Communication, Connection, and Welcome Co-host Andrea :: Creative Happy Life Podcast Ep 16

Hey, creative friends! Can we ask a quick favor? Hop over to your Apple Podcasts app, give Creative, Happy Life a follow (tap the three dots in the upper right corner), leave a 5-star rating and review on Apple podcasts! We appreciate every bit of support.

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SHOW NOTES

Welcome back to the podcast! If you're new to Creative, Happy Life - we're glad you're here! This is the first episode in a new chapter, co-hosting as sisters and people with some shared life experience, as well as individual views and interests. It's the podcast I dreamed of when I started in 2019, sharing conversations, having laughs, getting into some nitty gritty topics, and geeking out over creative ideas. In this episode, we discuss reconnecting as family and humans, how people have different styles of communication and conversation, and we ask the big question - what IS creativity?

TOPICS IN THIS EPISODE

Since we recorded this episode in November 2021, we talk about the pandemic and the struggle to connect since March 2020.

Filler tones - the words and sounds we make as we’re speaking, pausing and putting our thoughts together.

Big question - what is creativity to each of us?

Styles of conversation - we have different styles which we discuss in terms of anxiety and ADHD.

Creative things that we’re currently working on.

 

Shannon & Andrea, Co-Hosts of Creative, Happy Life Podcast

 

THANKS FOR LISTENING!

Join us on Instagram and Facebook for updates, episode quotes, and building a community where we continue these conversations.

What is creativity to you?

Do you know your own style of conversation and communication?

Share this episode with your friends, pin the image below, and have a beautiful week!


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Creativity Conversations with Jess Parks :: Creative Happy Life Podcast Ep 15

Hey, creative friends! Can I ask a quick favor? Hop over to your Apple Podcasts app, give Creative, Happy Life a follow (tap the three dots in the upper right corner), leave a 5-star rating and review on Apple podcasts! I appreciate every bit of support.

LISTEN TO THE LATEST EPISODE HERE, OR APPLE PODCASTS:


SHOW NOTES

This is the beginning of a new series of candid conversations with fellow artists, small business owners and creative hearts, where you get to listen in and hear about their creative journeys, perspectives, challenges, successes and how they continue to create, explore, imagine and discover their way through life.

Today I am chatting with Jess Parks, the designer, maker and creative heart behind Miss Lou Makes, an eclectic handmade jewelry and decor shop on Etsy.

About her shop: “Miss Lou Makes is an eclectic shop of gifts from the sandy shores of Plymouth, MA. Owner Jess is a mixed-media artist with a love for beaded statement jewelry and one-of-a-kind home decor pieces. This brand strives to capture those warm familiar feelings you get when walking on the beach, having cocktails with friends, or listening to a classic album and transform them in to wearable and decorative art. Don't fear color, embrace texture, and catch a good vibe from this shop.”

In this episode, we chat about creativity, Jess’ journey to becoming a full time maker, exploring creative projects to relax and unwind, working at home while raising kids, and what inspires her unique collections!

I loved hearing her share about connecting with fellow educators during the pandemic, as many of them turned to creative pursuits. She also shared how she collaborates with her artistic family to give her shop a truly unique personality.


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The ocean is near and dear to Jess’ heart, and one of her first offerings was bracelets where a portion of her sales benefit sea turtle rehabilitation.

Check out the awesome things the National Marine Life Center does here:
http://nmlc.org

She also loves beachcombing along the shoreline near her home, and you might receive some extra little pieces of the beach in your orders, another personal touch you can’t get anywhere else!

Small business are truly unique in how much a single person (or small team) does behind the scenes each and every day. It’s no small feat, so whenever possible (which should be all the time), choose to shop small, support local, and give your favorite businesses a shout out or a share on social media.

Visit Miss Lou Makes on Etsy, and follow Jess on Instagram.

Shop Miss Lou Makes at local Massachusetts pop-up events:

 
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Thanks for listening!

Hop over to Instagram and tell me what you love from Creativity Conversations with Jess Parks! How is creativity showing up in your life? Do you turn to creative hobbies and activities for comfort and relaxation?

Share this episode with your friends, pin the image below, and have a beautiful week!

Keep creating, and stay awesome.

 
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Practice Makes Better (Not Perfect) :: Creative Happy Life Podcast Episode 14

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Were you ever told “practice makes perfect” as a means of motivating you to keep going? In episode 14, I’m exploring that phrase, and encouraging you to reframe that mindset to something else:

Practice makes better.

As we have discussed in previous episodes, perfection is an idea, an ideal. It implies that there is nothing left to fix, work on, or improve. But that simply doesn’t exist, right? As humans, we can always be trying something new, changing perspective, learning, growing and improving.

So when someone tells us, “Practice makes perfect!”, it can have an opposite effect. Because focus on perfection can be overwhelming, or paralyzing. The ideal may seem so out of reach, that you give up. Or worse, you don’t even get started.

So let’s break down this idea of practice.

We practice to learn. We practice to grow. And we practice to get better at something. Whether it’s playing a sport, learning an instrument, learning to do anything - takes practice. No one is really great at doing something new right from the start. So acknowledging that you’re a beginner, and going from your starting point, create your first goal.

Some things that I have practiced in my life are:

Becoming a softball pitcher. To start, you need to learn to throw the ball. The simple physical mechanics of throwing. Then you work on aiming each throw. Then you work on strengthening the speed and force behind your throw. Then you keep practicing to keep improving. As a softball pitcher, you learn to throw overhand first, then you have to change it up. You learn to throw underhand, how to aim a throw, and how to create speed and force. And then you keep practicing.

Learning to play the flute. I knew what a good flute player sounded like. But before I could even learn a note, I had to learn how to create sound. Sound familiar? The physical mechanics of creating sound to play the flute. Then I had to learn the finger positioning for each note. I had to practice playing the correct pitch of each note. I had to practice transitioning finger positions to change notes. Then I had to continue practicing for speed, tone, pitch…and then practice more to be part of an ensemble. Learning, growing, and improving over 7 years until we had the honor of being selected to perform at Carnegie Hall.

Yes, the Carnegie Hall.

How do you get there? Well, it’s on 7th Ave in New York City, between West 56th and 57th…

But….the old saying is true.

How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice, practice, practice…


Practice takes discipline, consistency, focus, and mindset.

Before you begin, adjust your mindset.

If you’re a beginner, starting fresh, acknowledge that. Create a clear starting goal. What do you want step one to be. Think about step two next. Ignore steps 5-50. Focus on where you are right now, and where you hope to go next. If you’re starting to run, you might focus on getting your sneakers on and going for a walk. Step two might be repeating that tomorrow, with a slightly faster pace.

If you’re picking up an old hobby or activity, don’t live in the past, where you may have been more practiced and advanced. Did you play the piano as a kid? Awesome - you probably retained some basic skills and ability to read music. But your hands have changed, your eyes and brain have changed. Come back to it just as you are. Give yourself the grace to make mistakes, forget things, and play a bit clumsily.

Then, keep practicing. More and more. Learn. Grow. Improve.

When you think you can’t go any further, change perspectives. Create new goals. Try doing things a new way.

The possibilities are endless, and you are limitless.


Be sure to listen to this week’s episode, subscribe, leave a rating and review on Apple podcasts! I appreciate every bit of support.

If you love the content I am creating here, please also consider becoming a monthly supporter on Patreon, a platform for artists and creatives to receive monthly support from their fans! Memberships start at $3 a month for access to daily personal updates, including works in progress, life behind the scenes, sneak peeks and first looks at finished works.

LISTEN TO THE LATEST EPISODE HERE, ON SPOTIFY, Or APPLE PODCASTS:


Thanks for listening!

Hop over to Instagram and tell me what you love from Practice Makes Better! Tell me what you are working on, what you’re practicing and improving upon.

Share this episode with your friends, and have a beautiful week! Keep creating, and stay awesome.


If my work has connected with you in some way, if you enjoy seeing my art, listening to this podcast, or my writing has inspired you, I hope you’ll consider becoming a member! Memberships renew on the first of each month. I hope to see you in there!

Being a Multipassionate Person :: Creative Happy Life Podcast Episode 13

Welcome to episode 13 of Creative, Happy Life Podcast!

Are you a multipassionate person? Have you heard that word before? I heard it a couple years ago, and things started to click together in my mind and in my heart, about my creative interests, skills, and the work I wanted to do. And surprising to absolutely no one, it meant going against the grain, shattering expectations, and ensuring I was the writer of my own story.

I hope you enjoy this episode! I invite you to subscribe to the podcast, leave a rating and review on Apple podcasts so we can get into the ears of some new listeners this year. I appreciate every bit of support you give, and I’m unbelievably excited for this fresh start in 2021. Let’s do this!

LISTEN TO THE LATEST EPISODE HERE, ON SPOTIFY, Or APPLE PODCASTS:


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Episode 13: Being a Multipassionate Person

Hey there! Welcome to episode 13 of Creative, Happy Life podcast. I’m you’re host, Shannon Sorensen, and today we are talking about being multi-passionate.

Now, I know there are a lot of new “wordy words” out there that, you know, the branding industry, and the coaching industry, and all these industries that have emerged online over the past couple of years have kind of come up with. And one of the words that I really connected with, probably two years ago, was the word “multipassionate”.

I connected with it because it really hit home, how I feel about who I am and what I do.

So, for instance, these days if you are looking at a lot of creatives and entrepreneurs bios, their little write ups, their elevator pitches…It's kind of funny because, you know, when our parents were young, and our parents were working and in the midst of their careers, they were a banker, a firefighter, an office manager, you know, they had their title. And that was their title and that was their career that they had pretty much their whole life. And now, in this, you know, modern era of so much work being done remotely and online, and people kind of creating their own businesses and their own careers that are made up of, you know, whatever they want!

It gets a little bit more complicated now because people are coaching, and doing a side hustle maybe selling oils or consulting, or they’re teaching an online course, and they’re also an artist and they're also, you know, doing all these things! And it's so funny because in the past five years, which, you know, coincides with when I started working from home on my photography business, I started just feeling pulled in all these different creative directions. And, I felt like there was something wrong with me. I couldn't focus, and I had to pick one thing, and just be really good at it. But it really conflicted with my heart, because I have always been interested in a lot of things, I've always wanted to do a lot of things. And the idea of just doing one thing has never really interested me.

And I thought that there was maybe something wrong with me, but there wasn't actually, because there is a word for people like me, and that is “multipassionate”. Multipassionate is, when you have many interests, many passions, many things that you want to do. And I think we are very lucky to live in this digital age where it's relatively easy to do all these different things if we really want to do. If we really want to spend the time figuring out how to fit these things together within our lives. It's doable!

I was really struck and inspired by an author. Now this is a story involving my daughter's elementary school. Every spring, they have a visiting author come and speak to the kids, and read their books, and talk about being an author, and what inspires them. And when my daughter was in first grade, an author named Jess Keating was the visiting author, and she came and talked to the kids, and I was there for the day to photograph the event, and the meet and greets and everything.

But I actually walked away feeling more inspired by her words than, perhaps, any of the kids. Because what she told them really hit home for me.

A little bit about Jess Keating, this was her story that she told the kids that day. She grew up interested in a lot of things, she was interested in nature and animals and plants and drawing and writing, and science, she was interested in all these different things. And coming into adulthood, she decided, “I'm going to find a way to do all these different things that I love. I'm going to find a way to incorporate all these things that I love into what I do.”

So, she's an author. She's an illustrator. She writes books that are based in science and history and fact, and she illustrates her books, and she's a zoologist because she loves animals. She has all these things that make up who she is, and she doesn't pick or choose just one. She could have decided to be a zoologist. Or she could have decided to be a children’s book writer and illustrator. She has found a way to include all of these things that she's passionate about into her life and into her career and her work

And I thought that was a really important message that she told the kids. You don't have to just pick one thing. You don’t just choose to be one thing, you can pick different things you can find a way to make these different things work within your life.

As people, we are multifaceted. Our personalities, interests, actions and behaviors - there are so many things that make up who we are. So, why does it make sense to only do one thing with our lives and our work?

I was sitting there like 35 years old and I was like, “Oh my God, she's speaking to me.”

But truthfully, I felt she was I felt that that was something I needed to hear from another person who is generally around the same age as me, like, a little bit of validation, that it's okay to want to do different things.

For a long time. I worked a corporate career. I worked as a graphic designer. I kind of worked my way up from an admin position to graphic design and marketing and packaging. And, you know, I had a good career, but I knew I wanted to be doing something else that was creative but also on my own terms. And around 2010, when I was getting married, that’s when I started my photography business. And you know, that was 11 years ago, and I was really gung ho for shooting weddings, because at the time, I was getting married.

And I was really interested in weddings. And then, you know, over the next couple of years I started doing some family photography, and newborn photography, and I had started my own family and had Lily. And, I started branching out and finding that the more different things I was photographing, the more things I enjoyed doing all these different things. It kept it exciting!

I kind of felt this whole time, like I was doing something wrong, because all these photographers in the industry were like, “Oh, well I'm a wedding photographer. I'm a family photographer. I'm a newborn photographer. I'm a headshot photographer. I'm a product photographer.” They were a photographer for one thing, and I was like, but I'm interested in all these different things. I'm interested in the weddings, and I'm interested in the babies, and I'm interested in working with seniors or with businesses.

And, you know, I knew in my gut that it was okay to be doing all of this, but there was like, all this outside messaging where I felt like, if you just pick one thing and focus on it, and you'll do it really well and then you'll be successful. Like, if I don't pick one thing, I won't be successful. That's not true. It's just not true.

So, in 2015, when we moved up towards Hartford, and I left my corporate job, we decided I would work from home, doing my photography, and being home with Lily. I really focused in on my photography, and I was doing well. And then I got this itch to do other things!

We live in New England, and the winter is not very conducive to having a full schedule of photography work if you don’t have a studio. So, I would always have some newborns, occasionally a wedding or two, but the winter was always pretty slow and tough. And I knew I wanted to kind of fill that gap with something that I could do from home, that I didn't have to travel to do.

So, I have a creative mind and heart, I had been working on my Etsy shop, and making art prints and doing graphic design. I started making tshirts, and crocheting, I kind of started allowing myself to exploring all these different things. And the more I explored, the more I was curious, you know, the more things I tried, the more I wanted to do! One of those things I really enjoyed was painting. I know that I enjoyed holding a brush and applying paint to something. So, over the past couple year, I started painting art! It was really an evolution of my creativity.

And then, you know, so, I've had all these things that I've been really interested in, you know, whether it was painting, or making jewelry, or making tshirts, or crocheting. I've always had several different things that I really loved doing. And I felt like I was fighting myself for a long time, because everywhere I turned it was like, well, you can't have all these different things you do. You’ll never be good enough, you’ll be divided. You're never going to succeed, you're never going to make enough money. You're not gonna be able to support your family, you're going to have to go out and get a “real” job.

Yikes.

So I had all these different stories, running through my head, for the past several years.

it was hard to figure out what story was true.

