibes. So to be able to live in a double realm of doing what you love, you just have to know when to be boring, because to be able to pull this feat off, boring is the way to be. Stay Curious, Kayla ©Inquisitive Perspectives 2017 There is something to be said about the comfort that comes from being home. I mean, we cannot stay home forever and stay guarded against the outside world. Being able to leave home, go to a foreign place, and return renewed has a special feeling that accompanies the journey. To appreciate our haven of wherever we call home, we must be willing to leave only to return a changed person. The author titles chapter seven “Geography Is No Longer Our Master.” Think about what that means and how it applies to finding our creativity. I would dare to go as far to say that if you have the motivation to go out in search of creativity, you will find the means to support the efforts and be greatly rewarded because of it. With modern transportation and a neat resource called the World Wide Web, it makes seeing the world more attainable. Austin Kleon ends a section of the chapter with this: “You have to find a place that feeds you—creatively, socially, spiritually, and literally.” Tending to these important areas of life is crucial to our overall well-being. They matter and make it possible to pursue the chase. Creativity. Define your creative space and stick to it. For me, my room is my creative haven. The calming colors get my gears spinning, and there is no telling where they will take me. Socially. Be in the company of people who are good for you and you for them. Like-mindedness is healthy, but too much of a good thing can be mundane. Balance a sense of diversity among friends and affiliations. My friends keep me grounded and challenge me to be a stronger person. Spiritually. Tune into the higher power of your soul and maintain a relationship with your thoughts and belief system. Weekly Bible studies keep me in check and having friendships with other Christians gives me the strength and confidence in knowing I am never alone. Literally. Soul food is always a crowd pleaser. Do not neglect the responsibility to fuel your body, and splurging once in a while on junk food with friends is a deserving reward of life. Sharing a meal with friends and family is extra special and satisfying. Happiness begins where hunger ends. The opportunity to go on life’s quest for inspiration and answers to all of our questions only comes but once. We must be ready to answer the call and go where it takes us. And when we return, the sameness of home will remain, but our refreshed mindset will change and flourish all because we were willing to go the distance. Stay Curious, Kayla ©Inquisitive Perspectives 2017 If you were to ask my mom about my procrastination habits, she would probably say I am the queen of it. My tendencies to procrastinate are not always a diversion from responsibilities. I give my all to my school work, but sometimes, I just do not want to do my homework or study. I get the job done on time; it is merely on my timetable. Burn out is real, and it scares me half to death that I will reach it if I do not procrastinate a little now and then. So, in the scheme of things, my procrastination is a good thing (wink). One night (while I was procrastinating), I picked up a book off my bookshelf. The book was Steal Like An Artist by Austin Kleon. I stumbled on discovering this book from listening to a podcast, and it peaked my interest. I had ordered the book that same day on Amazon and was saving it for a quiet night to dive into it. After reading the first chapter, I was hooked and knew it would be a winner for me. I will not call it a self-help necessarily, but I guess one could put it in the self-exploration and inspirational category with a twist. With each page and chapter, I felt like Steal Like An Artist was written for me. The message came through loud and clear. The idea that came up in chapter five validated a portion of my procrastination. The chapter’s title is “Side Projects And Hobbies Are Important.” In the bigger picture of life, spending time to do something you are passionate about is important to pursue. There is more to life than just going to school and then committing to a nine to five job. Doing what makes your heart happy is valuable and a priceless gift you can give to yourself. Sure, when I am drowning in a pile of work, but still take the time to push it off to do something I love, I feel guilty. Reading the standout quote from the chapter, “the work you do while you procrastinate is probably the work you should be doing for the rest of your life,” gave me a pass from feeling guilty anymore. Even when I procrastinate, I am productive, for the most part, and in a positive way. I may be chasing a pipe dream of becoming a writer, but I am following a desire I must pacify. Because if I do not, I will one day look back on my chance and regret not trying. There is no way of knowing if this hobby of mine will go somewhere someday, but I know my efforts to put something else off to dedicate some time to my writing has not been in vain. So, while too much procrastination is a bad thing, a little along the way can lead you to make room for a lifelong dream for a hobby. Go for it, and procrastinate like a champion. Stay Curious, Kayla ©Inquisitive Perspectives 2017 |
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