I love the saying above by George Bernard Shaw –
“Life is not about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.”
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It's a brand new year and all about resolutions. I'm not big on listing resolutions, but I have been mulling this post over for several months. I like the idea of shaping your life to make it fuller and full of wonder. Of doing those things that you know will make you content. Someone once told me that striving for contentment is easier to achieve than overall happiness. Happiness as a feeling can ebb and flow but you can do things to help you feel content. Being content can certainly be a part of happiness, and the more you feel it the more likely you will be happy. With these things in mind, I came up with ideas I think work together to create a good life.
Creativity
I am a big believer that creativity feeds your soul. There are so many ways to incorporate it into your life. And it doesn't have to be something you do yourself. You could attend art shows and see what others have done. Get inspiration or simply soak in what the artists have created and shared. I find my outlet through photography and writing. A few years ago, I worked as a cemetery photographer. I hung out in all sizes of graveyards on backcountry roads to churchyards to large park-like cemeteries. I was fascinated – still am – with the variety of headstones, the layout of the cemetery, and the history you could read written in stone. Not just the dates of birth and death but the verses and dedications by loved ones. My work was featured in a few shows and I sold prints. I've stopped photographing cemeteries now but still enjoy the prints I have framed around the house. If you'd like to view my work, you can find it on Facebook under White Rabbit Creative Photography.
A friend of mine on Instagram @ellasedge is really good at cultivating her creative side. She reads tarot cards, writes about her day, posts quotes and poems, and gathers items in envelopes or bowls. She'll find meaningful things like a key, notecard, a leaf from a walk, pinecones representing the trees from her home state – little things that add up to memories. She inspires me to think of ways to express myself.
Not only you have to be the creative one. You can appreciate other artists by visiting a local artist market or going to a photography gallery or an art show. One good gallery to check out is in Atlanta. We wrote a piece about it: Atlanta Photography Group Gallery is Open. It's a great place to view other photographers' work and get ideas for your pictures.
*If your creative side is posting on social media, we highly recommend Tailwind. It's an app and service that helps you design your posts and pins with awesome graphics and has an automated program that analyzes and gives you the best time to post to your audience. You can try a free trial and see if you like it.
Give Unexpected Gifts
Part of creating a good life is connecting with others. During the pandemic, it was more important than ever. One of my friends, Kristin, knitted a scarf and a pair of socks for me. Both were complete surprises and brought me a lot of joy. It's fun to go to the mailbox and find a surprise. In turn, I dropped off candy and notes at friends' houses. Passing the joy along.
My friend Aja hand painted this custom sign for us when we moved into our new home. Knitting, painting, writting whatever activity feeds your creative side can bring you contentedness and happiness.
*We love Etsy for its unique, handmade artisan items. You can always find the perfect gift for someone.
Connect with Others
As mentioned above, connecting with others is essential to a full life. Spend time with friends and family who uplift you. Make an effort to make and keep that lunch or dinner date with friends. Facetime and Zoom with each other if you can't meet in person. Volunteer with a worthy cause. I volunteer at the kids' school and I also worked with an animal shelter for 11 years. Be purposeful about your connections and reach out to others and they will reach out to you. You could do it in person or on social media. The important thing is to make time for it.
Read
I'd slowly gotten away from reading actual paper books. It's too convenient to read my phone. I've made a conscious effort the past three months to pick up a book from my shelf and thumb through the pages to start reading again. It's a work in progress but I've set a goal of 20 pages at a sitting. I used to work for nonprofits that made it their mission to encourage reading. Reading for leisure every day can make you happy. Just read whether it's a book, poetry, quotes, the news. or really anything. Just read.
Get out in Nature
Nature is a big healer of many things. It's a place to decompress and unwind. You can really listen to yourself think. It's soothing with the birds, trees, and wind. I like going on hikes with my kids, but even a walk by yourself is worthwhile. You can see some gorgeous sights exploring trails through the woods. Doesn't have to be the woods – the beach or mountains or even a stroll in your neighborhood. It's a way to enjoy the outdoors and destress and contemplate your life. And, you might meet friends or make new ones along the way.
These are all ways I think can bring contentment even happiness to your days. You may be able to add to the list and please post in the comments if you have more ideas. Whatever you do I hope it brings joy to your life. Happy 2022!
If you liked this post, you might also enjoy our earlier ones:
Bring Joy to Your Life with Art
Unexpected Gifts Bring Joy and Connection
The ABC's of a Happy New Year
