Time out

“I put my heart & soul into my work, & have lost my mind in the process. “

– Vincent Van Gogh

At first, I didn’t want to take a break. I did not have time for a break. I tried to ignore the little voice in my head that kept whispering that I need to stop, rethink, and reconsider. It is when we feel like we do not have the time is when we need a break the most.

After weeks of trying to push through the nagging feeling that I might be running in the wrong direction, I finally listened to my inner voice and decided to hit pause. Then weeks led into months, and I created nothing.

Out there in the big bad world my job can be at times, challenging, demanding and stressful. I was too exhausted to create anything once I reached home from my daily grind, and thus I postponed my painting time to the next day and so forth until my creative mind became flooded with inactivity.

While I desperately needed a break and enjoyed taking a step back, I missed creating so much. Suddenly I didn’t have an outlet for my emotions and thoughts in my life and I found myself frustrated at times, longing to let out that creative energy. I need creativity to live my life to the fullest, that I realised.

I never considered to stop creating, but before my break, my energy was running low, and I realised I needed to rethink my creative life. It was a relief to miss my creativity. Just like in relationships, distance, and longing, they have given me back my spark that had grown so weak from my busy work life.

I dedicated more time to nourish my creativity. I went on a trip to Berlin to visit an exhibition called the Van Gogh – The Immersive Experience, and what an experience that was. To this day I still feast on this experience. I connected with art again and learned so much about the great artist: Vincent van Gogh.

From this experience, I have drawn the energy to start a few new paintings and I also picked up my camera once more. The photo below is a marvellous example of that reconnection. I went for a walk on a sunny day, not to take photos but to look out for some opportunities to take photos if that makes any sense. Like the saying goes, ‘seek, and ye shall find.’

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Keep in mind, your path is constantly changing and that is more than ok. I took this break, whether voluntary or involuntary, with the knowledge that some things need to change. I knew I need to ask myself some hard questions and I wasn’t sure what answers I would find.

To reconsider a part of your life that you love is scary. But to not change when a change is needed is a recipe for disaster. It’s okay to ask yourself whether you want to keep going in the same direction. It’s okay to change your mind about something you love.

If you’re not adjusting your course as you go, there’s a risk you’re going in a direction that isn’t right for you anymore. Don’t keep going just because it’s what you once decided.

I think we all agree in saying: creativity takes mind power and energy isn’t infinite. We need to recharge and relax to stay happy, healthy, and creative.

Kat