The Hunt for my Creativity

So much has happened in the last month. So many memories made…tears shed…challenges…and always love. If there is one thing that abounds in my family, it is love. We may not always outwardly show it, but it’s there.
As a postscript to my last post about Ethel** (not her real name). I went off to visit her bright and early on the Monday morning with hopes of seeing the smile on her face when I told her what alias I had given her in my blog post, to find her bed empty. Thinking she had been transferred to the nursing home, I approached the nursing station and spoke to the nurses on duty who informed me that sadly, Ethel had left this earth on the day after I saw her.
I still feel upset when I think of it all. I found about her funeral and made an effort to get there but due to the flooding occurring in our area at the time, the funeral had been postponed and I had no way of knowing when it had been postponed to. So I said my goodbye to her quietly here at home and fondly  think of her wit and sense of humour regularly.
My month has been filled with busy-ness however. I have become a volunteer at a local nursing home and work with the diversional therapists in delivering programs and supporting those who are aged (much as I did in my previous job). A couple of the ladies who attended the day respite program I was previously employed with are in this particular home and we enjoy catching up regularly now. Volunteering is keeping my skills up and it is such a rewarding way to spend a day.

However…… my creativity has gone AWOL. I have had no desire to spend time sewing, writing or even painting for some time now. It is true that I have spent hours working on family history stuff and found out some amazing facts. It is also true, that I have continued to read books. Netflix has become a way to fill in gaps in my day as well. Yet… my creativity has gone into hiding.
Now, this is causing me a couple of issues because I have had several instances of the universe letting me know that my creativity is something that I really need to work on right now.
I have not only read it in my stars (yes I do believe in astrology), little things keep happening. Such as…..

• I have received emails about unlocking my creativity through tapping and other assorted emails about nurturing creativity.
• A friend has contacted me asking me to sew a toy for her. This also necessitated some research for a pattern. I finally found a vintage pattern on Etsy from a lady in the U.S. however I’m still waiting to receive the download link. Then I have to sew a ‘test’ toy to work out time and costing etc.
• I have been reading about a local art show/competition and then found out the other day that one of my fellow volunteers is an organiser of the event.
• I have been asked to sing at a Mother’s Day event at the nursing home if their first contact falls through.
• I walked into the office yesterday to find they had just been discussing me in relation to brainstorming art sessions for the residents of the home.
• At my daughter’s parent-teacher interviews the other night her Ancient History teacher asked her what she wanted to do with her life. She replied that it was a choice between medicine and writing. When she said writing, his eyes lit up and he told us about his previous jobs as a journalist and working in the media and how he would help her in any way she wished to work toward that if she chooses to do so. Talk got around to writing and I mentioned that I write as well. He held me back talking about things and asked what I write. I told him about my book and he encouraged me to keep at it.

Now, the only writing that I do regularly these days is in my journal (and that gets patchy at times). I haven’t picked up my paintbrush or art supplies in a very long time. And as for sewing…..
Although I am still working on my hand sewn bed quilt (half done now), it’s been a while since I picked up the needle and thread. I was playing around with making a Fiddle Quilt for some of the dementia residents but didn’t like how it was turning out so put it away.
The last time I took out my camera was to take photos of the flooding around the area and they certainly weren’t artistic masterpieces.

So, if anyone knows where my creativity is hiding. Could you please give it a stern talking to and send it back home where it belongs?
Funnily enough, I’m missing it.