curiousliving

I’m constantly getting into moods where I’m eager to create something. Creativity comes in countless different forms, some of which I will attempt to cover below. Being creative and expressing ourselves is a trait that we human’s can take for granted, when in actual fact it’s an amazing gift! Taking the time to create is so beneficial to your mental health and outlook on life – it can allow non-verbal expression, induce relaxation, exercise the brain and allow for wonderful feelings of positivity, personal growth and achievement. 

• Photography You don’t need a fancy camera or any skill to start snapping pics! The best photo’s are often those spur-of-the-moment situations that are priceless when captured. You don’t even need a model – follow your dog or cat around, take your camera to family get-togethers, visit a nearby retirement home or playgroup (with permission, of course), get up close with your flowers, the possibilities are endless. You can even take photos of yourself and call that art. If you don’t have a camera, you can always borrow one from a friend or buy a cheapie from ebay. You can get a single-use underwater camera that takes about 30 shots for under twenty bucks. Imagine what you could capture at the beah or hell, even in your own swimming pool! 
• Writing You might think you’re not good enough to write, or that you can’t spell the big words properly. Start off by writing in a journal, something that is for your eyes only, and you might become hooked like I am. Journalling is a great way of unwinding, and it doesn’t have to be in a “Dear Diary” format; you can collect all your favourite recipes, photos, magazine clippings, food wrappers, stamps and anything else that takes your fancy, and collate them into something that pleases you.   
• Scrapbooking Kind of like journalling, but with more emphasis on photos and visual storytelling. Scrapbooks are usually something you would be proud to show off, and the subject matter can be found far and wide. You can scrapbook your kids, your family tree, latest holiday, school reunion, garden, books you’ve read, things you’d like to buy for your house…Basic scrapboking can be as cheap as a stick of glue, some scissors, and an inexpensive blank notebook. They are always a fun ice-breaker at gatherings and go well on a coffee-table or well-used bench. 
• Painting and Drawing Can be loads of fun! You can get paint fairly cheaply at art supply stores or even the supermarket, depending on the quality you’re aiming for. Oil pastels, watercolours, crayons and coloured pencils work well, too. Even if you’re clueless when it comes to drawing or painting, it can still be relaxing and fun. A whole lot of stripes on a canvas can turn into an abstract piece for your lounge-room wall. Most libraries and book stores have Paint or Draw books for beginners, and they are surprisingly easy to follow.  I am an appalling visual artist, but I still love to get the easel out and muck around without having to create a masterpiece. And believe me, mine aren’t masterpieces  
• Gardening Getting down and dirty in the garden is one of my favourite ways to spend a few hours! In minutes you can plant flowers, sow seeds for herbs and vegies, plant a new tree, pull up a few weeds, or pot some pretty bulbs. Seeds are so cheap to buy, as are terracotta or plastic planter pots, and the rewards to be reaped can be substantial. Plant just one basil plant, for around five bucks (including potting mix, pot and basil plant)and you’ll have enough leaves to chop and add to your meals for ages! The more you pick off, the faster they grow, which is great if you’re into making tomato sauce, bolognaise, salads, lasagne or any kind of pasta. Yum!  You can even garden if you live in an apartment – a windowsill or balcony works well. 
• Cooking Cooking is loads of fun. I love to turn up the stereo, pour myself a wine or juice, and cook yummy things. It can be anything! I love to fill a wintery afternoon preparing pasta sauce, baking delicious chocolate or raspberry loaf for weekday snacks, making a big batch of vegie soup or just creating new dips with my food processer. Most weekdays I’m so tired I can’t be bothered cooking nutritious food – which is where this comes in handy! A big cooking session on your day off can theoretically free up a few hours each weeknight that would otherwise be devoted to preparing, cooking and washing up. 
• Blogging  Take advantage of new technology and set yourself up a blog. You can go for a free, hosted blog through wordpress or get a little more complicated and sign up for hosting and choose a domain name. You don’t have to be a technical whiz these days – I’m certainly not – and you can still create beautiful webpages for family, friends or the world.

What makes you passionate? What do you work on that doesn’t “feel” like work? Please share in the comments!

This entry was posted on Monday, February 9th, 2009 at 1:05 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.