I’ve been quiet on the blog and Instagram since the pandemic. The abrupt change of life has been very hard to process and I’ve been watching and listening as people express their denial, their grief and their anger. I think because it’s a gray, snowy day here in Denver, Colorado I’m experiencing some of that sadness. In times of extreme stress, my job as an Interior Designer seems trivial. Who cares about a new kitchen when you’re just worried about not making yourself or your older relatives deathly ill? This is not a complaint – this is an observation.
I went to a job site today and met one person who was aware of the current situation but was doing his job as best he could and another individual who repeatedly tried to shake my hand. They were two visions of acceptance and denial. We all have different attitudes. I realized that even though I touched nothing in the home (the door was open), it will be my last site visit for a few weeks.
How do we stay creative at a time like this? I’m certainly not an expert. One thing I’ve been thinking about during this time is “What does this forced slow down make possible?” The answer is a lot of things. I think one key to keep yourself feeling creative, maybe not inspired, but creative is to ask this question when you start to feel down. What does this make possible?
I’m going to look for ways to pivot with my business to help stay afloat and will also work on expanding my mind around what is possible now that wasn’t before. Right now, it’s possible for me to exercise more and that’s what I’ve been doing. It eases my anxiety and helps me focus on my work. Also, I do feel comforted that the Renaissance came about after the plague. Out of loss, creativity can follow. After a forest fire, comes transformation. Here’s an article (and there are many more) about The Surprising Benefit of Going Through Hard Times. I have gone through hard times and while I would rather not have had to go through them, I am a stronger person because of them.
I still have design work and I’m grateful for that but I do expect a halt followed by a slow-down. I could be wrong, but that’s my best guess. What about you? Are you still working? How are you keeping your creative self alive?
“Ring the bells that can still ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That’s how the light gets in.”Leonard Cohen
The Colorado Nest 