And then, I was sitting in the back of my daughter's library, listening to an children's author, who's very smart and very funny and her books are amazing, telling this roomful of kids…You don't have to pick one thing.

You can be interested in many things.

And it's good to be interested in many things, because it keeps life interesting.

I said, huh. How about that. That's unexpected.

So, I guess my lesson for today is, if you are a person who has many interests, and many passions, and many things that you love to do, and enjoy, and you're trying to figure out how to make them work within your life and within your business…

Be gentle with yourself. Don't listen to anyone else's messages about what it takes to be successful, and to do a good job. You know, you don't have to focus on one thing…and take this with a grain of salt from a person who's still in the process of figuring things out.

I spent the last year painting canvases, painting jewelry, doing digital art, doing watercolor, you know, various creative things, trying to figure out, “Okay, what am I going to do? We’re in a pandemic? What should I do? How do I move forward?”

But maybe we don't have to decide…maybe we just have to keep creating, and keep exploring, and keep finding our style and our voice that feels true and authentic to ourselves.

Being a Multipassionate Person_Creative Happy Life Podcast_Shannon Sorensen

And it doesn't matter what it is that we're doing to get there. Right? It’s not being afraid that maybe it takes a long time to get there, or that it takes many twists and turns to get there.

I mean, this past year, I've been on a roller coaster. I've been up. I've been down. I've been twisted aroun,d I've gone upside down a few times. But I'm finding my way.

I know I'm not there yet, we’re all finding our ways as we go, but I am finding that the more I explore and allow myself to be open to making new things, to creating new things, to finding new ways of doing the things that I love - I am getting closer.

And there’s so much good stuff in there, in the whole process.

So, to all my multipassionate people out there who feel a little lost, who feel like maybe they don't fit into what they see every day on social media...Who are receiving mixed messages from all different directions, all diufferent industries and walks of life…Do one thing and do it great…

Well, it's funny because one of my favorite quotes is actually from the show Parks and Rec, where Ron Swanson says “Don't half ass many things. Whole ass one thing.” And I'm always like “YES! Throw yourself fully into one thing, and be great at it!”

Well, then I turn around and think, “Oh, well maybe he's not speaking to me…” But you know what? He is. Because I am throwing myself into my art.

Art is multifaceted, and I am “whole-assing” my life, in my art.

I think it comes down to finding the common tie between your art, or between your work that you're passionate about, and finding the way to combine all these things, so that feels pulled together. Even if these things might seem so different…

You know, back to Jess Keating, she is a zoologist and an illustrator. So she incorporates her knowledge, and her scientific curiosity into drawing and writing these amazing factual books for children, so that they can be excited and passionate about learning about animals. And she loves to write about the weird funky animals that you don't really study in school. It’s not all koalas and panda bears, it’s like blobfish and axolotls, and she writes some really fun, cool stories, very engaging, because it’s stuff that she’s clearly passionate about.

So for me, I'm passionate about painting, and creating art, and creating stuff that’s colorful and vibrant and interesting. So, I’m finding ways to create art that people will enjoy, whether it’s painted jewelry, or art, or drawing coloring pages that will inspire others to explore their own creativity.

And it feels like I do a lot of things when I'm making art, but I mean, I'm an artist! Right there is a big, big umbrella over my head, and there's a lot of things under the umbrella, but it's all under the umbrella that is me.

So, I'm never going to feel like I'm doing it wrong, because to me, what I'm doing, all the different things that I'm doing, are true to who I am and the things that I love. And that is what it is to be multipassionate. And being multipassionate just means, we get to do more! We get to explore more, and we're open to trying new different things.

There are a lot of people in the world who are multipassionate, and will never feel happy or settled or satisfied just doing one thing. And that’s ok. Don’t ignore all those things. So don't push them aside. Don't suppress all the weird, fun, colorful different things that you love, because those are the weird, fun, colorful things that make you who you are.

All right, we don't need more grey in the world.

We need more rainbow.

Some people live in the gray and they're happy in the gray with their things. And that's perfectly fine but there are those of us who need a broader spectrum. We need more color. We need inspiration.

So, I want to know if you are a multipassionate person. I want to know what it is that lights you up. I want to know all the different colorful things that you love.

Hop over to Instagram. Come find me at creativehappylifepodcast, and let me know in the comments or shoot me a DM, and tell me all the things you love. Tell me all the multipassionate things in your life, because I want to know what amazing things you are creating. I want to know what amazing things you were dreaming up. I want to know the amazing things you're curious about. I want to know the things that you are bringing, creating into this world, into this universe, to make it a more beautiful colorful place.

I want to know all the odd things that you are bringing together under the umbrella that is you. Because there is no one else like you!

Think of your top 5 things that you’re interested in. Or maybe the 5 odd things that you’re interested in that you pull into your work.

For me, I love the ocean, flowers, vibrant colors. But I’m not going to try to paint some detailed, fine art seascape. My style is very whimsical and energetic and textured, and a little crazy looking! That’s what I like! And I like taking that style and painting it on jewelry. Because jewelry is fun! It’s fun to get dressed up and pick out some shiny things in the morning, even though we’re all wearing sweatpants.

We find ways to pull together the things that we love. At the end of the day, I think a lot of us are trying to do things that are interesting and bring us joy, and those things look different to everyone. It might be creating portraits of our favorite TV characters. It might be coloring. It might be crocheting Bernie Sanders on a folding chair wearing mittens.

We all have our weird, odd interests, and that’s a good thing! It keeps life interesting! It keeps life colorful. And beautiful. And joyful.

And I think if there’s one thing we could all use, after the year we’ve all had, it’s more joy, and more color, and more happiness and weird funny things on the Internet. You know, the world is weird and absurd and you never know what YOU might be inspiring. You never know WHO you might be inspiring, doing all these different things.

So shine your light! Wave your freak flag around. Embrace all the different things you love, and don’t be afraid to put it out there into the world.

You do not have to do one thing.

You are not a flat white piece of paper.

You are a beautiful, amazing, colorful, creative person. And only you can bring your special flavor of weirdness into the world, that is going to make it a more beautiful place.

Thank you all for listening this week. I hope you have a great week. I hope it doesn't snow too much, it just started snowing outside. We're in that weird week in January where it's just kind of like really gray and cold and blah.

So, let's add some color to this week! Hop over to Instagram. Tell me what you love. Share this episode with your friends if you enjoyed it. Tell me what you're passionate about, and I really do hope that you have a beautiful week. Whatever you’re creating, enjoy it, and take care, my friends.


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For $5 a month (less than a fancy cup of coffee), you can become an official supporter and Patron of my work! I have a private community where I share behind the scenes, my works in progress, chat with you and offer creative encouragement. I do Q&A videos, and every month, I send you four new printable coloring pages!

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If my work has connected with you in some way, if you enjoy seeing my art, listening to this podcast, or my writing has inspired you, I hope you’ll consider becoming a member! Memberships renew on the first of each month, and February is coming up next week. I hope to see you in there!


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Why I'm Loving Block Scheduling :: Creative Happy Life Podcast Episode 12

Hey, there! It’s time for episode 12 of Creative, Happy Life! Huzzah!

As a working artist, working at home with two young kids during the pandemic, join me to hear more about a method of planning my days that allows me to create boundaries and balance between personal time and work time, flexibility in my day during personal time, and how I'm getting more focused and productive in my work. I came to a realization that my days felt busy, but not much was actually getting done. And the already blurred lines between my personal and professional life had become even more blended. It was time to regroup, and rethink, and re-prioritize how I spend my days.

I hope you enjoy this episode! I invite you to subscribe to the podcast, leave a rating and review on Apple podcasts so we can get into the ears of some new listeners this year. I appreciate every bit of support you give, and I’m unbelievably excited for this fresh start in 2021. Let’s do this!

LISTEN TO THE LATEST EPISODE HERE, ON SPOTIFY, Or APPLE PODCASTS:


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Episode 12: Why I’m Loving Block Scheduling

Hey friends! Have you purchased a planner for 2021? Have you explored some new ways of getting organized and scheduling your days? This week I want to share about a new style of schedule I am learning to work with, why it’s a good choice for me, and why you might want to consider giving it a try.

First, I have to talk a little about working from home, having kids at home, and why I ultimately decided to give block scheduling a try. If you’re anything like me, you’ve tried all sorts of planners and organizers, and no matter how hard you try, no matter how busy your day feels, you somehow end up feeling like nothing got done. Can you relate? You have projects to work on, things to get done, and somehow, nothings ever finished. Housework gets pushed off. Or your work-work gets pushed off.

I’ve been working from home for over 5 years now, with varying stages of kids being home, or at school some days, or suddenly home for long stretches. Especially in the last year, we’ve needed to learn to be flexible. Things can change quickly with school, but we’ve gotten pretty good with changing gears by this point in the school year. At least, the kids have.

For me, I have my own schedule to manage, client projects that are long term or short term, plus my own work that needs to be done to grow my art business. If I’m not making art, I’m not making money. It’s as simple as that!

I realized that a lot of days were going by quickly, and I’d chip away here or there at the work, but it was actually taking a long time to complete. Or it was never getting finished. Or started. I made lists, and I made lists for my lists. But I also wanted to make sure I was getting dishes and laundry done, meal planning, spending time with the kids…It would be time to make supper and I’d feel obligated to keep working because I didn’t feel like I did enough, I was unfocused and stressed. And the to do list just kept growing.

I remembered back to high school and the block schedule we used to follow. Instead of cramming every subject into every day, we’d have 4 classes that would last 85 minutes each, allowing time to really dig into the work and get a lot done.

Why not give that a try for my own daily schedule?

So two weeks ago, I created a block schedule template for myself, and I am working on making it work. Am I an expert and fully immersed in it? No, but I will tell you why I like it and think it will be good for me to stick with moving forward.

The way block scheduling works is, you give yourself longer blocks of time to hyper focus on one task or project. Whatever you assign to that block of time, is all you do.

So before, I would sit to check my email and social media, and then I’d remember I need to throw in a load of laundry, and then I’d see the playroom was a mess and would tidy up for a few minutes. Then, I’d sit to do some work but my son would need a snack and I’d see another project I needed to attend to. A text would pop up and I’d spend time responding, and before I knew it, it would be lunchtime and nothing would get done. But I’d look forward to my son’s nap, because then I’d have 2 hours to myself, to get work done!

Would I get work done, though? Sometimes. But usually, I’d remember to change the laundry over, place a grocery pickup order, spend some time bouncing between painting or writing or podcast editing or website updates, and then it would be time to wake up Roo, go pick up Lily, run a few errands, and come home to make dinner.

Are you noticing a trend? Yes, I am easily distracted and unfocuised. And I know I can’t be the only one trying to find a way to work more efficiently and focused while at home with kids. It’s not easy. But I think the solution for me, and maybe someone else out there, might be to do less.

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By doing less each day, we can ensure that more actually gets done. And here’s how…

A block schedule allows me the flexibility to look at my days or week ahead, prioritize what needs to get done, and spend focused time working on that thing. When the time block is up, I move on to the next block of time.

So for instance, I typically break up my days into two morning blocks, and two or three afternoon/evening blocks, generally assigning the following to them:

  • 8-10am is personal time. I get Lily ready for school, drop her off, Roo and I do a grocery pickup or other errands, and then we come home and do some home preschooling. If we aren’t doing preschooling, sometimes I do a 30 minute workout. Sometimes we go to a playground. This block of time is flexible and gives us time to get the day started.

  • 10-12pm is for me to work. Roo gets to play independently, or watch a show, while I work on whatever I’ve assigned to this block.

  • 12-1pm is for lunch, and maybe doing 1 or 2 household tasks, like laundry or dishes. When lunch is over, it’s naptime for Roo.

  • 1-3pm is my other main working block. I try to assign things to this block that are easier to do without any distraction, like if I need to do a Zoom meeting, record a podcast episode, or work on painting.

  • 3-4pm is a personal hour where I wake up Roo, we pick up Lily from school, and we run any other errands we may need to do before coming home.

  • 4-5:30pm is playtime for the kids, work time for me. I reserve this block for wrapping up whatever I was working on earlier, or doing something like social media planning or writing. Then we spend 30 minutes cleaning up, and winding down for the day.

  • 6-9pm is family time. We make and eat dinner, clean up, baths, reading and bedtime. It’s not really scheduled, but evenings are generally the same across the board.

So how is it possible to get stuff done when it seems like I’m only really working for 4 hours a day?

In short, by cutting out distractions, and staying laser focused on the task at hand. I waste so much time on social media. Like, an embarrassing amount of time. I also get lost in emails and thinking about all the things I have to do. So I decided to turn off my phone, or leave it in another room, so I wouldn’t be tempted to mindlessly scroll.

Do I still mindlessly scroll? Yes, yes I do. But much, much less. And the less I do it, the easier it is to recognize in the moment when I am starting to lose myself in the Instagram feed or a comments section. The more I say no to social media, the more I can say yes to my art and my family.

The part about focusing is still a struggle for me, and I have honestly wondered if I need to see someone about it. But for now, I am doing my best to devote these two hour blocks of time to what really needs to get done. And if I need to go to the bathroom or get more coffee or water, I use that as an opportunity to stretch my legs, but anything else has to wait for another block of time. The dishes can wait. The laundry will still be there.

There will of course be times when I assign a task to a time block, complete it, and still have 30, 60 or 90 minutes left. In those cases, I think about what I can complete in that time. It might be writing my weekly email newsletter, replying to an email, or working on new Etsy listings.

Another thing that helps is prioritizing work that moves my business forward. After a year of spending so much time worrying about growing my social channels and interacting in Facebook business groups, I realized those were all times I could be making new art, sharing my newly made art, and working on sales.

Simply talking about business isn’t going to grow my business. I had to spend some time really thinking about what my goals are and how I’d get there. And when I took a good hard look at 2020, being home every day, my work and personal life blended to a point of really losing myself. I lost focus. I made myself available to anyone at any hour because I was home. I literally told people (frequently) to call me anytime, I’m home. Text me whenever, I’m home. We can do a playdate anytime, we’re around and not doing anything. I minimized my own productivity and the worth of my time. And there are layers and layers that could be dissected here, but the long and short of it is that I needed to come to this realization and recreate my own boundaries, for myself, my work, my family and relationships. I had to start looking at my days as work days, as I would if I were in an office or other work environment.

As a self employed person, if nothing’s getting done, that’s on me. I can control what I let in and out of my days, from social media to texts and emails and calls, by controlling when I let them into my day.

And if you’re wondering, well, why not just break down the day and assign things to an hourly schedule?

That definitely works for many people, I’m sure. The nature of what I do, and needing flexibility with the kids, means simplifying my schedule as much as possible. I’ve tried saying I’ll do laundry at 8:50, 1:20 and 6:05 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, so far as assigning different laundry baskets to different days. I’ve scheduled myself solid by the hour or half hour. I’ve watched myself fall behind daily and wallow in feelings of failure because I was distracted, procrastinating, trying to do it all, but all was simply too much. Oh, and nothing ever got done.

