Redefining 'consistency' as a midlife creative
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Redefining 'consistency' as a midlife creative
The rebellion continues...
Salted (adjective): having developed a resistance to disease by surviving it.
Dear creative,
My mental capacity has once again taken a cheap flight to Magaluf, off its rocker on cheap cocktails and acid house, leaving me floundering in overwhelm and chopping responsibilities out like Gordon Ramsey slicing a watermelon, in a crazed attempt to recalibrate.
Just breathe, Lu. Just breathe.
Yet I still find that showing up here, with you, is still very much near the top of my rather long list of priorities. So, here we are. How the devil are you?
This issue I have with consistency is continuing to plague me. I wish that I could schedule creative projects into a beautifully-constructed wallchart, complete with highly-decorated and immaculately organised planner and then just sit back, put my feet up, and wait for the next date to tick round.
Sadly, my brain/soul/heart does not work like that. I think it used to? Alas, not now.
I still don’t even have a Word of the Year for 2023 (first time in seven, shock horror) but if I did, perhaps it could be ‘spontaneous’. And isn’t spontaneity the antonym of consistency?
Spontaneity is where I find the magic.
For example, this is me this morning. I bookmark a pocket of time, release the need to do [insert pointless human house chore here] for an hour, brew a humongous pot of coffee, take the few steps across my garden to The Yoga Cabin, throw the windows wide so I can hear the sea, open up my laptop with a snuffly whippet nose resting in my lap..and write. To you.
See? Magic.
I’ve been ‘doing the work’ for so many years now to know when my keel is uneven. That discord becomes apparent when I push myself to write/read/journal as much in Spring and Summer, as I do in Autumn and Winter. It seems I'm understanding that I am very much a ‘seasonal writer’.
And so today I want to share some snippets of my last few weeks with you, along with those that have helped keep me afloat, in a less wordy, more picture-y form. Along with a very special playlist that I made, just for you.
I hope you like it.
Salted soundtrack: oceans + seas Spring 2023 edition:
I love the messages and comments I receive whenever I share playlists, both here and in-person at my fitness and yoga classes. It’s one of my absolute favourite parts of teaching movement - creating a rise and fall in music to match the mood of the sequences - and watching bodies move alongside. Heaven!
For once I’d love you to listen to this Salted soundtrack as it is, without putting it on shuffle. I’ve curated it with the thought that you might listen while moving your body for the first 20 minutes (take a quick walk with your headphones, or yoga with these sounds through your speaker) and then chill (lie and do NOTHING, or perhaps sit and journal) for the second half of ambient instrumentals and ocean sounds.
Waaaaay out, man? I sincerely hope so ;)
Courses & Workshops I’m enjoying:
my good friend and coach Johanna Rossi is running her seasonal workshop Your Current Season on 31st March. I’ve worked with Johanna for the past year and cannot recommend her wise woman work enough. You’ll thank me.
I’ve recently joined the calming and soothing soul that is Elin Loow’s community, Companions in Creativity and have found a rich space of understanding and connection. Doors open for spring on 20th March.
What I’ve been up to lately:
Your turn!
I’d love to know your thoughts, as creatives, on what you would like to hear from me here on Salted? What words come to mind when you think of this publication and my writing? What do you want more of?
And what do you think about the word ‘consistency’? Does it torment you as much as it does me? Do you struggle with the concept in your creative projects?
If my capacity decides to take a return flight home from Magaluf, I will see you again soon. But I am going to go wherever spontaneity takes me this spring and summer. Acknowledging the fact that I am indeed an Autumn/Winter writer has given me a teensy permission slip to explore other creative projects for the next two seasons. And don’t we all need a little reassuring nudge to do that from time to time?
So, not many words today, dear creative. Perhaps you can send me some of yours instead? The conversation is now officially open, in the comments below. Step (virtually) into The Yoga Cabin, pull up a beanbag and let’s chat…
Salty hugs,
x Luisa
P.S my Sunrise Sessions beach yoga events are back on Minehead beach! Starting Tuesday 21st March (current crappy weather permitting) at 7am - 7.30am and continuing weekly until August, these are donation-based, pay-what-you-like. I just need you to fill out a health form here and please join the new WhatsApp group (yes, Facebook has gone entirely!) to stay in touch about weather etc. See you at the shore!
Redefining 'consistency' as a midlife creative
So true! I was just travelling for a month and I knew I was 'dropping the ball' by not having newsletters prepped and written and scheduled, along with content and other work things. And I felt irked that yet again I've been trying to keep to an algorithm, to follow the advice, to post weekly rather than post only when I have something meaningful to say (that said, I try to never send a newsletter that doesn't have value to offer). I always find my lack of consistency fascinating; why is so easy to be consistent about making a coffee every morning and so hard to be consistent in sending out emails?! But anyway, to Magaluf with consistency and embracing spontaneity and creative freedom instead.
What a topic this is, hey!
The beach is waving back to you 👋, very glad to have you and your thoughts here Blythe...