I have learned that being creative is one of the best tools for healing a hurting heart.

Years ago, I was really struggling after Charles died, and I decided to delve into new things and hobbies, like painting. My whole family got into it, and some of my most cherished memories are of us gathering around the kitchen table, and making a mess with canvases and paint.

What sweet, beautiful moments those were… sometimes late into the night.

I have decided that it is TIME for that kind of creativity now.

It is time to start purposefully creating again.

For me, I love to do photography, write, paint, sing, bake, blog, and more…

But for now… I want to be more “chaotic” about it.

And by “chaotic” I mean… I want to create things just for the sake of creation, not for a purpose or a perfect end result. I want the paint to be messy, and the outcomes to become whatever they become. I want to paint with freedom and flow… and to just… be… me… and embrace the human mess that I can be. I want to take pictures of everything… especially small things, that might not seem to matter. I want to sing again… and let my soul come soaring out of my mouth again, even if my soul is a little “pitchy” at times.

I am trying to take a little time each day to do SOMETHING that involves creativity.

The more I purposefully do things that I love, the more my heart feels happy and WHOLE.

I have a room in my house, that I use as an office. This is a space that I can create whatever I want, and then display whatever I create… and also what the kids create, too. I love my office, it is my sanctuary and my happy place, where I am surrounded by random things that I just LOVE to look at and enjoy.

My office is constantly evolving and changing… I add and take away things over time, and it will always be that way. I have never really liked keeping things the same for too long. I love to keep things in creative motion, I have been that way since I was a child. I would often rearrange my room, and find new ways to make it feel fresh and cozy to me.

My new creative chaos mentality is helping me to think and see outside the box of the mundane.

Without creativity… where is the joy in life?

As President Thomas S. Monson said:

“Of this be sure: You do not find the happy life… You make it.”

I have that quote in my bathroom. It reminds me to make life for me and my family a little more purposefully happy each day, even when I am not feeling perky or passionate about life in general. There is always something good in every single day — especially if you CREATE the good.

When it comes to grief and other heartache… I firmly believe that creativity is necessary for daily healing.

LET THE CREATIVE CHAOS BEGIN!

Woo-Hoo!

Here are some pictures of creative healing days of the past… photography, baking, music, painting, writing = more JOY!