Block scheduling allows you to be flexible with your time, which is what I realized we needed with all our different daily schedules. Some days I work for an hour. Some days I work more like 8 hours, including after the kids go to bed (although, I really try not to do that anymore, because boundaries). I know that I can try to schedule a couple blocks on Sundays when Sean is working, so I have more flexibility on Fridays when Sean is also home. I don’t schedule exercise, because that’s one of those things that I might do at 9am, 12pm or 4:30, depending on the day and how I’m feeling.

When quarantine life started, I thought having a fully scheduled day would be how we keep a sense of normalcy in this crazy world. But like wearing masks and carrying sanitizer everywhere and all the things we’ve adjusted to over the last 11 months, scheduling is one of those things that there’s no easy answer for. It’s a matter of looking at what works for you and your family, and giving it a try with a little flexibility and a lot of grace.

So if you’re thinking about trying block scheduling, here’s what I recommend. Look at a typical day, and think about where those 1.5 to 2 hour chunks of time naturally occur. For me, my days are pretty well segmented around the school day. You might have a 2 hour block from 6-8am doing a workout, showering, getting dressed and having breakfast. I don’t track that myself. You might leave your mornings open for personal time and choose to break up 12-8pm into four 2-hour blocks for working.

Once you determine you time blocks, start assigning your work or tasks to your blocks. I fill mine out in pencil so I can easily make changes as needed. I created a printable that I use for this, which you can grab in my Etsy shop. Or, you can create your own using a spreadsheet, if that’s your jam!

Keep in mind that each block is ideally given one assignment, or subject, to focus on. For me, I might assign something general, like “work on podcast”, or I might decide to be more specific and say “Work on podcast edit”, and will focus on that from start to finish. Not graphics, not writing a transcript or popping into the Creative Happy Life on Instagram. Just getting the episode edited and done.


Become an official patron

Patreon is a platform for creatives to connect with their fans, receive monthly financial support from their subscribers, and get to spend more time creating and doing the work they love, and less time worrying about where their next meal or rent payment will come from. Patreon gives creatives the ability to create freely and give back to their subscribers in a variety of ways.

So for $5 a month (less than a fancy cup of coffee), you can become an official supporter and Patron of my work! I have a private community where I share behind the scenes, my works in progress, chat with you and offer creative encouragement. I do Q&A videos, and every month, I send you four new printable coloring pages!

I chose to set up my platform for general support and interaction, because if you’ve followed my work over the last several years, you know I am always creating, sharing, and hoping to inspire, whether it’s through my art, writing, or this podcast.

So, if my work has connected with you in some way, if you enjoy seeing my art, listening to this podcast, or my writing has inspired you, I hope you’ll consider becoming a monthly member! Memberships renew on the first of each month. I hope to see you in there!


Share the happy!

If you enjoy this podcast, it would mean so much to me if you’d share it with friends, leave a review in the comments, and follow @creativehappylifepodcast on Instagram for bonus content and a glimpse behind the scenes.

 
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Creative Happy Life Podcast Episode 11 :: Letting Go of Expectations

Hey, friends, happy new year! A couple quick things before we get into the first episode of 2021!

I am hitting the reset button on this podcast, moving forward with weekly episodes that will be shorter in length, around 10-20 minutes each, in an effort to explore more topics, stay on point (hahaha) and personally, challenge myself to be more focused and scheduled with this piece of my creative work.

Next, I am asking that if you enjoy this podcast, my art and the work that I do, please consider joining my Patreon group. Patreon is a platform for creators to receive financial support each month by their biggest supporters and fans, and in turn, have more freedom to keep creating, and give back to their fans. I’m proud of the work I’ve done and the direction I’m headed, and can do even more if you consider supporting me each month. Every little bit helps, and I’m always grateful for your support, no matter where it comes from. Join my Patreon.

I hope you enjoy this episode! I invite you to subscribe to the podcast, leave a rating and review on Apple podcasts so we can get into the ears of some new listeners this year. I appreciate every bit of support you give, and I’m unbelievably excited for this fresh start in 2021. Let’s do this!

LISTEN TO THE LATEST EPISODE HERE, ON SPOTIFY, Or APPLE PODCASTS:


New cover art for the Creative, Happy Life Podcast

episode 11 transcript

Welcome to a brand new episode of the Creative, Happy Life podcast! This is the first episode of the new year, and it’s good to be back!

This past week has been tumultuous, and it wouldn’t feel right not to address what’s going on in our country. Watching the events of this past week unfold has been angering and upsetting. It’s not the topic for today’s episode, but I just want to say, if you’re feeling stressed out, anxious, angry, feel the emotions you feel. Your feelings are real, and this is a lot. But do what you can to take care of yourself. Watch the news and stick to the facts. Email or write letters or call your state representatives. And then, do what you need to do to take care of yourself. If it’s too much and you can’t function dduring the day, it’s ok to turn off the news, get off social media, put on some music, do your work, make some art, spend time with your family. Do something that makes ou feel better. This is going to continue, and we need to try to not let it consume us. We can be aware, and we can take action, but we can’t forget to take care of ourselves and our people at home.

All right, getting into this episode, I’m excited you’re here! This past year was a doozy, and I didn’t record as much as I wanted to. So, my first big goal of the year is to make new episodes every week. To show up, to be messy, to stumble over my words, enjoy the process, and put it out into the world.

When I started this podcast, I was so energized, and then everything shifted last year and I was drained of any extra energy I wanted to put into make and growing this podcast. I decided going into this year that I’ll record weekly episodes, about 10-20 minutes each, with guest episodes being a bit longer.

This week I want to talk about finding enjoyment in creativity, and letting go of expectations of the desire to be perfect. We’ve discussed in previous episodes - perfect doesn’t exist - but we think that so many things have to be a certain way, or that we have an expectation of what the result of our efforts should be. And then we sometimes feel disappointed when the outcome is not what we hoped or expected.

For instance, this is a prime example, when I’m recording the podcast, I get so much into my head about my voice, my words, my inflection, if I have to pause to gather my thoughts. Then I go back and listen, and I don’t like what I said, I want to re-record, and write a script….I overthink every aspect of it instead of just doing it.

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I really do love making this podcast! It’s funny, I’m sitting in my closet recording this, sitting on a little plastic stepstool from IKEA that we keep in the bathroom for the kids. The microphone is perched on a moving box, my laptop is perched on comic book boxes. I’m surrounded by sweatshirts and scarves and linens and even more boxes…it’s not by any means a “cloffice” (closet-office).

When I’m preparing to record an episode, I get so into the details of setting up and preparing, and being “ready”. And then I freeze up. I get frustrated because I’ll be in the middle of cooking dinner or in the shower, and these ideas come to me for episodes, and I think “Ugh, if only I had my microphone right here so I could record these thoughts at this very moment, I’d have an amazing episode.” And then when I do sit down to record, if it doesn’t go the way I hoped or expected, I get that feeling of disappointment.

It’s too much time in my head, instead of just sitting down and speaking freely, and enjoying the process.

As a parent, doing crafts and teaching art to our kids (or anything), it can be hard to allow them to stray. Whether it’s straying from directions…or following the directions, but then they take what they created and crumple it up and make something else, it’s like….AGHHHH what are you doing?! This happens to me a lot! I wish I could be more laid back and easy going about creativity. And this is why I wanted to discuss this topic, because there’s beauty and playfulness in the process, if you just let go of the idea of what something should be.

I’ve been thinking about this in terms of new year’s resolutions. We’re all familiar with resolutions, right? New goals,ideas, desires to change habits, create systems. We generally hit the reset button January 1st. But often, we forget our resolutions, or give up, before we even get started. If you think about it, we focus so much on the end goal, no matter what that goal may be. There are so many things we want to do, and we want to do it all on January 1st. We have the end goal in mind - cleaner house, healthier bodies, sticking to a better schedule, etc. We picture in our heads what it will be like, but we have a hard time imagining what it’ll be like getting there, along the way.

Think about the process of running. A lot of people decide they want to become a runner. If you’re a couch potato like me, you might start imagining how it feels to already be a runner. When I decide I want to be a runner, I’m picturing my already trained, healthy, stronger self who can endure running a 5K easily. What I’m not focusing on is every single day of getting to that point.

If you’re a beginner, it’s going to take time to get there, to become a runner who has endurance, and strength, and the discipline to go out there and run. But before you get started, if you’re like me, you get all up in your head. You think about how uncomfortable you might be going out to run on the road, and if people are looking at you, seeing this person who is jogging really slow, not wearing “official running gear”. I am who I am, and I worry about these things, and think about these things, if I’m going outside to do a fitness activity. How do I appear to others? I worry so much about what others think instead of focusing on my own goal and how I feel.

I think, “Is it going to be painful to become a runner?” Yes, it’s going to be uncomfortable, and maybe a little painful and sore, because you’re training your body. You can’t go 0 to 60. Maybe these thoughts, and staying in your headspace too much, causes you to stop before you even get started. Or you go for a week and think well, I tried. What’s the point?

I’ve done the Couch to 5K program so many times, I’ve started so many times, I’ve never finished it. And honestly, it’s one of the things I wish I had stuck with and finished and kept as part of my life. Who knows? Maybe I’ll start it again.

By setting a new years resolution, setting a goal, you’re saying I want to change my mindset, I want to change a habit or create a new system. But you have to do the work in order to do that. All of those things have building blocks. You can’t just do it all in a day or week. These things take time. So, instead of getting so caught up in what you expect in the end, start with step one. What is step one? Is it putting on sneakers and going outside? Is it grabbing an empty box and grabbing some clutter and trash you know can go right out into the dumpster? Is it sitting down and looking at a calendar just for tomorrow - not planning out a whole month - but just planning out tomorrow to take myself one step closer to my goal.

It’s not so much the breakdown of the goals, but…why are we doing these things? When I’m running, it’s not so much to run a 5K, it’s because I want to feel good, and healthy, and strong when I am running. I have full confidence that if I trained to be a runner, and could go out and run a race, that would be a great accomplishment. But what about the everyday aspects of being a runner, of having the self discipline to go out even when the weather isn’t great, or when I don’t feel like it…having the discipline to do it anyways. Because I know that while I’m doing it, I’m going to feel good. Or maybe I won’t feel good, but I certainly won’t regret it. Because from what I’ve heard from friends who are runners, is that you hit your stride, your momentum, and get that runner’s high. That feeling that you can just keep going. You feel good, you feel peaceful and strong. You’re in the zone. That’s what I hope for when I decide I want to run. It’s not to collect medals (although that is perfectly legit). I want my focus to be “How does it make me feel? And how do I get to that point?”

You have to start. It’s certainly not going to happen sitting on the couch. I know that I just have to start. And the same goes for my art.

When I’m dreaming up what I’m going to start making, I have a picture in my head (maybe), but that doesn’t mean that’s where I’ll end up. But I create, I paint, and I work on these things, for how it makes me feel. It makes me calm, it helps me relax, I feel good and happy and present in my body when I’m making something. It doesn’t matter if I’m painting or crocheting or baking; you know that feeling when you get in the zone doing something you love. You just feel good.

And I know that doesn’t come easily to people who feel like they’re not good at something. When I think of how I want to feel as a runner, I’m not there yet. I’m not disciplined yet, it’s not part of my routine, I don’t have the physical strength and endurance yet. I know that I’m going to feel good when I’m painting because I do it regularly. It’s part of my practice and my routine. I can get out of my head and into the creative flow.

If there’s something you want to do or try, I want to challenge you to change your mindset. Everything starts with an idea, but how do you get there. How do you get into the creative flow? How do you get to the runner’s high? How do you get to a regularly clean and decluttered house? It’s the process. It’s the process of putting paint on the canvas. It’s putting on your sneakers and stepping out the door. It’s getting out of your head and taking those limiting beliefs that say:

“I can’t. I’m not good enough. It’s going to be a chore. It’s going to be uncomfortable. It’s going to stress me out. I’m not good, I’m not good, I’m not good…”

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So much of this comes back to “I’m not good” or “I can’t”, and we can do these things that we set our minds to, but it takes that first step. We can’t focus solely on the end goal. The end goal is always going to be there. But think of Anna in Frozen 2, saying “Do the next right thing.” Take one step at a time.

I’m thinking about my husband, who sat down a few times with the iPad and an Apple Pencil and he sketched and drew, and he said “I get frustrated because I have this picture in my head of what I want to draw, but then I can’t do it. I can’t make it happen.” And I say “Well, first of all, you just sat down to draw. There are so few people in this world who can just sit down and just make a masterpiece” We have these crazy expectations of ourselves and what we should be able to do with little discipline and little work. We have to do the work.

And we have to have fun with it! I think about the things I least want to do with my time: cleaning and workout out. I’m sure that is shocking to many people. But, I don’t like doing these things, especially folding and putting laundry away, or doing dishes. So, I think to myself, what can I do to make this enjoyable, and less of a chore? I put on music or a podcast. I put on something that gets me out of my head, singing or moving my body, and I make it fun!

It’s a mindset shift., I could slog through my day, doing all these things that I don’t enjoy, and say “Ugh, it was a terrible day. I had to do dishes, and laundry. I had to run errands. I had to make dinner. I had to do all this stuff." Ugh, what a horrible day.” Or, I can say “Hey, I got to listen to an audio book while I was running errands, I don’t usually have time to read, so I caught up a bit. And then I listened to some reall good jazz while I was putting dishes away, it made me feel really good. And hey, I put my laundry away and my room is clean, and I’m going to just take this moment in, before it turns back to a disaster in a couple days.”

We all have the opportunity to take something not great, and see the good side. No matter how ridiculous or pointless or silly it might seem, these little things do add up.

And if you’re worried you’re going to spend time doing something, only to give up, and feel like it’s going to be a waste of time…it is never a waste of time.

I’ve spent hours coloring pages that end up looking like crap.

I’ve spent days and weeks on crocheting projects that I’ve suddenly decided to start over. And I unravel hours and hours of work.

And I’ve learned to be ok with that, because it’s never a waste of time to do something you love, or try something new. Or working towards a goal.

It’s never a waste of time to be present in the moment.

If you find that zen zone…if you get in that creative flow…if you hit that runner’s high…if you feel happy, and playful, and joyous - all of these things add up. They add up to learning, experience, lessons. It’s always worth it.

So if you have something ahead of you, and the “why bother” thought is creeping in, let go…let go of the expectations. Try to see the lesson, or how you want it to feel. And get going. You have to leave point A, to get to point B.

And you might never reach “point B”, but there’s a lot in between A and B, and it’s all good, and it’s always worthwhile.

Start shifting your mindset.

If you’re starting to train to run and getting caught up in your head? Put on some music. Look around. Feel the earth under your feet. Notice things on your route you’ve never noticed before.

If you’re picking up a paintbrush, and a blank canvas is in front of you, and you’re already thinking you won’t make what you want, that’s fine! Make something else. See where it goes.

That’s the beauty of living. We get to see where it goes. We can plan all we want. We can dream all we want. We can make goals….and so many times, we’ll end up on a different path than we expected.

But you have to start taking those steps.

You can always change course. You can always start over. And once you learn to be ok with that, life will be so much more fun.


