If you’re of a certain age,
or a Simon & Garfunkel fan, you know what comes next – “You got to make the
morning last just kickin’ down the cobble stones, looking for love and feelin’
groovy.”
This song has been stuck in my head lately for a few
reasons. First it was used by the leader of my business coaching group, Mapping and Mentoring with Marney, a few weeks ago as a prompt to tap into ways to
“feel groovy” while growing our business – which resulted in a very energizing
and inspiring mind-map for me.
Next, I had three turtles visit me in one day last week – my
little niece’s stuffed turtle, a large snapping turtle on a country road and a
smaller lake turtle on the side of the highway. I decided it would be fun to
check out an animal symbolism website or two to see what the message might be.
You won’t be surprised that the turtle can be seen as a
message to slow down the pace of your life (not the first time I’ve received thismessage - so apparently I need to hear it from time to time!) but there were other meanings I found interesting as well. More than
one site said that turtles are reminders to :
Honor and protect your creative source within.
Practice patience (I can always use this reminder!)
And perhaps the timeliest message for me:
“The turtle buries its thoughts, like eggs, in the sand
and allows the sun to hatch the little ones.
This suggests that you develop your
ideas
before bringing them out into the light.”
I’ve been practicing giving myself permission to slow down
my schedule and withdraw a bit from my in-person events, classes and workshops
this summer so that I can focus on completing several new creative courses and e-books
I’m excited to finish and share with the world.
My heemeesheemee turtle visits (heemeesheemee is my word for
serendipitous) felt like a playful affirmation from the universe that slowing
down, practicing patience and honoring and protecting the time I need for my
inner creative source is definitely the right path for me at this time. Though
I knew this in my heart, I’ve been struggling with the notion of pulling back on
my offerings to give myself a creative sabbatical of sorts over the summer.
It may be pure coincidence that turtles kept popping up for
me last weekend, but it’s so much more exciting and fun to see that bit of
serendipity as a sign that I’m on the right path with my own Creative Oasis™!
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| photo credit Pegasus News |
One splendid experience that came to from my new found
intention to slow down was allowing myself to simply sit on a bench and look
out over the lake after a morning walk for ten full minutes. I often see people
just sitting and enjoying the view at the lake, but it seems I’m always in a
hurry to get back home and get to work, so I usually just give them a longing
glance and walk on by.
Not this week! This week I gave myself permission to pause.
(Re-reading my posts from two summers ago on this exact subject has helpedrenew my commitment to this as well.)
I can honestly say those ten minutes I gave myself to simply
sit and enjoy the view and the breeze put me in a wonderful frame of mind for
the entire day. This is so in-line with Kaizen-Muse® Creativity Coaching
philosophy of giving ourselves permission to enjoy small amounts of time with
our creativity, exercise, relaxation – whatever it is that we’re longing to do. We don’t have to have a full hour or more – ten minutes can
do the trick nicely.
What’s one small way you might slow down this week? It could
be as simple as taking one thing off of your to-do list or enjoying ten glorious
minutes to just sit and daydream – inside or out.
I’d love to hear your favorite ways to slow down. Please
feel free to share in the comments below. If you'd like to receive my Mid-Week Oasis Moments (bite size bonbons of creative inspiration sent weekly to your inbox sign up here: http://www.creativeoasiscoaching.com/newsletter.html. You'll also receive a free copy of my short e-book, "Permission to Be Creative 101."
Until next time, all the best from my Creative Oasis to
yours,
Jill
Founder of Creative Oasis Coaching
Master Kaizen-Muse Creativity Coach
Singer/Songwriter
Turtle Lover
