February is often considered a month of love. However it is not just a time for celebrating the love that is in a romantic relationship, but it is also about showing self-love and appreciating ourselves for who we are. Practicing self-love means that we are treating ourselves with the same kindness as we would with someone we love. Loving ourselves is not about being selfish. It means that we have a good understanding of our strengths and embrace our flaws. One way to practice more self love is by listening to songs that make you feel confident and empowered. Read on to learn more about the importance of self love and how we can cultivate it through songs.

New Year’s resolutions can be difficult to keep. When we set New Year’s resolutions we often focus on the things we want to cut from our life, the things we think we “shouldn’t” be doing. However, in this new year maybe the change we need is to think about what we DO want from our life and how to be more present in our current life.  One of my favorite songs is one that my mother shared with me several years ago. It is called “Follow The Sun” by Xavier Rudd. Whenever I listen to this song I feel inspired and re-energized. In considering how I would like to approach 2024, several thoughts came to mind after re-listening to this song. This month our blog explores intention setting and other small changes we can make to our daily lives as implied by “Follow The Sun.”

“Started making it, had a breakdown, bon appetit!” That was said by comedian James Acaster, when he was on a celebrity version of The Great British Baking Show. In one of the challenges James had to make flapjacks.. and it was not a good bake. James, however, used his sense of humor and wittiness to make the best of the situation. James’ comment about his flapjacks perfectly describes my most recent baking endeavor, making pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving. Being reminded of James Acaster’s experience during the baking competition led me to reflect on my own baking experiences, particularly with this pumpkin pie battle. I have come to realize how baking for fun teaches several life lessons while fostering creativity, and I would like to share with you my discoveries.

The holiday season is now upon us, which is often thought of as a time to focus on what we are thankful and grateful for. While giving thanks and identifying what we are grateful for during the holidays is meaningful and can bring us closer together, it is important to practice gratitude year round. Gratitude can be expressed and felt in multiple ways. One way to cultivate gratitude is by noticing “glimmers.” Glimmers are tiny moments that spark joy, happiness, relaxation, or ease. Learn how incorporating a “glimmer practice” can enhance emotional health.

I’m not a good singer. I can’t sing. I don’t sing as well as them… Have these thoughts ever popped into your head? If so, you are not alone. Many people who do not sing professionally or lack vocal training feel that they cannot sing and are embarrassed by their voice. However, you too can sing, and singing is good for the body, mind, and soul.

I was a hardcore doodler in school. Most of my class notes and notebooks contained some sort of doodle on the page. My favorite things to doodle were just lines and shapes with different patterns. I would often start with one small shape like a circle and then would just keep building and building upon that shape with other designs and shapes until that doodle encompassed a large portion of the page. As an adult, I still doodle on any nearby piece of scrap paper when I’m talking on the phone, in a meeting, or when I want to spontaneously scribble. Observers might be quick to assume that one is not paying attention when they doodle, however doodling can actually help with focus. In fact, there are many benefits of doodling on our body and mind and doodling can enhance our creativity and productivity.

Using mantras can have a positive impact on our physical, emotional, and mental well-being. In Western culture, mantras are viewed more as a “statement or slogan repeated frequently” similar to an affirmation or a motto. This is actually the second definition of “mantra” listed in the English Oxford Dictionary. The first definition given is “a word or sound repeated to aid concentration in meditation.” According to Lily Cushman, author of “A Little Bit of Mantras: An Introduction to Sacred Sounds,” this definition is a little bit closer to the traditional meaning. Let’s explore the deeper meaning and history behind mantras and the many ways that we can incorporate more traditional mantras into our daily lives to enhance our wellness and creativity.

I grew up watching Sesame Street - as many of you or your kids might have - and it is hard to miss the catchy tunes featured on this show. Of all the Sesame Street Songs, the song “Sing” is the most performed. “Sing” was written by Joe Raposo in 1971. “Sing” is more than just a fun melody, and I definitely missed its deeper meaning when I was a kid. It wasn’t until I was an adult when I was looking for singable books for a music therapy video that I connected with the song. I’d like to share with you some of my takeaways from “Sing” to give you some ideas on how to get unstuck and overcome challenges.

Hello and welcome to my creativity and wellness blog! I’d like to share a quote by researcher Brené Brown: “There’s no such thing as creative people and non-creative people. There are only people who use their creativity and people who don’t. Unused creativity doesn’t just disappear. It lives within us until it’s expressed.” It is my hope that this blog will inspire you to find and release your inner creativity, whether or not you identify as a creative person.