Become an official patron

Before you go, I want to tell you real quick about Patreon, and ask that you consider becoming a monthly supporter! Patreon is a platform for creatives to connect with their fans, receive monthly financial support from their subscribers, and get to spend more time creating and doing the work they love, and less time worrying about where their next meal or rent payment will come from. Patreon gives creatives the ability to create freely and give back to their subscribers in a variety of ways. So for $5 a month, which less than a fancy cup of coffee, you can become an official supporter and Patron of my work and the Creative, Happy Life Podcast. I have a private community where I share behind the scenes, my works in progress, I do live drawing and painting videos and chat with you and offer creative encouragement while I paint, kind of like Bob Ross. I do Q&A videos, and every month, I send you four new printable coloring pages!

I chose to set up my platform for general support and interaction, because if you’ve followed my work over the last several years, you know I am always creating, sharing, and hoping to inspire, whether it’s through my art, writing, or this podcast.

So, if my work has connected with you in some way, if you enjoy seeing my art, listening to this podcast, or my writing has inspired you, I hope you’ll consider becoming a monthly member! You can go to patreon.com/shannonsorensen to learn more and sign up! Memberships renew on the first of each month. I hope to see you in there!


Share the happy!

If you enjoy this podcast, it would mean so much to me if you’d share it with friends, leave a review in the comments, and follow @creativehappylifepodcast on Instagram for bonus content and a glimpse behind the scenes.

 
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The Creative Happy Life Podcast Episode 10 :: What is Your Big, Scary Dream?

Hey, welcome back! It’s been a bit since my last episode, and I am kicking things off fresh with a new “season” of episodes that will get your creativity flowing, boost your spirits and hopefully help you enjoy doing more of what makes you happy!

When I launched the Creative, Happy Life podcast last September, I wasn’t quite sure what I was doing, and I didn’t have much of a plan for where I wanted to take it. If you know me personally, I’m sure this is sooooo surprising! Can you sense the sarcasm?…But if there’s one thing I’m good at, it’s learning and figuring it out as I go! I’m proud of where I started and am glad to have you along for this journey! At the end of the day, I hope to entertain, inspire, and make you feel happy!

Before we get started, join me in the Creative Happy Life Community on Facebook so we can keep the conversation going, ask questions, get inspired, and connect with other creative minds!

LISTEN HERE, ON SPOTIFY, OR ON APPLE PODCASTS:


Creative, Happy Life Podcast Episode 10 What is Your Big Scary Dream by Shannon Sorensen

What is your big scary dream?

I wrote this question on a little post-it note and stuck it to my work computer back in 2009. That sticky note moved with me several times over the past decade, and I always kept it on the bottom of my monitor as a reminder to never stop dreaming or reaching for the things I want in life. In 2009, that dream was building a photography business, becoming my own boss, getting married and having a family. My big scary dream was to be the biggest and best photographer in New England, with a super cool blog and I would travel to conferences and tell people to follow their own dreams.

Well, plans change. Life throws curveballs. Dreams evolve. So my question for you today is…what is your big scary dream? Not from childhood. Not from your college years 20 years ago. Wherever you are, right here and now.

What is your big scary dream?


[intro] Hey, I’m Shannon, and you’re listening to the Creative, Happy Life podcast! Join me each week as we share real stories, struggles, wisdom and conversations about life, creativity and the pursuit of happiness. So grab a comfy seat, settle in, and let’s get to it!


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Show TRANSCRIPT

Episode 10: WHAT IS YOUR BIG SCARY DREAM?

Hello, friends! Welcome to the Creative, Happy Life podcast. I’m your host, Shannon Sorensen, and I am so glad to be here! I am back! It has been about 6 months since I pushed out my last episode, and oh my goodness…It feels like a lifetime ago, if I’m being honest, and I think many of you would agree. Six months ago, it was April, we were still very much at the beginning of all of this. Most people were still staying home, schools and businesses were closed and there was a lot of uncertainty if, when, and how things would open back up. We were still at a point of not knowing just how long this would stretch out for.

There are still a lot of questions, and some rising uncertainty with case numbers starting to really spike again, the Presidential election is next week. We’ve kind of been operating at a high level of anxiety, trauma and exhaustion that has been taking a toll. I’ve been feeling it, I know many of my friends who are teachers and healthcare workers are feeling it. So I just want to send out some love and support to you if you are listening right now and feeling the burnout. You are appreciated. You are loved. You are supported. I hope this episode helps you feel better, inspires you, and gives you a push to do something for yourself today, even something like going to bed an hour earlier or making a delicious cup of coffee, tea or cocoa and enjoying it while it is hot.

It’s the little things, right? You deserve to enjoy the happy little things in each day. In a world that feels like we’re teetering on the edge of a cliff, with hope and potential to our left, and plummeting to our doom on the right, we have to find ways to love and support ourselves, and each other, and create moments and spaces of safety and comfort. And that looks different for everyone, but I hope you can prioritize your needs in whatever way feels right, whether it’s asking for help, going to therapy, calling a friend, or communicating your needs to a loved one. It literally takes a village some days, so I hope you can cultivate a circle of loving support. We all need to hold each other up and some days we need more support, other days we can give more support.

So, what’s good right now? My daughter is at school 4 days a week, for now, and we’re doing everything we can to keep it that way, but we’re also being flexible. We talk a lot about being flexible these days. My husband is back to work, at his place of work, not working from home. I know a lot of people are still working from home for the forseeable future, so we’re still “in it”, just a different “in it” than we were a few months ago.

I took this break from recording the podcast because I really needed to focus a lot of my time and energy on my kids and home, and my creative work, because for me, my work pretty much just stopped. The photography industry, like many industries, has taken a major hit. I’ve been a photographer for almost 11 years, and when all of this happened in March, my newborn sessions were postponed indefinitely. I typically go to people’s homes to photograph their babies and family life in those early days with their newborns, and I spend a couple hours in their home. And I couldn’t do that! I had a wedding postponed from September to next April, so we’ll see what happens over this winter. And then all the family sessions I usually have throughout the summer and into the fall were significantly reduced or stopped.

I realized pretty quickly that I had to get creative and think of other ways to work. And one of the things I immediately turned to, which ties into what we’re going to talk about today, is painting! I started making real time for myself back in January, before any of this Covid-19 stuff was really on our radar, because I love it! I always knew I loved it, but it’s one of those things I simply didn’t prioritize in my life. I’d break out my paints and brushes every 6 months or so, often longer, and get into it for an hour, and then I’d put it away for another year.

But in that hour or so, I’d experience this incredible calm. This feeling of peace. I just felt good, and happy, and creative, and present in the moment, in my own body. There are a lot of things we do everyday where we can be multitasking, and bouncing around from one thing to another, and thinking of a million other things…But when I’m painting, all of that falls away. It’s like a meditation, or what runners talk about, the “runner’s high” they experience when they hit their stride, and they’re in the flow. That’s painting for me. It’s a time to be focused and purely creative, to paint whatever I’m feeling, whatever emotion, whatever I’m going through. I don’t know what’s going to happen, I just allow myself to play, and explore, and express.

So I have been spending more and more time painting, and it’s bringing me joy! It’s something I felt called to do, and explore, and put more of my time and energy into, and I’m finding that it fills me up. It makes me feel more whole.


So, as we get into today’s discussion, I want to take a moment to pause and say hello, and welcome. If you are new to the podcast, or if you’ve listened to past episodes, I’m grateful for this space and I have some really fun, beautiful episodes planned for you. I am working on ramping up to recording weekly episodes. I love every aspect of creating this show, and want to use it as a vehicle to inspire you and empower you to truly find ways within your day to day to prioritize and explore your creativity, and do more of what makes you happy. I believe in the healing power of creativity, that the simple act of thinking creatively can lift your mood and signal your brain to release those happy, peaceful feelings. And I say that as a person who does not know the scientific ins and outs of the brain, but speaking from my own experience and wisdom and conversations and experiences with others, that’s really what I’m here to share.

And speaking of “here”, I want to make sure this show is as accessible as possible. I know some people enjoy listening to podcasts, some enjoy watching videos and some enjoy reading, so I am producing audio, video, and a written transcript of each episode going forward, so you can enjoy it any way you like, whether that’s on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube, or reading the transcript on my website. So wherever you are, I’m glad you’re here!

If you enjoy my work and feel inspired to further support it, I just want to highlight a couple quick and easy ways you can do that, and then I promise, we’re going to get into the good stuff.

If you are listening on an audio platform, you can subscribe, follow, leave a 5-star rating or review. You can always take a screenshot on your phone while you’re listening and share it to your Instagram of Facebook stories, and tag me so I know you’re listening and can do a little happy dance. If you’re on Youtube, hit subscribe and thumbs up under the video, and if you’re reading the transcript on my blog, you can comment, pin a picture or two on Pinterest, or simply share a link to the post on Facebook or Twitter!

I want these episodes to be like a big party, a gathering of creative minds and hearts, where we collectively inspire and empower each other to live more creatively, live more fully. My goal is to build a table where everyone has a seat and feels welcome here, and you are free to mingle and connect. Come as you are. If you enjoy crafting or writing or coloring books or painting with oils or reading about art history or gardening or home decor, we are all creative in our own ways. We all have our gifts and skills. We all have different paths, but at the core, we are all creative, and in the words of David Rose, I feel like that needs to be celebrated. So if you are a fan and want a place to meet new creative friends, join us in the Creative, Happy Life Community on Facebook!

As always, thank you for your support. It has taken me a few different takes at recording to get some ideas out of my brain. I tend to, surprise, surprise, put a lot of pressure on myself. That pressure turns into fear, and then I just don’t…create. And that’s not a good thing. We need to be creating. We need to rip off the bandaid and get to it.


Creative, Happy Life Podcast Episode 10 What is Your Big Scary Dream by Shannon Sorensen

So, today, in sharing about my painting and what pulled me to paint more, we’re going to talk about your wants, desires and intuition. I am wondering if there is something that you are feeling pulled towards or called to do or called to be or called to explore. And we’re going to start by approaching this from a perspective I think a lot of us can understand. And that perspective is the Disney Princess “I Want” song. So what’s an “I Want” song? Lin Manuel Miranda explains this incredibly well. He wrote the musicals Hamilton, In the Heights and songs from Moana. He’s a creative genius, in my opinion, and I remember in the first year that I was listening to the Hamilton soundtrack, hearing an interview where he talks about the “I Want” song, and how in Hamilton the Musical, the song “My Shot” is Alexander Hamilton’s I Want song. He’s proclaiming and putting it out there into the world that he has this desire, he has something calling him to do more, and he’s not sure what it is. But he knows that it’s there, and he’s not going to ignore it. He knows that he has skills, he knows he’s smart and drive to push forward and do something with his life that’s meaningful and important. So he’s setting this intention at the beginning of the show that this is something that he wants. That this is his intention for his life.

And we see this song in most Disney movies, right? So, in Frozen, Anna sings about wanting to open the gates and experience life outside the castle walls and to have the windows open and maybe fall in love and have a life she’s dreamed of, but wasn’t sure would be possible.

When Elsa sings Let it Go, she knows she has powers and she’s learning to explore and embrace them instead of suppressing them and living in fear. She gets playful, and the more she plays and creates, the more confident and joyful she becomes. And then in Frozen 2, I hope I’m not spoiling anything, if you haven’t seen it, skip ahead a bit, but Elsa is literally hearing a voice calling to her, and she can’t ignore it, she doesn’t know what it is. She sings about having to find the voice and figure out who or what it is, and figure out what else she’s being called to do. She knows she has powers She’s already come so far with embracing her powers, but there’s something even greater out there for her, and she’s nervous, but determined to discover what it is, so she can fully step into her power and who she’s truly called to be, beyond the position of queen of her kingdom. There’s even more for her, and that is something unexpected. She already has what she thinks is enough, with her sister and little family, her kingdom, and using her powers. So realizing there’s something even more out there, deciding to go “Into the Unknown”, requires her to open up and embrace the possibility of more change, more uncertainty, but maybe more wonder and good, not just for her but for the world.

Moana sings about the ocean, it calls to her, she feels the need and desire to go out and explore. She has this life on her island where she’s expected to be the next leader and stay where she is, and solve problems where she is. But she feels this pull away from the island, her intuition and her wise old grandma tell her that she has to go beyond the reef. Even though she doesn’t know what’s out there, even though she doesn’t know how to sail, even though it’ll go against her father’s wishes and possibly disappoint her entire village.

So there are all these times that these princesses and characters are proclaiming to the universe, there’s something out there for me, I don’t know what it is, but I can’t ignore it. I know I have these skills, gifts, talents, powers. I don’t quite understand the big picture yet, but I know deep down in my gut, in my soul, in my heart, in my brain, wherever you hold your intuition, I know there’s something more for me.

These “I Want” songs challenge us to face the very real aspect of fear and the unknown of stepping away from a place of comfort and safety and familiarity. A decision has to be made to trust themselves, even though the path isn’t clear. That even staying and following the clear path doesn’t guarantee safety and happiness. And that trusting themselves to go against the status quo may mean disappointing or upsetting loved ones.

So those are some pop culture examples, but I think many of us, myself included, feel these intuitive pulls, at different times in life. So in these movies, these princesses and queens and characters are usually young, on the cusp of becoming an adult, coming of age, stepping into a time when they’re going to be a leader…but what about other times in our lives when we feel called to something new? When we’ve gotten married and bought a house, or have spent 20 years on a career path. Times of change and major life shifts are sometimes exacerbated when something in the world is shaken up. A chapter is closing and we’re on to something new. There’s a problem and we feel stuck. Something happens that rocks us to our core and breaks our hearts open. And it’s not always clear what this pull is, but we know it’s there and can’t ignore it.

What do we do if there’s something we’re intuitively feeling that we can’t ignore? After all, we aren’t living in an animated movie. We’re living very real lives with very real responsibilities. So how do we balance that pull with respect to those around us, our loved ones, who our actions may have a direct effect?

I wish there were an easy answer.

Creative Happy Life Podcast Episode 10 What is Your Big Scary Dream

We are in a moment of collective shift, and change. With everything that has happened in our personal lives, in our families, in our work and schools and in the world, we’ve all had to make major adjustments. We’ve had to face some fears and hard truths. Either directly because of the pandemic, or because the effects of the pandemic brought this to the surface, many of us have taken this time to examine how we live, where we live, how we spend our money, how we consume, how we spend our time, who we spend our time with. This is a time of change. Like it or not, it’s happening. And no, not everyone is going to go out and do something new, move to a new place, change jobs, leave the city for life in a more remote setting. But I bet there are many people who are. Because there is so much on the horizon that we still don’t know. And many people may decide, you know, now is the time to do this, to find a job that makes me happy, to move somewhere new and make a fresh start, to change things up, because we are reaching a point where the desire to try something new, and hope it’ll be better, outweighs the fear of letting go of the comfort and safety of what we’ve known for so long.

