For our first Kriative Playdate this month, we signed in from different corners-- North Carolina, Texas, and Vancouver, Canada-- and brought entirely different projects to play around with-- thread painting, miniature set building, and botanical pen-and-ink drawing. We talked about our projects, showed off our creative spaces, and then set a timer for 20 minutes to play around in silence. When the timer went off, we took a short break and then dove back in for a second round. At the end, we said our goodbyes and signed off. For me though, the creative boost from that hour carried over for days. After several weeks of putting off drawing. I finished a project and started a few more! The experience reminded me that:

1.) Creatives crave community.

And our community doesn't have to work in the same medium. I'm a writer. I know nothing about building miniatures or thread painting, but it wasn't difficult to connect with the others. We shared a common impulse toward creative expression. Creatives get other creatives.

2.) Creative expression is diverse.

A writer with a love of flowers. A yoga therapist with a passion for fabric and thread. An art teacher processing the loss of foster pets. There are as many ways to be creative as there are people, which opens up so many possibilities to explore.

3.) Creativity needs space.

The Kriative Playdate was just the time + space + support (minus) pressure I needed to make new art happen. Creativity also needs physical space, so I'm turning our dining room into an art room while the kids are off this summer. It will be covered in art projects (and snack wrappers) any way, so I'm embracing it.

4.) Creativity is fun!

When your income is tied to your art (like mine has been), then creativity can start to feel like a J-O-B. It can feel transactional and goal-oriented instead of spontaneous and potentially transformational. Setting time aside to 'play' with a project outside my normal medium was a powerful way to get out of a rut and rediscover the joy of creativity.

I'm already looking forward to the next FREE virtual Kriative Playdate, Tuesday, June 6th, at 10 am. Joining me is easy. Register here to get the Zoom link, then add it to your calendar, and jump on in. If you're a creative pro, I challenge you to bring something fun and unrelated to work. You might be surprised how play can help you loosen up and become more productive in the end.

Looking for additional creative support and community? Join the Kriative Sangha, Sunday, June 18th, at 6pm. We are a free virtual community of creatives that gathers online once a month. I give a short dharma talk on a topic related to yoga and creativity; we discuss; and then we practice a simple meditation together. Register to join us.

(And seriously, when I say these events are free, they really are! The system gives you the option to offer a donation, which is appreciated but not required. If you've already donated for either the Kriative Playdate events or our sangha, feel free to take a pass on this one!)

Also coming up...

Pop-up Class: Gentle Yoga Flow, Thursday, June 1, 7-8 pm. If you've taken my FREE, 4-week Beginner's Series, this is a great place to jump into a flow class. A combination of stretch and balance ideal for beginners or anyone looking for a more gentle practice. Register today!