I'm sitting on my screen porch as I write this, with our rescue dog Daisy lounging beside me. It's going to be a hot July day in southeastern Pennsylvania, but early in the morning it's still nice and cool.
I woke up today thinking about how fragile life is. Every day that we get to draw breath on earth is a day we have stolen away from the clutches of mortality. I'm practicing gratitude right now for each inhale and exhale, for the privilege of being alive.
One of my creative practices is to make time to enjoy the present moment. When I soak in the sights and sounds of nature, mindfully attending to what I notice, it gives my subconscious a chance to rest and be restored. This creates space to create more, and it often sparks new ideas in the process.
Enjoying a beautiful piece of art can also be a mindful practice, a way of attending to the present moment. As you follow my creative journey, I hope you will find yourself gaining a new appreciation for the beauty of life, art, and the natural world.