Holding down a full-time job while dealing with the ups and downs of raising a family often make it far too easy for me to go long stretches of time without engaging in any kind of creative exercise. Since I’m currently in one of these creative slumps, I thought it would be a great time to kickstart things by seeking a little outside inspiration. [Read more…]
Beginning the Journey Into Minimalism
My daughter Chloe and I have taken an interest in the concept of minimalism. We’re both making a conscious effort to eliminate the excess stuff that’s surrounding us while not adding any value to our lives. We’re both big fans of The Minimalists and have been inspired by their documentary which is on Netflix (see trailer above), so much so that we’ve watched it multiple times. In our family of four, the two of us have now become the household advocates of minimalism. We’re on a mission to help our family de-clutter, simplify, and consume less stuff. [Read more…]
Making Space at Home for Creative Work
As an introvert, I’ve come to terms with the fact that it’s important for me to spend time alone with my thoughts regularly for my own sense of balance and peace of mind. It’s in these moments of solitude that I’m best able to focus on doing any kind of creative work. Finding space in our house for this purpose has always been a challenge.
We’re a family of four that lives in a ranch style home with three bedrooms. I have a desk set up in our living room that I use to deal with tasks like paying bills or catching up with email. Unfortunately, there’s just too much activity that happens in this part of the house throughout the day for me to use this space on a regular basis. Sometimes, when it’s too busy to sit at my desk in the living room, I’ll hole up in our bedroom. But because our bedroom is so close to the kitchen, it still becomes difficult to not get distracted. [Read more…]