For me, not being able to go out and do my photography work has been very hard, for many reasons, but most importantly, it’s how I support my family, it’s my job, it’s the business I’ve built for over 10 years. When I started, I was working a corporate job, and I would do my photography on the weekends and every day after working from 9-5 I would come home and work, work, work, work, work to build this business and this life as a photographer. So that when people thought of me, they’d think “That’s Shannon, she’s married, has two kids and she’s a photographer.” It wasn’t just a job I did, it became a core part of who I am. And I’m very proud of the work that I have done.

But what do you do when a core part of you changes? Because in March, it just went away. I couldn’t work. It was very scary. I lost income, I couldn’t plan ahead for work that I would typically depend on. And the scary part of having your own business and being your own boss and being an entrepreneur is that if the work goes away, that’s it. You have to figure out something else. Many small businesses don’t have a cushion, so the fragility of job security during this time has been very apparent.

So, when my work went away and got put on hold, I quickly had to change course. I was on a sailboat in the middle of the ocean and there was no wind, so I had to build some oars. I had to figure out something else. And I quickly turned to painting, and made even more time for it in my days and weeks at home, because it was something that brought me joy. It’s something that when I went through my miscarriage two years ago, I didn’t go to therapy. I probably should have and maybe I will go in the future, I think therapy is great and everyone who can should go to therapy. But I was very open about my experience, and I wanted to share that experience, and how I felt, and the different aspect of grief and the grief journey.

And I didn’t quite know the best way for me to do that, in a way that honored my loss and my experience, and help people understand the lasting and lifelong ups and downs that follows losing a baby. For a while I thought that I would write a book, and that’s not off the table. But I wanted to find some way to process and express what I went through. And everyone has different ways to deal with things in life, whether it’s loss or hardship or depression or coping mechanisms. Some people listen to music, some people journal or go to therapy, some people meditate. And for me, I really found that fulfillment, that support that I needed, in painting. Through the process of painting, I can fully embrace who I am in the moment. It doesn’t have to be good. I don’t have to paint for anyone but myself. And in that way, painting became an important part of the healing process for me.

And then back in the winter when my grandmother was sick, and when she passed at the end of March, it became even more important. Because I started recognizing in myself how I felt when I painted, and when I took the time to create just for me. And I listened to myself, and started trusting myself, and that feeling, that voice telling me, “You should do this more, you should do this, this is something that’s good for you, this is something you enjoy. It’s something that you’re good at, and it’s putting something beautiful into the world.”

Anytime you create something, you are making the world better in a very special way. You are sharing a part of yourself, whether you’re the only person who sees it or if millions of people see it, it doesn’t matter, it is beautiful because it was not there before, and now it is, because of you.

So, the creative process of painting, for me, became my “I Want” song of, I know this thing is here. I know I have the desire to paint. I know it’s part of me. I know that I’m good at it and enjoy it. I was really scared to put it out there into the world that this was something I was doing, because for so long, the core part of me that people recognized was being a photographer. And what I really wanted was to proclaim to the world that I’m an artist.

And that was a scary thing. That was stepping out of my comfort zone to proclaim and put it out there that I’m an artist. Yes, I’m a photographer, but look at this other stuff I am creating, that I love, that is a reflection of who I am and an expression of my experiences. And maybe it’s something I can do with my life, that other people might connect with and enjoy. And if not, that’s fine, too.

The more I started listening to myself, and allowing myself to explore this side of my creativity, not to get dramatic, but the world started opening up to me. I felt more like myself, comfortable in my own body, and comfortable in my own mind and comfortable in my own heart to express myself in a way that I hadn’t really known how to before, despite being a very open person when it comes to sharing my journey as a creative person, and as a woman and a mother. I stopped feeling the need to try to fit into anyone else’s idea of who I am or who I should be. It was like coming home to myself, returning to who I knew I was as a child, and realizing I have everything I need, and am worthy of a happy, beautiful life.

So I want to ask you…do you have an “I Want” song? Do you have a desire in your heart, a yearning, a gut feeling, something that you just can’t ignore…something that you want to do, that you want to explore…trust it. Trust your intuition, trust your brain, trust your heart, trust your guts.

You never know where it might lead you. And it’s scary! Think about these princesses - they’re in their comfort zones, they’re in their castle on their island, surrounded by familiarity, surrounded by family and a feeling of safety. And often times, when you are feeling this pull towards something, it might mean having to leave your comfort zone, even just a little bit, and to see yourself in a new way. It might mean having hard conversations, or finding the courage to speak up and proclaim your desire into the universe. You could be standing alone in the middle of a forest and just say it, to the trees and the air and the squirrels and the leaves, but words are powerful, and when you speak your intention out loud, it will change you.

Maybe this is what they mean when they say “speak your truth” - it’s already inside you, it’s already there…it’s already a part of you. But will you listen, and accept, and give it life, by breathing it into existence, out of your body, and into the world.

Sit with this, even for a few minutes today. Allow yourself to dream, to let your mind wander. Allow that pull on your heart to lead your body and your mind to a new place, a new perspective.

And I am going on the record here to say I am not talking about major life changes, like leaving your job, or moving your family across the country, but for some people, that might be it. But it could also be small incremental change in your life. Prioritizing yourself and the things you love. Finding a balance within your home and relationships where you feel peaceful in how you choose to spend your days. Learning to listen and trust your intuition if you feel like your brain is always holding you back from things that feel a bit wild and uncertain.

This life is not scripted. It’s not a movie with a predictable plot. It’s not linear. There are twists and turns, pandemics and losses, thrilling adventures and the comfort of returning home. We do not have to exist in a state of chaos. And we do not have to exist only within our comfort zones. There’s a quote, I’m not sure who said it, but it goes “A ship is safe in it’s harbor, but that’s not what ships are for.”

We are not trees. We do not need to stay rooted exactly in one place for our entire lives. And I think if anything, we’ve learned in the past few months to be flexible, and to be resourceful, and not to get sappy or sad or anything, but life is short, right? We have this one life, and what we choose to do with it might determine, plain and simple, if we enjoy our lives. We want to be happy. We want to feel fulfilled. We want to feel loved.

So instead of feeling held back by familial obligation, or anyone else’s idea of what your life should be, or your own hangups, because we all have these hangups. We all have things we get stuck on.

What if you just go for it. What if you slowly start giving yourself the time and space to do something new. What if you allow yourself to play a little more? What if you take the time to dream and then start acting on that dream? What do the first steps look like? What if the first step is listening to your own intuition, and learning to trust yourself, that you have what you want and need within you?

A lot of this has to do with trust. In life, there are risks, and we weigh the possible positives and negatives that might happen when we take a risk. But here’s the kicker. Even if the thing you want and desire and explore and feel pulled to doesn’t work out, it’s not a failure. There’s always a lesson to learn. Always a silver lining. Always a takeaway that you can use to determine your next steps. Use your experiences as stepping stones, each one bringing you higher, further, to a greater understanding and sense of purpose.

I’ve been through some incredibly hard, difficult, devastating things in my life, that I can look at and see the glimmers of light within the darkness. So when you are going to take a risk, or try something new, and you find that fear is holding you back, ask yourself this - what is the worst thing that could happen? What’s the worst possible outcome if I do this. And dig deep. Get to the core of the fear.

When I decided to start painting and proclaim to the world that I’m an artist, I confronted a lot of fears.

Who am I to call myself an artist? What if no one really believes I’m an artist, that I’m just some imposter? What if no one likes my work? What if I can’t sell my work and my family doesn’t have money to pay rent and buy food? What if no one takes me seriously? What if, what if, what if…

And what I found was that my fear was tied to a projection of how I thought people would think of me. It was all about perception. And not about the actual painting and creation of art.

So I just started making art, knowing how it made me feel. And I learned and grew to know that it doesn’t freaking matter what anyone thinks of me. I don’t have time in this life to stay small and safe. I have big ideas. I have ideas pouring out my body these days. Who am I to bottle that up and keep it on a shelf for safe keeping?

Because I’m 37? Because I’m a mom? Because I’ve done things a certain way for a long time and now, like Ross in the stairwell holding up a sofa, I’m screaming PIVOT!

So, if you’re finding yourself in a place where you’re also screaming PIVOT, or feeling a pull, or needing a change, I hope you will give yourself the time and space to explore it. Whether it’s a necessary change due to circumstances that may or may not be within your control, or a simple yearning to try something new, I hope you give it a try. Sing that song in your heart, into life. Fear be damned, give it a try. Because one way or another, even if it’s hard, even if it’s scary, even if it doesn’t go the way you expect, it will be worth it. And you are worth it. This beautiful life is worth it.

Thank you so much for listening to this week’s episode. I am grateful for you, and hope you have a wonderful week!


Join the Creative, Happy Life Community on Facebook

Hey there, we just wrapped up an episode of the Creative, Happy Life Podcast. If you enjoyed it and want more - more discussion, more inspiration, more creative community, I invite you to join us in the Creative, Happy Life Community on Facebook! It’s a private group where we discuss episodes, share creative ideas and projects, and generally just have a fun time entertaining each other. Go to Facebook and search for the Creative, Happy Life Community group. There are a couple very simple questions to answer, and then you’re in!

Become an official patron

And before you go, I want to tell you real quick about Patreon, and ask that you consider becoming a monthly supporter! Patreon is a platform for creatives to connect with their fans, receive monthly financial support from their subscribers, and get to spend more time creating and doing the work they love, and less time worrying about where their next meal or rent payment will come from. Patreon gives creatives the ability to create freely and give back to their subscribers in a variety of ways. So for $5 a month, which less than a fancy cup of coffee, you can become an official supporter and Patron of Shannon Sorensen Creative. I have a private community where I share behind the scenes, my works in progress, I do live painting videos and chat with you and offer creative encouragement as I paint, kind of like Bob Ross, I do Q&A videos, and once a month I do a live video where I draw a coloring page that my Patrons get to vote on, and then you get a digital file of that coloring page to keep and enjoy! I chose to set up my platform for general support and interaction, because if you’ve followed my work over the last several years, you know I am always creating and sharing, whether it’s art, writing, or now this podcast show. So, if my work has connected with you in some way, if you enjoy seeing my art, listening to this podcast, or my writing has inspired you, I hope you’ll consider becoming a monthly member! You can go to patreon.com/shannonsorensen to learn more and sign up! Memberships renew on the first of each month, and November 1st is coming up this weekend. I hope to see you in there!


Share the happy!

If you enjoy this podcast, it would mean so much to me if you’d share it with friends, leave a review in the comments, and join me on Facebook to continue the conversation! Follow @creativehappylifepodcast on Instagram for bonus content and a glimpse behind the scenes.

 
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The Creative Happy Life Podcast Episode 9 :: Act Well Your Part with Meg O'Brien

Episode 9 of the Creative, Happy Life Podcast is part two of my conversation with guest, Meg O’Brien, the Director of Education at the Huntington Theatre in Boston, Massachusetts.

You can listen to part one here, where we talk about theater education and more.

In this episode, Meg shares her journey of falling in love with dance and theater, to getting her BFA at UConn, and personal experiences of love and loss along the way. She was also the first person to answer my “wrap up” questions at the end, and trust me when I say, you’re going to want to listen to every word she says. There are just so much good, inspiring, uplifting, and important things that she shares.

This episode brings up cancer, death, and spirituality, which may be a sensitive topic to some, but I hope by listening, Meg’s journey inspires you to think in new ways, find what makes you happy, and live a beautiful life.

I hope you will join me in the Creative Happy Life Community on Facebook after you’ve listened so we can keep the conversation going, ask questions, get inspired, and connect with other creative minds!

LISTEN HERE, ON SPOTIFY, OR ON APPLE PODCASTS:


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Show Notes

Episode 09

Act well your part; there all the honor lies. - Alexander Pope

Meg O’Brien is back for part two, episode 9, and she is telling her story, her journey as an artist and supporter of the arts.

To be honest, calling her a “supporter” of the arts just pales in comparison to her heart and passion for art and artists. I sat with chills on my arms, often out of breath because I was holding my breath, hanging on her every word.

I hope you enjoy this one, and if you haven’t listened to part one yet, you can listen to it here!

Learn more about places, programs and people mentioned in this episode:

Huntington Theatre Company in Boston, Massachusetts

Berkshire Theatre Group in Stockbridge, Massachusetts

Shakespeare & Company in Lenox, Massachusetts

Sutton Foster, Thoroughly Modern Millie, 42nd Street, Chess, Assassins, Cabaret, Hello Dolly, Hamilton

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Join the Creative, Happy Life Community on Facebook

The CHL Community on Facebook is a gathering place for creative minds to connect, discuss, inspire, and get creative!


subscribe and become an official Patron

As an artist, creative, and entertainer, I have joined Patreon to share a unique look behind the scenes of life as an artist, photographer, podcaster, and writer. Writer? Yup, I have started writing my first book, too!

Your support would mean the world to me!

Patreon is a platform where creatives can do the creative work they love, and get paid by their biggest fans, who invest in their work on a monthly tiered basis. Patrons are investing in the creative work being made and put into the world.

My membership starts at $5 a month (less than a large, fancy coffee), and each tier offers different benefits and access to exclusive content.


Share the happy!

If you enjoy this podcast, it would mean so much to me if you’d share it with friends, leave a review in the comments, and join me on Facebook to continue the conversation! Follow @creativehappylifepodcast on Instagram for bonus content and a glimpse behind the scenes.

 
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Embrace The Powerful Lioness :: New Art and Creative Studio Update

Hey, friend, what are you missing this week?

Three things I miss, in no particular order, are: ice cream from our favorite local shop, trips to the playground with the kids, and our weekly family breakfast outings. We're in a pretty good groove, but those little things I miss will be that much sweeter once we can enjoy them again! Especially the playground. My kids are restless to get out more and run around. Thankfully, sunny, warmer days are ahead!

A couple weeks ago, a dear friend of mine gave me an incredible message - she challenged me to look at areas of my life where I'm playing it small, shrinking myself into neat little boxes for the sake of feeling comfortable and safe.

It was a really powerful conversation that left me spinning. I'm so grateful for these friends who aren't afraid to ask these questions that feel uncomfortable at the time. That's how we get to the good stuff, by digging our hands into the dirt, to feel around where we're rooted and make sure we're giving ourselves the space to not only grow, but blossom and be magnificent.

And she told me "You've been playing the part of a mouse, but you're a freaking lioness."

(she didn't say 'freaking')

And I felt it in the depth of my soul to be true.

I have been telling myself that if I want to be an artist or otherwise creative person, I have to be ok with making art, but not money, to stay small and unknown and struggling. I have been telling myself for years not to “bother” people with trying to sell my work and my services.

I let that voice run free in my head for so long, I started to believe it, and live it. Yikes.

I was scared to sell! I thought that talking about my services would annoy people. I told myself that if they wanted to buy something or hire me, they'd come to me when they were ready.

Typical Libra. :P

Like a marshmallow Peep in a microwave, I was making a real mess of myself on the inside.

So, I decided to get off the struggle bus, and start actually telling you more about what I'm working on, let you know what's new for products and services, and let go of that mouse-like fear.

Bless and release.

