I'm sitting next to my little Christmas tree in my studio. As I look outside, the wet snow is pouring down from the skylight. I realize I'm at a loss.
more Read moreI've always been very clear about it: living stress-free, at my own pace, creating the things I enjoy or need. Maintaining a good balance between work, creativity, and personal slow living. For me, the latter means having the space and time to do the things I find important. Baking a cake, decorating the house, calling a friend, going for a walk, or engaging in the (seasonal) rituals I find important. Anything that contributes to relaxation and slow living.
Not 10 cozy Christmas tips
I'm secretly noticing that I'm also struggling with expectations. I really want to "give" you, the reader, relaxation and coziness with my blog, newsletter, or illustrations. It even feels a bit like a failure to admit that I'm struggling a bit myself right now. Because who am I to casually write a blog post with, say, "10 cozy Christmas tips," when I'm struggling with my own balance right now?!
The reality is that life can be tough for everyone sometimes, and it can't always be cozy. Mine included.
I had forgotten for a moment...
I've always been very open about my struggles, and now that I'm writing this, I realize I want to stay that way. I want to let you know that I also struggle with relaxation, slow living, and integrating coziness into my life. Guess what?
That's exactly why I started doing what I do! I paint little reminders for myself to slow down a bit, to live more cozily, and to just be. It's fantastic that others enjoy it too (a dream come true!). For me, too, my own coziness can be a reminder that things need to calm down a bit; maybe I'm just forgetting that in all the hustle and bustle.
The oxygen mask
Meanwhile, snowflakes are falling, it's starting to get dark, and I realize I'm feeling a bit better. Besides painting, writing helps too! I glance at my calendar again, cross off a few things, and decide that typing this blog post is the last thing I'll do today, and immediately squeeze in some "painting time" for next week. There's so much "to do," and yet I only have one thing to do: take good care of myself. Because that's how I can keep giving, creating, and sharing. A lesson I learned a long time ago, but I still cherish. The classic: give yourself an oxygen mask first in an emergency (on a plane) so you can help someone else. You can only be of service to others if you take good care of yourself. So tell me: what are you going to do today?
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