What are we willing to sacrifice?

SILVER & LIGHT from Ian Ruhter: Alchemist

I am not a religious person, but for those of us who come from deep spiritual backgrounds, bear with me a little bit and come on a trip down memory lane.

There is something sacred about the creative process.  The journey to authentic creative expression often comes from great sacrifice.

You know…that hurts-when-you-breathe kinda sacrifice.

When you’re dedicated to building something that has never been done before– whether it is a human-human relationship or a human-passion relationship–it costs something.

But sacrifice doesn’t mean losing who you are in the process.

The video above is a reminder that sacrificing for creativity’s sake is worth every tear drop, every moment of anxiety, and every late night up working.

Yes, being creative takes work–and often times losing something or someone.  And if we’re honest about who we are meant to be as creative beings, perhaps the sacrifices we’re making won’t seem so much like sacrifices at all.  They’re just things we had to place down in order to pick up our true selves and maximize our possibilities.

Be well,

Feed The Soul: Minimize

Okay. I’ll admit it. I am a pack rat.

*Run to hide under my bed’s covers*

I didn’t really admit that, did I?

Yes, I did. Because this month, it’s all about minimizing, and I’m never going to ask you to do something I myself have not tried or planning to try.

I grew up in a home with a fulltime working father, a mother who had chronic illness, and three little girls who were close in age and were often left to their own vices.

My father spent many nights studying or preparing reports while my mother rested from a long day’s work of teaching us, working on her business projects, and being a counselor to friends and family.  Our home was often left in disarray, and although my parents tried to teach us to be “neat and tidy” the example they laid before us did not measure up to their own standards.

As I entered my college years and moved out, I realized that although I didn’t have much to take with me, most of it wouldn’t fit into the tiny apartment I now called home.  So, I started tossing.
When I moved to my next apartment, it was even smaller.
And, I tossed again.

By the time I moved to the apartment I live in now, I STILL had to toss some things that were taking too much .

 ”But I thought you already tossed–TWICE?!”

I know, I know…but it’s so easy to keep adding, especially when I have new space to put things. See, clutter reminds me of home, my late mother, and the happy childhood I often idealized until the last two years. When I start tossing things out, and my room is spacier, my bookshelf is neater, and the little things I hold onto are either packed up, given away, or trashed, I’m reminded that some of the things my parents taught me (implicitly or explicitly) don’t work for my life.

Space to breathe, think, and create works for me.
Order, cleanliness, and consistency works for me.
Not having panic attacks when I realize it’s two days before company comes over and I’ve yet to clear out the things I’ve been meaning to throw away works for me.

This March, I’m challenging myself and spring cleaning, tossing out the things that don’t add value to the sum of Ivy.

Care to take this journey with me?

Feed The Soul: Ibrahim Maalouf – Beirut

Inspiration: Dream Spaces

Bathrooms, bedrooms, and kitchens are the most creative spaces in the home.  They are where you can become the most vulnerable with yourself; the places were you can explore your desires without judgment. Whenever I first view a home, I think “what does the bathroom look like? Can I be vulnerable in this place? Can I be comfortable with me in my complete authenticity? Is the kitchen a place of experimentation? Does the bedroom make me want to sit down with a notebook and plan out my dreams and ambitions?”

I know! That’s a lot of pressure! However, each space dweller has a mood that fits their personality  and freedom and authenticity means something different for us all, therefore the functional elements of the spaces will vary client to client.

Do your dream spaces help you tap into your creativity?
What functional elements encourage you to dream?

P.S. Check out the Bedroom, Bathroom, and Kitchen Pinterest boards!

Feed The Soul: Courage Pt. 2

“Don’t be afraid of your fears. They’re not there to scare you. They’re there to let you know that something is worth it.”

~C. JoyBell C.

 

 

Feed The Soul: Infinite Possibilities

This is one of my favorite songs to listen to when I need a lil’ more courage in my life.

Hit the Play button and enjoy

Inspiration: Bathrooms

I’d rather be able to face myself in the bathroom mirror than be rich and famous. ~Ani Defranco Source Source Source Source Source Check out more bathroom photos on the Home – Bathrooms Pinterest Board!!