Starting tomorrow, Saturday October 1st, 2022, I’ll be hosting a week-long creativity challenge on Instagram called Our Creative Selves October which will run through October 7th. I’ve already had a number of people chime in to say they want to join in the fun.
Any creativity is welcome. It could be writing or knitting or creative spitting if you are so moved. There isn’t such thing as perfect. There’s only the enjoyment and satisfaction of the process. All creative efforts made are a wondrous joyous thing. It’s all so good.
I realized it’s been 5 ½ years since the last Creative Selves Challenge. What!!?? The first weeklong Our Creative Selves Challenge took place in February of 2017. See that post here.
Since my participation in the 100 Day Challenge for the past 5 years, I just didn’t notice. Yet, what I found disconcerting at the end of this last 100 Day Challenge 2022 was that I felt lonely. I was craving company. There is something about creating in community that makes it feel even better!
A Hashtag is Born
As a way of keeping our creative community together, I created the Our Creative Selves hashtag after my September month long challenge. We then used it for the Our Creative Selves Creativity Challenge that following February. Some of us still use #ourcreativeselves but at a point, a popular jewelry maker grabbed it, and all of her emulators now occupy most of that page.
For this challenge, we’ll be tagging our posts with “OurcreativeselvesOctober.
A hashtag conveniently puts every post that includes that hash tagged word onto one page. The creative endeavors of everyone who’s participating will show up on the one page. This way, we can visit other participants pages and cheer each other on.
The True Purpose of this Challenge
The true purpose of this challenge is to hold yourself responsible to do something because you said you would and then feel great about it when you follow through and get such lovely feedback from other people. We each need this balm for our creative souls. Creating to connect with community!
I quote myself, “My soul is in need of the healing that the lack of arting has wounded. I do not care if my efforts culminate in works of brilliance or crap. I only care that my brain and soul have a few minutes to wander around and connect with what they need to, outside or inside, wherever they need to go. And with that having happened, I can get on with my day, grateful to myself for the permission I gave myself. What more can a creative life provide?”
I am reclaiming my intention for Creative Soul Living, a devotion to practice and recognize the creativity I choose to use daily. The multitude of choices I make to create comfort, joy, and community in my life. And to generously share that with others.
If you have any thoughts, please drop a word below in the comments. Or you can…
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4 Comments
Shalagh Hogan, I just now read your blogpost and you got me hooked from the first sentence and I will definitely give myself a chance for this purpose although I am slightly worried that I, somehow, somewhere bail out.
And I just love you quoting yourself.
It is a most divine wording that gives your soul permission to play, your inner child to simply have fun and your creative self expand immensely.
I post your own quoting here:
“I quote myself, “My soul is in need of the healing that the lack of arting has wounded. I do not care if my efforts culminate in works of brilliance or crap. I only care that my brain and soul have a few minutes to wander around and connect with what they need to, outside or inside, wherever they need to go. And with that having happened, I can get on with my day, grateful to myself for the permission I gave myself. What more can a creative life provide?””
Oh Viveka, I so appreciate your showing up and mirroring me. I need it just as much as anyone. Thank you and you’re doing a fab job supporting others too.
Love,
Shalagh
Thank you for doing this. I have been looking for a challenge to jumpstart me, and you made this so inviting.
I am happy that it was what you needed! If you want to continue throughout October beyond this week, I’m glad to do so with you as I would think others will be too!