Moving forward, I'm a powerful lioness. I encourage you to ask yourself that same question my friend asked me. How are you playing it small and holding yourself back? What have you been telling yourself to keep yourself small and safe and comfortable?

With staying at home the past two months due to Covid-19, unable to do my typical photography work with newborns and families (and losing my main source of income - terrifying), I've had a lot of time to think about the work I've done for the past 10 years, and how I want to move forward, with so much uncertainty in the world. I love being a photographer, but the simple truth is that right now, the world is different, and I can't work the way I have for so long.

So, I joined Patreon!

Patreon is a platform for creators to do their creative work and get paid, by offering exclusive content and rewards to their biggest fans who invest in a monthly tiered subscription.

Why support a creator on Patreon?

Chances are, you've had access to an incredible amount of free content from creators you follow and love. From Youtube videos to podcasts, blog posts and art, creatives want to share their work. Art is healing, and inspiring, and entertaining. For many, they're passing on knowledge and free education. For many of us, the arts are tied to the very blood pumping through our hearts. It keeps us going, especially in difficult times.

You might already be investing monthly in content that you enjoy and consume: Disney+, NPR, Netflix, organizations that work to make the world better...When you love something and want more of it, you pledge and invest!

By pledging a monthly membership to a creative's Patreon feed, you're choosing to support the work they've already put out into the world, and the work that they are currently making, and will make in the future.

And for about the cost of one fancy cup of coffee per month, you can become an Official Patron of my creative work!

What will your investment go towards? Three main creative projects:

My first goal is to produce one new episode of Creative, Happy Life every week. Entertainment, inspiration, knowledge and education that takes time, planning, and work to produce.

My second goal is to make more art - digital and physical - to inspire you and brighten your day! I plan to use Society6 as my platform for selling, but even if you don't want to purchase something there, your Patreon membership supports the creation of the art!

And my third goal, and maybe my biggest goal, is to write a book. I have a particular story in mind, and honestly, besides that, I have no idea what I'm doing. But this goal in particular will be a process I share only through Patreon, with progress updates, excerpts, maybe a read aloud here and there, and an exclusive inside look at the process from start to finish. I haven't started yet, but the time has come!

Becoming a Patron is an investment in the process.

I have started with offering 3 tiers to choose from to make a monthly pledge, each with a unique set of rewards.

Check it out, and consider it an investment, not only in me and the work I have been doing and sharing for 10 years, but the work that I will create going forward. Patreon gives creatives more time and freedom to create, which is a beautiful thing!

The Creative Happy Life Podcast Episode 8 :: The Other Side of Fear with Meg O'Brien

Episode 8 of the Creative, Happy Life Podcast features guest, Meg O’Brien, the Director of Education at the Huntington Theatre in Boston, Massachusetts.

We talk (and by ‘talk’ I really mean I listen in awe to Meg speak) about the importance of theater and the arts to not only education, but humanity. It was more than a treat to have Meg as a guest, and we actually recorded for close to three hours, sooooo….this will be part one of TWO episodes with Meg, because I want you to soak up all the beautiful things she has to say.

I hope you will join me in the Creative Happy Life Community on Facebook after you’ve listened so we can keep the conversation going, ask questions, get inspired, and connect with other creative minds!

LISTEN HERE, ON SPOTIFY, OR ON APPLE PODCASTS:


Show Notes

Episode 08

Meg O’Brien is my guest on episode 8, and she is serving up some beautiful and important truths about the necessity of the arts in education and in humanity. We talked about silver linings during the global pandemic of Covid-19, pushing through fear, and how learning the basic tools of theater will give you skills to carry you through life. Meg talks about how the arts are keeping us sane and how everyone in the world, in some way, is touched by art.

Learn more about places, programs and people mentioned in this episode:

Huntington Theatre Company in Boston, Massachusetts

Director Kenny Leon

Poetry Out Loud - “Poetry Out Loud is a national arts education program that encourages the study of great poetry by offering free educational materials and a dynamic recitation competition to high schools across the country. This program helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about literary history and contemporary life. Poetry Out Loud is a partnership of the National Endowment for the Arts, Poetry Foundation, and the state and jurisdictional arts agencies.” source POL website

August Wilson and the Century Cycle (also known as Pittburgh Cycle)

Some Good News - a weekly Youtube series created by John Krasinski to share “some good news” happening in the world. The episode we reference in this podcast is episode 2, which features frontline healthcare workers from Boston.

 
 

Join the Creative, Happy Life Community on Facebook

The CHL Community on Facebook is a gathering place for creative minds and hearts who want to continue the conversation following each episode, connect, discuss, inspire, and get creative!


Currently Loving: Instacart

Under more normal circumstances, I don’t mind doing most of my own grocery shopping. But there are days we’re crunched for time, or I just don’t want to drag the kids to the store with me, and I’m happy to rely on someone else to do the shopping for me!

Enter, Instacart - a grocery delivery service that allows you to select and place your order from a number of major retail stores, your order gets shopped and delivered right to your front door within a couple hours.

Your shopper can text you through the app while shopping and ask questions, make substitutions if your selections aren’t available, and adjust your order as needed. You get real time updates while they’re shopping, at checkout, and on the way for delivery.

In this time of physical distancing and staying at home, wait times for orders are increased, so check your app for updated delivery times and be sure to plan ahead!

Try Instacart and get $10 off your first order!


Share the happy!

If you enjoy this podcast, it would mean so much to me if you’d share it with friends, leave a review in the comments, and join me on Facebook to continue the conversation! Follow @creativehappylifepodcast on Instagram for bonus content and a glimpse behind the scenes.

 
 

The Creative Happy Life Podcast Episode 7 :: It's Ok to Not Be Ok

Episode 7 of the Creative, Happy Life Podcast is all about those times when you don’t feel happy or creative. They happen to all of us, and especially in the midst of the events happening in our world right now, there are a lot of big, hard feelings to process.

In this week’s episode, I’m sharing some personal things that have happened during our time staying at home. It’s a bit of a heavier show than usual, but an important conversation to have, about the scope of being human, and the wide range of emotions we experience.

I hope you will join me in the Creative Happy Life Community on Facebook after you’ve listened so we can keep the conversation going, ask questions, get inspired, and connect with other creative minds!

LISTEN HERE OR ON APPLE PODCASTS:


Show Notes

Episode 07

This episode is all about the big, hard feelings you might be experiencing during this weird, uncertain time in our lives and in our world.

I share a personal experience that made the “stay at home” reality feel truly real and hard, as well as the importance of allowing yourself to feel sad, and frustrated. We are experiencing a collective loss in the world. We’ve lost the sense of freedom to go out and do what we want, to go to work, see family and friends, to do all the little things we enjoy in our day to day lives. And if you’re feeling sadness and grief over loss and the heaviness of the world, you’re not alone.

We are not meant to exist in a bubble of feeling creative and happy all the time. With this podcast, I certainly don’t want you to think that’s the message I’m putting out into the world. Do I generally try to see the positive side of things and enjoy being inspired and creative? Of course! But we’re all human, and sometimes we all go through times that are hard, and sad, and not very creative. There’s a balance to everything.

In this episode, I also share a bit of a personal parable from my childhood that is all about falling on my butt, literally chest deep, in thick, heavy mud, while on a clamming outing with my dad. I was physically stuck, the mud was holding me down, and I realized I wouldn’t be able to get back up on my feet without help. My dad, who was taller and stronger and better equipped for navigating the knee-deep mud, saw me struggling, reached out and gave me the hand I needed to stand up and find my footing again.

“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” - Fred Rogers

If you are struggling with depression, anxiety, or need help or support, please reach out to a professional. https://www.mentalhealth.gov/ is a great resource to guide you through seeking help.

My thoughts and opinions on this blog and in my podcast are my own, and should not replace the support and assistance of a mental or health care professional.


Join the Creative, Happy Life Community on Facebook

The CHL Community on Facebook is a gathering place for creative minds and hearts who want to continue the conversation following each episode, connect, discuss, inspire, and get creative!


Currently Loving: Instacart

Under more normal circumstances, I don’t mind doing most of my own grocery shopping. But there are days we’re crunched for time, or I just don’t want to drag the kids to the store with me, and I’m happy to rely on someone else to do the shopping for me!

Enter, Instacart - a grocery delivery service that allows you to select and place your order from a number of major retail stores, your order gets shopped and delivered right to your front door within a couple hours.

Your shopper can text you through the app while shopping and ask questions, make substitutions if your selections aren’t available, and adjust your order as needed. You get real time updates while they’re shopping, at checkout, and on the way for delivery.

In this time of physical distancing and staying at home, wait times for orders are increased, so check your app for updated delivery times and be sure to plan ahead!

Try Instacart and get $10 off your first order!


Share the happy!

If you enjoy this podcast, it would mean so much to me if you’d share it with friends, leave a review in the comments, and join me on Facebook to continue the conversation! Follow @creativehappylifepodcast on Instagram for bonus content and a glimpse behind the scenes.

 
 

The Creative Happy Life Podcast Episode 6 :: Working at Home and Family Life in Covid-19 Quarantine

It’s time for episode six of the Creative, Happy Life Podcast!

This week I have my very first guest - my husband, Sean! We’re stuck at home together, so we might as well make the most of the time, right? In this episode, we talk about how it’s going with both of us working at home, while in quarantine together with the kids, we hear a bit from Lily about distance learning, and how we’re doing adjusting to the weird new normals while we try to flatten the curve.

Join me in the Creative Happy Life Community after you’ve listened to keep the conversation going, make new friends, and celebrate living a happier, more creative life!

LISTEN HERE OR ON APPLE PODCASTS:


Show Notes

Episode 06

This episode features my first guest - my husband, Sean! While we’re all home, practicing physical distancing and hoping to stay safe and healthy away from the Covid-19 virus, we were asked “How are you managing working from home with kids?”

We talk about the whole experience of working from home while parenting, distance learning with our daughter Lily, and how quickly we’ve adapted to a lot of weird new normals.

We also chat about Sean’s comic book collection, communicating and self-awareness, and how in our marriage, opposites really do attract.


Join the Creative, Happy Life Community on Facebook

The CHL Community on Facebook is a gathering place for creative minds and hearts who want to continue the conversation following each episode. Connect, discuss, inspire, and get creative!


Currently Loving: Instacart

Under more normal circumstances, I don’t mind doing most of my own grocery shopping. But there are days we’re crunched for time, or I just don’t want to drag the kids to the store with me, and I’m happy to rely on someone else to do the shopping for me!

Enter, Instacart - a grocery delivery service that allows you to select and place your order from a number of major retail stores, your order gets shopped and delivered right to your front door within a couple hours.

Your shopper can text you through the app while shopping and ask questions, make substitutions if your selections aren’t available, and adjust your order as needed. You get real time updates while they’re shopping, at checkout, and on the way for delivery.

In this time of physical distancing and staying at home, wait times for orders are increased, so check your app for updated delivery times and be sure to plan ahead!

Try Instacart and get $10 off your first order!


Share the happy!

If you enjoy this podcast, it would mean so much to me if you’d share it with friends, leave a review in the comments, and join me on Facebook to continue the conversation! Follow @creativehappylifepodcast on Instagram for bonus content and a glimpse behind the scenes.

Keep Calm and Get Creative :: Tips for Working From Home, At Home Learning Plans and Resources, and 96 Activity Ideas for Kids and Adults

Welcome! If you’re here from Pinterest, I’m a Connecticut-based artist, podcaster and creative mama of two littles. Thanks for visiting!

I originally recorded this podcast episode, and created these printables in March 2020, when we were just learning about Coronavirus/Covid-19 and figuring out what quarantining and remote learning would be like.


Creative Happy Life Podcast Episode 5

Keep Calm and Get Creative

Episode 5 of the Creative Happy Life podcast was recorded on Thursday, March 12 2020, and is all about:

  • tips for people who will be working from home, possibly for the first time

  • ideas and resources for learning activities to do with your kids

  • encouragement for how to tend to your own mental wellness, and perhaps coping and finding calm through creativity

Episode Overview

00:00 Intro

03:00 Practical tips for working from home (also outlined below)

19:42 Practical tips for having your kids home and continuing learning (scroll down for more resources and ideas in this post)

31:05 Self care and using creative interests and hobbies to cope with stress, anxiety, boredom (scroll down for more ideas)


Show Notes

It’s kind of weird and wild out there right now, friends, and if you are making plans to work from home, or having your kids home from school, or BOTH - I recorded this episode to give you some tips. Click the player above to listen, or subscribe on Apple Podcasts to listen on your phone or devices.

As someone who has worked from home AND have done so with one or two kids home at the same time, I would like to offer you some reassurance that all will be well.

With a little planning, patience, and flexibility, we’ll get through this time of weird uncertainty.

Here’s a guide of sorts so you can navigate this post and find what you’re looking for:

  1. Tips for working from home

  2. Ideas and learning resources for keeping your kids home

  3. Ideas and activities to do with kids, your family, roommate, partner, or solo to Keep Calm & Get Creative.


Tips for working from home:

Many Americans are gearing up to work from home for a week, two weeks, or indefinitely, while we ride out the Covid-19, and hopefully flatten the curve of spreading the virus. Even those with jobs that aren’t ever done from home (like my husband’s) are figuring out alternative plans. This is far from ‘business as usual”, so here are a couple tips that you may find helpful in staying productive and mentally stimulated:

  1. Create your workspace. This might be a spare bedroom with a door you can shut, a desk in the corner of a playroom or even your kitchen table. Set up where you think you will be most productive and focused. Make sure you have Internet, remote logins, a way to make calls, and any paperwork or files you’ll need.

  2. Keep to a daily routine. Stick to a schedule that’s as close as your normal schedule as possible. Set your alarm, get up and shower, get dressed, make some breakfast. If you typically go to the gym first thing, find an enjoyable at-home workout video to do instead. Keep your body moving and healthy.

  3. Designate household duty time. One of the biggest distractions from working from home is trying to get housework done (since you’re already home). Designate time that you would normally be commuting for putting a load of laundry in, emptying the dishwasher, or taking out the trash, and then be done with it. Making the mindset shift from “being at home” to “working at home” is important to productivity.

  4. Communicate your plan to your family/roommates/friends. Whether you have a set schedule to log in and work, or a more open-ended to-do list, communicate with those who you share a space with so expectations are clear, and work together to avoid distractions as best you can.

  5. Be flexible. Nothing about this time is normal, and everyone is doing their best to figure it out and keep moving forward. Have patience, keep communications with your team open and honest, and give it your best!

  6. Connect with coworkers or a friend to check in with each other. Especially due to social distancing, it’s no fun feeling closed off to others, and one of my biggest struggles working from home is missing having coworkers or other adults to talk to. Make a daily phone date with a friend or colleague to check in and catch up.

  7. Get some fresh air. Take at least one break that involves going for a walk or getting outside for some fresh air. This of course, depends on your neighborhood and your comfort level with potential crowds or neighbors, but even stepping out on a balcony and saying hello to a neighbor or some squirrels will be good for your brain.

