Andrea Garst

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Winter Solstice and all that Jazz

Well, I am back. I had every intention of writing, and every week that has gone by feels like a mere moment. The calendar says one thing and my soul feels another. Writer's block can happen to anyone, and if there is one thing I have learned throughout the process of opening up my creative channels, it is this: creativity can not be forced. Sara Bareilles knows what I mean.

- Creativity is born of stillness.

When your mind is filled with shopping lists, relationship drama, what size pants you wear, and other superficial things, you can not clearly see the information that exists inside yourself. It's like the deepest fog on the coldest beach. Clearing all that extra "filler" information from your head, even if it is just for an hour, can give you enough space to really open up your creative channels. Everyone has the need to be creative, some more than others, but it has slowly dawned on me that creativity is part of what fulfills us as human beings. You have to take time for this type of expression, whether you like to cook, take pictures, paint/draw, decorate, or whatever it is you create with your hands. You get to exist outside of your analyzer and rest your brain, and this is crucial. If you are constantly stuck in your cerebral cortex, you may find that you are restless, and unfulfilled. Find what excites your soul and begin to make time for it. The results may surprise you.

As we continue through this Holiday Season, let's make sure that we are enjoying ourselves. The holiday rush to get the perfect gift, or make the perfect dinner, can lose us, and it is very easy to get caught up in what others want us to do. We all have a different idea of what the holidays look like. Whether you are with family, friends, or alone, you can make it whatever you want it to be. Let go of the obligation to please others and get clear on what makes YOU happy. It will come back around in ways you can not even imagine!