Finding your creativity
Recently, I was lucky enough to be invited into one of Melissa’s (The Academy of Wide-Hearted Living) online creativity sessions. A small group of us worked independently on the same prompt: summertime and childhood. From poetry, to treasure map drawing, we each reflected on our childhood selves. Beach days, ice creams, scary out-of-bound golf courses. I found myself constantly thinking: at what point did I stop being so free? What happened to the girl who sang her way through the woods, who cartwheeled across the grass with her knickers quite obviously on display, who cried because she had the ‘best day ever’ (OK. I still do this).
More importantly, how could I reconnect with this version of me?
How could I reconnect with this version of me?
Well, through creativity of course
In writing on my younger self, I felt this youthful, playful me start to tickle my criticising adult brain, and colour-in my black and white thinking. Why stop the silliness when it creates such magic?
Curious how it feels?
Since the session with Melissa, I have been experimenting with more ‘playful’ forms of creativity. For example, making faces out of stones on the beach, imagining stories for seagulls on the shore, and even performing the occasional cartwheel or two (wearing trousers). In doing all of this, creativity and reconnecting with little me has been both rewarding and healing.
In adulthood, I have often looked back and felt sorry for that version of me, mostly feeling sad for her. While in some ways I still do, I also realise how happy I was in other ways. My mind was a blessing and a curse, creating beautiful moments and lessons ready for my older self to sit down and study when it was ready. Thank you little me.
So, in short, find your inner child and find your creativity.
Esmé is a poet, writer and Shakespeare scholar. She’s just launched her first website. You can read her work here: https://beapoetry.my.canva.site
And on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/beapoetry_/
If you love the sound of getting connected with your creativity and your inner child, but don’t know where to begin – the simplest way to try our sessions out = come along to a Thursday drop-in session.
Too much of a leap?
We know that can feel a bit scary – that is completely normal. That scared feeling turns into excitement pretty quickly. We can show you the way.
Email melissa@wideheartedliving.com and we’ll make a plan.