As I sit here and ponder the fact that 2015 will soon be in my rearview mirror, I want to take a minute to reflect on what the year has meant creatively-as well as what lies up the road in 2016. I think it’s good to rewind. To look back. To take a good gander at what has passed so that we can better plan for the future.
This recent trip around the calendar certainly saw some interesting highlights. I started my writing company, and that has been fantastic. To those of you out there wondering whether or not dreams can come true, I can tell you that they do. I write and edit for a living, and I couldn’t be happier. Creativity is now a permanent part of my work and personal life, and that is what I’ve always wanted.
I also decided to polish up my personal marketing machine to embark on some re-branding campaigns for some of my books. I dove into old waters with a new swimsuit, and I can truly say that I have found a new resolve to take those manuscripts to the next level! New designs, new online copy, and a new sense of purpose will see that happen. I’m planning. I’m excited.
But most important was the time I took to just be. I didn’t rush to finish another manuscript or try to push the river of words in directions they didn’t want to flow. Instead, I took some time for family and reflection. And wouldn’t you know it? I washed ashore right where I wanted to be. Renewed. Refreshed. Ready to take on new challenges.
As we head into 2016, I want to say to all of you: keep writing, keep creating and, most importantly, keep breathing. When you pursue the lifepaths of words, art, poetry and general creativity, you sign up for more than you bargained for. It isn’t really about money or notoriety, but about putting something special out there. It’s about creating a message and getting it into the world. It’s about a strong sense of personal satisfaction that comes from an ability to see the world in our own unique way. Everyone can do it. They just have to do it!
If you struggled with creativity in 2015, make a resolution: “This new year, 2016, I will be more authentic, more courageous, and more my unique self than I have ever been before. I will speak my voice in whatever medium I love.”
And if that doesn’t work? Well, just keep breathing and see what comes your way. After all, 2017 is right around the corner.
What did you pursue creatively this year? What do you have in mind for 2016?