30 Days to Creativity

Posted on June 1, 2023 by Esther Chase

For the month of June, I’m crafting a daily practice, an idea from a recent UU Santa Monica sermon.

My goal in bringing it here is to unify the activities that enrich my life, despite external and internal pressure to fragment and compartmentalize who we are. This is especially true online, where we are filtered (yet again) by algorithms. I hope you’ll follow along as I navigate some new digital terrain.

Day Thirty

Today is the last day in these #30daystocreativity and I feel like I have more energy than when I started. This is perfect, because now I have a handful of self-generated creative projects to pursue! Find out what they are by reading through the pages of this post.

One thing I realized from doing #30daystoauthenticity (about four years ago) is how important it is to be a curious witness to the messages we send ourselves and others. Something I discovered from #30daystocreativity is that creative expression can flourish through cultivating an intentional balance between structure and play, stillness and movement, focus and relaxation. Gently encouraging my openness to new experiences, as well as developing some thoughtful repetition with my chosen topics, are two key themes that stand out.

As I write this next e-book, I will draw from the inspiration I’ve received and use it to create a guide of writing prompts that will help anyone cultivate new energy for whatever purpose they choose.

I Am Willing
by Holly Near

I am open and I am willing
To be hopeless would seem so strange
It dishonors those who go before us
So lift me up to the light of change

There is hurting in my family
There is sorrow in my town
There is panic in the nation
There is wailing the whole world round

May the children see more clearly
May the elders be more wise
May the winds of change caress us
Even though it burns our eyes

Give me a mighty oak to hold my confusion
Give me a desert to hold my fears
Give me a sunset to hold my wonder
Give me an ocean to hold my tears