Declining Small Gifts

"In order to thrive as artists - and one could argue,

as people - we need to be available to the 

universal flow.  When we put a stopper on our

capacity for joy by declining the small gifts

of life, we turn aside the larger gifts as well."

Julia Cameron

We are all artists whether we are chefs, teachers, mothers, etc...  Creativity of some sort is bred into all of us.  And like other qualities, it needs to be fed, stretched, and active.  When we are not using the 'artist within' we are cutting off the natural flow of life.  

We have a tendency to reduce the time for creativity as though it were lesser than other daily demands.  This is being unfair to ourselves, a deprivation of who we are meant to be.  Each day, hours may be secured for specific movement, but if there if we lack creative movement, we are not living to the fullest.

Accepting commitment and obligation is necessary, but so is sanctioning off a small piece of time for a quick moment to kindle passion.  Whatever ability you have, whether it is paint, sing, or dance, briefly close the eyes and perform on the darkened screen of the mind.  Even if hiking or running or biking happens to be the way passion is expressed,  see the self on the screen acting out personal dreams.  Just a few minutes a day. 

If we continue to minimize our creative passions, they can so easily slide away.  We begin to close our eyes to the smaller inspirations, which then leads us to overlook the larger delights.  A few minutes a day, come on.  You can do it!  I know you can!