Creativity is not a reward - it's a priority
December 12, 2025
A direct line from my art table to your inbox—where creativity, connection, and a little chaos collide.
This morning I woke up feeling more like myself again, which is such a welcome feeling. Let me back up a bit. This past week, I’ve been frustrated – because instead of checking a bunch of things off my list, I’ve been forced to slow down.
If you’ve followed me for a while, it’s no secret that I struggle with anxiety and depression. One lesson I seem to have to relearn over and over is that mental health is not linear. Sometimes it can sneak up on you out of nowhere. But through my own experience, I’ve learned that I can often see the signs – if I’m paying attention and willing to listen.
The hard part is that even when you’re in tune with your body, that doesn’t always mean you can stop the train that’s coming. But what it does mean is that I can try to give myself a little extra grace and ride the wave as best as possible, rather than being swallowed by it.
A poem, "Nonlinear" that I wrote and shared back in July 2024 still rings true today.
It’s easy to mistake urgency for importance – especially during the times when you’re already struggling. That pressure, particularly when it’s self-imposed, can be really detrimental.
I’ve been thinking a lot about how we’re right in the middle of the holiday season, and all the “shoulds” that come along with it. I want to gently encourage you to take a little time to determine what is actually a priority to you – not because someone says it is, but because you choose it.
If it feels supportive, you could try taking a few minutes to brain dump all the things pulling at your focus right now – deadlines, expectations, events, and everything in between. No judgement as you write, let it spill out onto the page.
As you look at each one, you might ask yourself if it’s truly important to you, or if it’s something that feels important because someone else says it should be.
Did creativity make it onto that list?
If creativity was not on your list, I want to gently remind you that allowing yourself time to be creative is so important to your overall well-being. And it’s okay to make space for creativity even if everything else isn’t checked off your to-do list. So often, we treat creative time as a “reward,” when in reality it’s fundamental to every other part of our lives.
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My latest obsession → Stitched Fabric Bowls
My hands have wanted to keep busy this week, so I've been stitching up a storm creating stitched fabric bowls. It has been the perfect project for me. I don't have to think too much, yet I'm still being creative. I haven't been documenting the process because I've needed a project that's just for me. But I did gather them all up this morning to take a "family photo" 😂 What do you think, could you see yourself becoming obsessed with making these, also?
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Most purchased item this week
The paper I'm restocking so I can create my next Everything Journal
Most popular YouTube video this week
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