  8. Finish your day and be done. It’s easy to lose track of time working from home, and to just….keep….going….Set your scheduled time to finish, shut down your laptop, turn off your phone, and spending time with your family, make a good meal, watch a show or movie, and get some sleep.



Shop Printable Coloring Pages


Free Activity Apps (or Mostly Free)

Insight Timer - Meditation for Sleep and Anxiety, guided meditations for all ages, music and stories to help you sleep, courses. Choose based on your needs, or search by the amount of time you desire or want to spend meditating.

Go Noodle - Lily told me they use this at school to get up and sing and dance. It looks fun!

Cosmic Kids Yoga - Interactive adventures in yoga, mindfulness and relaxation for kids.


Share the Happy!

Was this post helpful to you? Share the link, pin some images, or leave a comment! Use the hashtag #keepcalmandgetcreative and share activities you’re doing to pass the time. Who knows, you might inspire someone to try something new!


The Creative Happy Life Podcast Episode 4 :: I'm Not a Creative Person

It’s time for episode four of the Creative, Happy Life Podcast!

I’m trying something new this week with producing weekly micro-episodes - this one is just 5 minutes! I will still occasionally produce longer episodes where there’s reason for more narrative or a guest/interview, but I am excited to create these “audio snacks” you can enjoy on a quick errand run, in the bathroom (no shame, we all have our longer “sits”), getting dressed in the morning, or on a quick coffee break!

Join me on Instagram after you’ve listened to keep the conversation going, make new friends, and celebrate living a happier, more creative life!

LISTEN HERE OR ON APPLE PODCASTS:


Creative Happy Life Podcast, Creativity Quotes, Everyone is Creative, Podcast About Creativity, New Podcast, Podcast Art, podcast host Shannon Sorensen

Show Notes

Episode 04

Have you ever been talking to someone, and they say “I’m not a creative person”. Whenever someone says that to me, it just makes me sad, I want to give them a hug and look them in their eyes and say “Yes! Actually you are!!

We need to stop thinking of creativity under the umbrella of talent and skill and final products. Creativity comes in so many forms.

Anywhere you bring your own unique perspective into the world to get something done, you are using creativity. If you take a minute to think about it, I bet you can think of at least one thing in your life that you enjoy that is creative.

Creativity is everywhere, in every day. It’s not in our skills and abilities, but in our curiosity and playfulness. It’s in the trying. And the more creativity we use, the more we have. Ideas evolve, we practice, we try, and try again, maybe not because we are looking for any particular result, but because we just enjoy the process of trying.

Think of the feeling you get when you pick up a paintbrush or a colored pencil or a pen, and touch it to paper. Or when you pick up a hammer and start piecing together a project for your home. Or a wooden spoon and your favorite jar of spice to cook a meal for your family. Think of how it feels to be doing something, making something, that wasn’t there before.

We tend to think of creativity in the way of art and music, so many people write themselves off as not being creative because what they do doesn’t pertain to art. But creativity is more than art, and it’s everywhere. If you’re using materials or your brain, to bring something into the world that wasn’t there before, you are creative.

To create means to bring something into existence. To cause something to happen as a result of one’s actions.

As different as each and every brain that has existed, in billions of different moments, locations and experiences, there are endless possibilities when it comes to being creative. No two people will ever make, or paint, or coach, or cook, or write, or build or play, or perform, or think the same way

Because being a creative person is not only seeing the world differently, but having the courage to explore how you see it. To try something new, in a new way, out of curiosity or inspiration. Creativity is where the reality of your experience meets the playfulness of your  imagination. It has the power to help you express yourself, in whatever way you want, with your unique toolbox consisting of your voice, brain, skills, talent, curiosity, imagination and heart.

So if you ever catch yourself thinking, I’m not a creative person, I hope you take a moment, and really think about all the ways you really are, every single day, in all the things that you do.

Creativity is everywhere, it’s just a matter of how you see it.


Thanks for listening!

If this episode got your creative wheels turning, take a screenshot of this episode on your phone and tag me in your stories over on Instagram. Share a story or your own thoughts on creativity, tag #creativehappylifepodcast, and let’s keep the conversation going!


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When you subscribe to my Patreon membership, you gain access to a private community where I share sneak peeks, behind the scenes of my day to day as a working artist, live chats and Q&As, and a monthly hand drawn coloring page that members vote on, watch me draw live, and then receive as a digital file to download, print and enjoy!

Join my Patreon!


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The Creative Happy Life Podcast Episode 3 :: Making Time and Space for Creativity with a Five Minute Morning Ritual

Happy new year, and welcome to episode three of the Creative, Happy Life Podcast! I am so excited to be jumping into 2020 with this episode. The transition into this year and the new decade has felt so different, and this episode is all about how I am doing a very quick morning ritual that has transformed my days to feel calmer, happier, and more focused on what matters.

Join me on Instagram after you’ve listened to keep the conversation going, make new friends, and celebrate living a happier, more creative life!

LISTEN HERE OR ON APPLE PODCASTS:


Show Notes

Episode 03

Hello, my beautiful friends! Welcome to the first episode of the new year! I hope 2020 is off to a great start for you. I have been feeling some really incredible energy as we’ve transitioned into a new decade, and today I want to tell you about a new practice I started, a five minute morning ritual that has helped me to feel happier and more centered, more ME, than I’ve felt in a looong time.

But first, I have to ask you something. Have you ever gone on a vacation, and maybe while sitting on a beach or near a lake or overlooking some mountains or the ocean, you’ve just felt present and peaceful? It’s kind of a weird feeling, where you lose track of time, because you don’t have anywhere you need to go, or anything you need to do. You just kind of sit, and stare, taking in the scenery, the sounds of waves or trees, breezes or birds...and then...you get an idea. You’re feeling inspired, excited, and refreshed. And you come home with a renewed energy.

Or how about this... You step into a hot shower, and assuming you’re not being interrupted by kids every 30 seconds, you have a few minutes, just to yourself, and suddenly like the water pouring out the showerhead, thoughts are pouring into your brain. An idea, a solution. Things you’ve been wanting to figure out, or something completely fresh and new. After a couple minutes you’re scrambling to dry off and write down everything you can remember. Maybe your Notes app on your phone has a note specifically called “Shower Thoughts”.

Or you’re on a long car ride, or maybe your daily commute on the train. A long stretch of time where you can just sit and kind of zone out. Your kids are asleep in the backseat, your partner is asleep next to you, or you have the whole car to yourself to listen to whatever music or podcast or audiobook you want. Suddenly you realize that your thoughts are swirling with ideas, phrases, and you go deeper and wilder into an exciting brainspace.

Lastly, you’re on a walk. In the woods, or in the city, you are just moving along, and you see or hear something that makes you think of something else, which makes you think of something else...and so on, and so forth…

Why am I bringing up these situations? Well, if you find yourself in one of these situations, you might realize that you have your best, most creative breakthroughs. You might have a really big idea. You might find the words you’ve been searching for. You might feel more mentally strong, clear and feel a surge of inspiration and creative energy.

Why does this happen? It’s all about having time to quiet your brain and allowing your mind to wander. When we allow our minds to wander, we imagine, we daydream, and we make space for creativity to flow through us. Instead of keeping all those little, random tabs open, cluttering our thoughts with things that aren’t important or inspiring, we find these moments in our days where we can give our own thoughts and desires some much needed freedom and attention.

Our minds are pretty incredible. When given the time and space to wander freely, the possibilities of our imaginations are endless.

So why is it so damn hard to find this time, this space, to let our minds work their magic?

Because we set up so many mental roadblocks in our days. We overschedule, overwork, and don’t allow ourselves to slow down and rest.

The beginning of every year is so interesting. We’re bombarded by messages of making changes, to ourselves, our habits, our routines, and it’s usually all centered around doing more. Eat healthier, exercise more, schedule your day to optimize your time and productivity, make more time for friends and reading and...it’s just too much. No one ever talks about doing less. No one ever talks about taking it slow. As soon as the clock strikes midnight, we go from zero to sixty into the new year, expecting to transform into this new, better person.

So let me be the person to tell you that I think that’s all a load of garbage. It’s too much. It’s setting yourself up to hit a wall, hard and fast, right around the end of January.

We’re not built to make these extreme fast changes all at once. We’re not made for doing it all, all at once, at a high energy pace. Our bodies and our lives require ups and downs, and that includes a big need for slowing down and doing less.

Think about the holiday season, the weeks leading up to Christmas and the end of the year. It’s a slow build of preparations and excitement, and by the time we hit the end of December, we have maxed out our energy on all the baking and visiting and joy and cheer. And we just need a break. But instead of resting, we get smacked upside the head with New Years. We are catapulted forward before we’ve had a chance to restore ourselves.

Maybe the reason resolutions seem to always fail is because winter is nature’s way of trying to get us to slow down, to hibernate, and take it easy. It’s cold, it’s icy, it’s dark, our bodies are craving warmth and comfort and rest, yet we set ourselves on a steep uphill battle, as if resolving to do it all on January first is a now or never, pass or fail situation.

It’s all wrong. It’s unnatural. And it’s the reason we feel so damn sad and bleak. Our overtired bodies and minds are being stretched thin.

I did a lot of thinking in the week between Christmas and New Years. I felt a different energy in myself, to say screw it to resolutions, and just treat January first like another day. To go with the flow into the new year, enjoy time with my family, and start listening to myself. I had been thinking for years about how great it feels when I go on long car rides and have these creative breakthroughs, or those moments in the shower where the ideas flow, and how nice it feels to have that quiet space to let my mind wander.

As a creative business owner, a mom, a woman, my brain is always running in different directions, always tired, but how often do I make time for it to just slow down and wander? That feeling when you’re walking in the woods and you lose track of time, or when you’re driving and don’t seem to notice how long you’ve been driving for, or how far you’ve gone?

We’ve gotten so used to scheduling our days to the hour and to the minute, adding more activities, more appointments, more tasks on the neverending to do list.

What happens if we decide, and set an intention each day, to do less?

As this year started, I decided to make a change to how I go about my days. I was tired of making to do lists full of tasks that weren’t important. I was tired of thinking every day had to be fun and exciting for my kids to have a good childhood. I decided to start a daily practice, nothing that required much effort, but a small part of my routine that has given me that time to rest my brain and start my day feeling more grounded and focused on what matters, instead of hitting the ground running aimlessly at an unrealistic pace. Each day is a fresh start, with it’s own energy, it’s own things to focus on.

It’s a bit like meditation, I suppose, in the way that this repeated exercise has helped me to find clarity, to breathe, and be more aware of my thoughts, my body and my capacity on a given day. And I have felt more creative, and at peace with saying no to more, because of it.

So are you curious? Do you want to know what I’ve been doing? It’s super simple, and here it is:

Each morning, as I pour my first cup of coffee, I sit down at my dining room table with my little notebook. I don’t sit at my desk or in front of the tv. I leave my phone in the kitchen or out of reach, and spend a few minutes with myself, drinking my coffee and writing. I answer the same six prompts, in the same order, every day. This gives me the minimal structure I know I need to focus this short amount of time each day. If I sat down with an empty notebook to write something open-ended, I’d sit all morning! I have a blog and podcast scripts that fulfill my creativity in that way. This daily practice is a personal check in, kind of like having coffee with your best friend or a quick chat with a coworker before you sit down to start your day.

Here are the six things I write each morning.

First, I start with gratitude. I write one sentence, and it can be anything, whatever I am grateful for in the moment. It has taught me not to overthink everything, and to find gratitude in small things. By intentionally starting my day with thoughts of gratitude, I have seen a significant difference in my mindset for the rest of the day. There is nothing feels terrible or insurmountable when I have centered my mind and my heart on the good things I have in life. 

And if you really can’t think of anything, you can always acknowledge your basic needs being met. You have air to breathe, food to eat, clothes on your body and a roof over your head.

There is always something to be grateful for.

The second thing I check on is how I am feeling. I write 1 to 3 sentences about how I’m feeling physically, mentally, and spiritually. It’s important to make sure it’s not how I hope to feel, but how I actually feel. Some mornings I’m tired, grumpy, foggy or or overwhelmed. My energy has peaks and valleys. Some days I’m surprised to feel focused and motivated.

By doing this, I am practicing self-awareness, which will affect how I go about my day. I might feel ready and creative and motivated to get a lot done, or I might intentionally give myself an easier day so I can rest and allow myself to feel tired. I’m learning more and more that our bodies signal us when they need to slow down or rest, and I have started giving myself a big serving of grace on the days I know I’m not feeling great.

This also helps me to think about what I can do to feel better, which might be a midday nap, or opening the curtains and letting the sun in. Some mornings call for putting on some soothing music.

The third check in is writing down one specific thing I want to do for myself that day. I try to make sure it is something creative or self care, like spending time painting, trying a new dinner recipe, doing a facial before bed, or simply going for a walk and breathing some fresh air. Most days my schedule revolves around caring for everyone else in the house, and devoting my energy to things that need to get done. So this one is really important. I ask myself what I want out of the day. How do I want to feel? What can I do for myself to feel good?

The fourth is a Top Three list. I write down my top three productivity priorities for the day, the things I need to really get done to move the needle forward. This can be work or personal. Instead of running around and getting overwhelmed by all the small distractions, and a trivial list of to-dos, I practice focusing on three super specific things I need to do that day. Everything else can maybe get done later, or saved for another day.

The fifth thing is a Brain Dump. I give myself a minute or so to jot down any and all random thoughts that are cluttering my brain each morning. Remember that saying about our brains having too many tabs open? The goal here is to close some of those tabs by writing down reminders, ideas, things I want to get done at some point but aren’t really pressing. Anything that’s possibly distracting me by keeping it in my brain, I write it down. When I take a minute to do this, I feel more mentally calm and clear, more focused and ready for the day ahead.

And last, but certainly not least, I write down an affirmation for myself. If you are a fan of Parks and Recreation, you’re probably familiar with the quirky, but uplifting things Leslie Knope says to her best friend, Ann Perkins. Things like, “You are a poetic and noble land-mermaid.” and “You are a beautiful, talented, brilliant, powerful musk ox.” Or my personal favorite, which she says to Ann, who just gave birth, “You are the most beautiful, glowing, sun goddess ever.”

So I channel my inner Leslie, put on my proverbial positive pants and write down something, just for me, to give myself a boost as I start the day. It can be motivational, empowering, or silly. But it’s just for me.

And then I close my little notebook and start my day.


By making this part of my daily routine, just like I shower and brush my teeth and eat and breathe, I have prioritized myself and my own needs. It’s not enough to just go through the motions each day, and for a long time, I have put my family first, which is certainly not a bad thing, but we have to take care of ourselves, right? As a creative person, heck just as a person, I need and deserve to focus more on my own needs. We give, and give, and give some more to our friends, our families, strangers on the internet.

So imagine the change we could make by turning our time, our energy, our positivity, more inward? To make sure our cup is not only full, but also not being dumped out over and over and over again.

Do you have five minutes a day to give yourself? Do you have five minutes to let your mind wander, to check in with yourself, and give yourself a pep talk? Use this episode as your guide for each of the six prompts. Here’s a quick recap for you:

What are you grateful for, right here and now?

How are you feeling today, in this moment? How is your energy? Your body? Your mind?

What do you want to do for yourself today? What will make you feel good, or creative, or accomplished, or rested?

What are your real top priorities today? Not tomorrow, or for the whole week or month ahead. Just today.

Write down all those random thoughts and ideas. Do a brain dump, close out some of those tabs that are cluttering your brain.

And give yourself a positive affirmation. Speak encouraging, empowering words to yourself.

And then go have a beautiful day, you bright, warm ray of sparkling sunlight.


Creative Happy Homework: Start a 5-minute daily check-in.

With each episode, I hope to nurture a community of creative minds and hearts who want to continue the conversation. If this episode got your creative wheels turning, join me over on Instagram. Share a story, tag #creativehappylifepodcast, and let me know what you’d like to hear in future episodes!

Are you going to give this daily five minute personal check-in a try? I’d love to hear from you so I can send you some encouragement!


Chatbooks

Mama, it’s time to get those photos off of your phone and into the hands of your family!

Chatbooks makes designing and printing photobooks so ridiculously easy. Whether you want to upload from your computer or straight from your phone (which I prefer), their one-image-per-page layout takes the guesswork out of designing a whole book, so you can simply select your favorite photos, pick your cover and book size, press order, and wait with excitement for your book to arrive!

Chatbooks are square, customizable and come in a variety of soft or hardcovers with designs for all years, seasons, holidays, special occasions and milestones. I love them for our yearly family photobooks, although, confession time: I do two books per year because I have the hardest time narrowing down my favorite pictures!

I love flipping through our Chatbooks with Lily and Roo, reminiscing over our favorite everyday moments from over the years. There’s just something so special about holding a physical book of personal photos in your hands - a feeling that scrolling through your phone just can’t capture.

Save $10 on your first Chatbooks order.


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The Creative Happy Life Podcast Episode 2 :: This is Us/Me/You

Welcome to episode two of the Creative, Happy Life Podcast! In this episode, I’m tackling the subject of storytelling as a means of creating connection, understanding, and empathy. I share a couple personal stories that I consider to be a core piece of my “backstory”, that has directly affected who I am, and where I am, today. We all have a story inside us. What’s yours?

LISTEN HERE:


Show Notes

Episode 02:: This is Us/Me/You

Trigger warning: I am sharing a little bit about my miscarriage in this episode. Nothing graphic, but how storytelling helped me cope with grief through connection.

Hello, my friends! And welcome to episode two! Today I am talking about storytelling, and how important it is to create connection, understanding and empathy. But first! I want to take a moment to say thank you for your kind words, feedback and support following the launch of this podcast back in September. Your response has meant so much to me, and to paraphrase the words of Emma Thompson in the movie Late Night, I hope to earn the privilege of your time.

I’m going to start sharing a review at the beginning of each episode, and if something you hear on this podcast inspires you, or makes you happy, please take a moment to leave a review on iTunes! Every review and rating helps get this show recommended to more and more potential listeners. 

This week’s review is from addictedpinner1 who wrote “A fresh new podcast for creatives!

Shannon keeps it real and fun (and that’s just episode one!) Can’t wait to hear more from her! Creatives need to stick together!”

Yes, we do! I firmly believe that creativity inspires more creativity! There are so many people and things that inspire me, and I hope to pay it forward with inspiring, insightful and fun entertainment with each episode. Thank you so much for that review, addictedpinner1. 

And if reviews aren’t your thing, there are other fun ways to show your support - you can take a screenshot of your phone while you’re listening and share it on Instagram, and tag creativehappylifepodcast. You can share this episode with a friend through text, or share it to Facebook. Even just leaving a comment over on the podcast Instagram brightens my day!

So let’s get started!

First, a confession. This episode? I’ve recorded it three times. It’s been a struggle. I put a lot of pressure on myself. And if I’m being honest, I was being a perfectionist instead of just doing the dang thing! Remember episode one? Perfection doesn’t exist. So I pushed episode two off for nearly two months, trying to get it just right. And all I really needed to do was cut the crap, show up and do the work.

So storytelling...humans have been sharing stories for as long as we’ve existed. We’ve passed down glimpses and anecdotes, lessons and epic tales. We decide what stories will be passed on, and how we will share them, bearing our hearts, minds and souls in our writing, in songs, and in art.

We all want to be remembered, right?

Storytelling makes you vulnerable. In choosing which stories you share, you open yourself up to a whole slew of possible repercussions. But we keep sharing, because most importantly, stories create connection. They help us to better understand. They inspire us, they comfort us, and at the root, make us feel. We see ourselves in the stories of others. We see glimpses of things we can relate to, we want to know more, we anticipate what’s next.

Think about a story that compels you. Fact or fiction, what about a story appeals to you? The person or character? Lots of action? Conflict? Lessons learned?

I am a big fan of character development and backstory, which is probably surprising to, oh, no one. It’s easier with books and shows and movies. You get to know a character in the present, and then you get these pieces of their personal history unfold as it relates to where they are now. You get to see cause and effect. Crossroads. Turning points. These pieces give you a glimpse into why the character behaves a certain way, or makes a certain choice.

The more that’s shared, the more is understood.


We’re all complex characters, right? We all have things that have happened to us in life that explain who we are today.

Let’s do a little exercise. And just a warning, this might get your brain rolling, which might be a good thing, or might be an uncomfortable thing. But that’s life, right?

Ok, so if you’ve seen the Pixar movie Inside Out, you know what I mean when I ask you to think of a “core memory”. In the movie, core memories are things that happened to the character Riley, a young girl going through some big life changes when her family moves and she’s growing out of the little kid stage into adolescence. As life goes on and we grow and we change, our core memories, the things that have the most impact on who we are, also change.

So I want you to think about a couple memories, core or not, that really shaped who you are, or how your path has unfolded. 

One of mine is from when I was around 14, a freshman in high school. I remember thinking to myself, I’m not going to go to college. I’m not going to work in an office. I have big dreams, and I want to do big, important things with my life. At 14, that dream was moving to New York and auditioning for musicals and being a big Broadway star. Well, ok, reality check, I went to college and graduated and got a corporate job that I stayed at for 9 years. But that mindset I had when I was 14? That stuck with me. I knew I wanted to find something in life that I could do that was bigger, important and lasting. So I took up photography. I’ve photographed hundred of beautiful, important moments. I captured milestones and celebrations and love and loss and have seen my photos displayed in homes and shared after loved ones have passed.

I am pretty sure I got my dream.

Another core memory: I’m 22. I just graduated college and moved to Connecticut. I was living with a roommate and starting my corporate job. I was excited to finally live near Sean after four years of dating long distance. 

And he broke up with me. Two weeks after moving away from home, starting a new chapter at a new job and feeling like I was at the start of something new and exciting, the rug got ripped out from under me. I called my mom in tears and she told me she’d come get me. She help me repack my things and she’d bring me home. And I said no. I told her I’d stay. I don’t remember exactly if it was intuition or stubbornness or wanting to save face and not be seen as “the girl who moved for a boy and got dumped before she unpacked her suitcase”, but I decided in a moment I’d stay. I had a job. And an apartment. And some new friends. And I had hope. And a couple months later, after figuring out how to communicate with each other, Sean and I got back together, and two years later we were living together and engaged. And we’ll celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary in a couple weeks. 

But sometimes, I wonder how different life would be if I had moved home. If I quit that job and lived with my parents. I’m so glad that’s not how things turned out. But that decision, that crossroads, defined my path.

And maybe you didn’t know that that happened. This was way before everything was on Facebook and Instagram. I remember changing our relationship status and that’s how I communicated what had happened. It felt raw and vulnerable to put that part out there.


As a photographer, I tend to look at life in moments and memories. Sometimes I’ll watch the world around me and see “frames” of moments. Sometimes I say a little “click” in my head, little things and big things, and wonder if other people see things the same way. 

It’s kind of like watching an episode of This is Us. You’re watching the story of this family unfold, and you get these little flashbacks that deepen the story, that help us understand what a character is thinking or feeling. We can relate. Things make more sense. 

We’re all so much more than what we see on the surface. Every single one of us has a backstory. Every single one of us has things happening right now, or yesterday, or a week ago, or longer, that are impacting us and those around us.

We all have stories to tell, if we want to.

Last, I want to talk about connection. The power of sharing stories can mean connection in a world that feels really big and confusing and scary. We share memes about marriage and motherhood and work and family and we all have a laugh, but what’s happening is we’re connecting through a shared experience.

When someone posts on Instagram that they’re just having one of those days and feels like a failure and one kid pooped in the tub and the house is a complete disaster and they just can’t even - they’ll probably get more than a few comments saying “Same, my friend.” This is relatable. I’ve been there. You’ve got this. Sending you love. Life is hard. Thank you for your honesty, because me too.

A year ago, I lost my third pregnancy. I was almost 16 weeks along, we’d just found out he was a boy, and had told Lily, and shared with our family and friends. I had announced on social media. And then he died. And it was so hard. But all I knew to do was write about it. I shared what had happened, and I wrote about my grief as it came, and through sharing this incredibly raw, painful year of my life, I connected. So many women, girls I went to high school and college with, people I barely knew, friends, women in my family, reached out and shared their stories. It was hard as hell, but even in the worst time of my life, I felt loved. I wasn’t alone. And my heart hurt for all the women who have been through it and didn’t, or couldn’t, share. 

Because at the root of all of this, our experience isn’t new. Nothing is new. I do not think I am all that special. But without sharing these stories and experiences, we would just see the surface. We have the opportunity to go deeper. To love deeper. To connect deeper. To experience life deeper. And yes, sometimes feel sadness and pain that is so, so hard. But in that pain, we all need to know we’re not alone, if only we allow ourselves to get a little vulnerable, a little uncomfortable, and find the voices who reach out from unexpected places and say “me too”.

So, how can we share our stories in a way that’s meaningful and lasting? We can write. We can speak. We can compose. We can paint and write poetry. We can message an old friend, or visit a grandparent or aunt or uncle. It doesn’t matter how we share, or what we share.

What matters is why. For our kids, for better understanding. For lessons to be learned. For decisions that will be made. To laugh, to cry, to entertain and feel loved and to experience that moment when you, yourself, can be the one who reaches out to someone and tells them they’re not alone.

We all want to feel connected. We all want to feel loved. We all want to be remembered.

So, what’s your story?


With each episode, I hope to nurture a community of creative minds and hearts who want to continue the conversation. If this episode got your creative wheels turning, join me over on Instagram. Share a story, tag #creativehappylifepodcast in your post or in your story. Let me know if you have a story to share but aren’t sure how to express it.

Or open up a journal or Google Doc and start writing. Even if you never share it with another person, there’s a story in you, waiting to be told.

Thanks for listening, my friend. I’m grateful for you, and hope I earned the privilege of your time.

Until next time, stay awesome.


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The Creative Happy Life Podcast Episode 1 :: Start Before You're Ready

Welcome to the first episode of the Creative, Happy Life Podcast! In this episode, I’m discussing the importance of starting before you're ready, punching fear in the face, and accepting that done is better than perfect. There are lessons to be learned in every experience, even the ones where we think we've failed.

LISTEN HERE OR ON ITUNES


Show Notes

Episode 01 :: Start Before You’re Ready!

I have a confession to make: I have no idea what I’m doing!

Seriously! I am in the middle of a podcast course at this very moment, I have a microphone and some resources, but you guys, I decided I just have to hit record and get this ball rolling, and here’s why…

I could have put this off for a few more months or another year, or forever. I could have been perpetually planning a podcast for the rest of my life. I could have waited until I was more comfortable, or had some practice, or until I had time to finish my course, or more money to invest in fancy intro music and a podcast editor to outsource the work...but…I got tired of waiting. I didn’t know if I’d ever really feel ready. So I decided to just start - to hit record, and see where this goes!

Fear can be paralyzing, and in this episode, I share a story about facing fear and the idea of being prepared enough. It’s about the idea of perfection and how that doesn’t actually exist. But we put so many things on the back burner because we’re waiting for things to be better or perfect or more ready.

Fear creeps in and tells us to keep waiting. That we’re not ready, not perfect, or not enough.

You have to punch fear in the face and just do the thing.

You’re more ready than you think. That’s what it is to be prepared enough. And the thing is, if you keep waiting until the time is just right, oh gosh, life is going to keep going. So do it. Start before you’re ready. Hit record. Book the flight. Buy the URL. Call the real estate agent. Prepare what you can, but do not let fear keep you from taking that step towards what you desire.

I also don’t believe in failure. Because even if something does not go the way we want or hope or expect it will, there’s always a lesson learned. There’s always a takeaway. There’s always something to gain from losing. That’s why I don’t believe true failure actually exists. You’re always going to come out of it with something


Ok, I know that’s a lot to unpack, and I want to hear what you think about all this. If you have a story to share, or strong thoughts and feelings on fear and success and failure, this is the starting point. I honestly didn’t expect to have this kind of topic to start my podcast, but I guess the best things in life are sometimes the least expected!

Now that we’ve started this conversation, I want to hear from you! My goal for the Creative Happy Life Podcast is not only to share stories, and inspiration and creative topics with you, but what I really want is to create a community through an insiders group on Facebook. This is a place for you to be able to go have conversations with fellow listeners and myself, to answer questions, to discuss episodes and ideas, and to get inspired!

When it comes down to it, we need more connection, and if you’re a creative person, you know, creativity sparks more creativity!


So what IS this podcast about? I’m glad you asked!

Did any of you watch the show Nashville when it aired? I won’t spoil anything, I promise, but the lead character, Rayna James, was a country singer and she had a family and through her life she had all these twists and turns, she was super famous, she was considered one of the greats of the country music industry, and she had this song about just looking around at the end of the day, and praying that she had a life that was good. This simple idea that when you look back on your life, and your experiences…

I think all any of us want is to know we lived a good life, hopefully a happy life. When you strip away the extra stuff, the material stuff, the sum of your experiences is a feeling of fullness, and happiness. That’s a bit of an abstract idea - we all have different definitions of what a good life might look like, or what happiness is. I thought I might share a couple of my own ideas of what happiness means to me. 

I’ll start with the very general question of “What makes you happy?”

In the podcast, I list a lot of things that make me happy, including creative hobbies and interests, my family, being in nature, music, art, little things like the first hot sip of coffee, warm blankets and a hug from my mom.

Friends, I could go on for days. Seriously. Just listing off things that makes me happy. And if you couldn’t tell, a lot of the things I listed relate back to feelings. Nostalgia, comfort, peace, joy, pleasure, excitement, satisfaction. We all pull happiness from an enormous variety of life experiences, interactions, people, places and things.

What I hope to explore on this podcast is the fact that happiness can mean something different to everyone. And the stories we share about our lives, the creative experiences and our creative differences - are all important. And worth sharing. And worth hearing. You just never know who might be out there listening, waiting to be inspired. 

Thank you so much listening, and I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to do this again soon!

Bye for now, my friends!


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