Friday, July 6, 2012

How to Make Your Own Fire Work

Americans have just celebrated Independence Day but  it's not too late to make your firework. Actually it's never too late to get started making your fire work. Sometimes it just takes some motivation and commitment to develop a plan or series of steps you need to navigate to get that fire going, but other times what you really need is to slow down, absorb life around you, take a break, reconnect and give your fire space to flourish.


I have had a great year completing a book, growing a new blog, giving workshops and seminars and connecting with some amazing people. All of the activities added a richness to my fire and have kept it blazing but in the next few days, I will be igniting my fire in a different way; taking a break, reconnecting with friends and family, putting the blog, twitter and workshops on a short hiatus and letting the ordinary moments of life become my focus. There will be no clocks, watches, schedule or deadlines. I can sleep until noon or wake up at 5 a.m. for a bike ride  or walk along the beach. I will choose not to have my phone beside me and instead replace its constant companionship with that of my best friend (my husband). 


People with passion often have difficulty if they are not constantly "on" regarding their product or services. But I know how vital a break can be. Just a small change in the routine, a small time without social media availability, a little diversion and escape can clear the cobwebs, infuse new ideas and get those creative juices flowing with incredible clarity.


Sometimes what makes your fire work is to not work allowing time for passions to simmer gently rather than constantly be roaring. Usually by the second day of  a real break, I have a stash of new ideas; by the 4th day, I find answers for removing obstacles which I could have never discovered when I was in the midst of them daily and by the time I return to "real" life and routine, I am excited to blow new dreams into that blaze and get it spreading.


If you feel like you have been fanning flames to the point of exhaustion, perhaps its time as well for you to let yourself refresh, reconnect and return to the part of life called 'ordinary' where cell phones are replaced by face to face connection and twitter feeds and facebook posts are put on hold for lazy days drenched in the inspiration of watching a hermit crab instead of a brilliant speaker. Maybe it's time to trade grid lock traffic for long walks through Mother Nature's paradise and check emails less and check out a little more. It will all still be waiting when this glorious time is over.


So for the next week or so, I will be refreshed by the ordinary...the extraordinary ordinary which often reminds us of how far we have come and how blessed we are to have taken the ride of our life even if for just a short time we choose to push the "on hold" button and pause.

You can find me back at the keyboard or speaking circuit in a week or so. Until them, I am escaping to the place where I can make my fire work?


Do you need to take a break and put your passion into simmer so you can fire it up?
What do you do to really make your own fire work?


Enhanced by Zemanta

12 comments:

  1. The Universe always sends me a message when I need it - There are no accidents - is my message for the day. And it is no accident that you dropped by my blog and hence I found yours. This post is just what I needed to hear today. Thank you. Enjoy your little break.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Suzy,
      I am just about to head out to watch a glorious sunset with beverage in hand. Hope to connect more when I return. Thanks for stopping by.

      Delete
  2. You know, I find myself handing this same wisdom out to others with absolute conviction. Then I admit that I am hypocritical when it comes to taking that same care on a personal level. Probably a completely human thing to do, but recent experiences have hit me hard enough to make me realize, I really do need to take a hiatus of some sort. I can't stop working (freelance writer) because bills must be paid, but I do need to find some balance with all the demands on my time and energy. This was a valuable reminder!

    Namaste',

    Dawn

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dawn,
      Even if you must work, take "vacation" breaks...listen to some great music and take a virtual vacation or watch a mindless video or just take a walk. I often do the same...give out the advice and then feel overwhelmed myself. Thanks for stopping by...I AM taking my own advice this time and heading out to watch a wonderful sunset and "catch" everyone when I get back.

      Delete
  3. This is just what I needed to read Kathy. Great advice to take a hiatus and rekindle the inner fire that can be quenched by too much social networking and busyness.

    I am best renewed by solitude and reflection time. This is the perfect reminder that time away from the madding crowd will work wonders.

    And I hope your upcoming week is everything you wish for, and then some!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Debra, Thanks for taking the time to stop by and comment. I really appreciate it. And it looks like the week will bless me indeed. Yes, how true that we are so renewed by a break.

      Delete
  4. I think I'm in the midst of one such meltdown.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Janu,
      I truly appreciate you dropping by. Take some time out to let yourself reconnect with yourself. I think we are our own worst enemies when it comes time to refreshing ourselves. We creat such sabotage. I hope this week, finds you going from meltdown to just down time.

      Delete
  5. Kathy, I hope you enjoy a relaxing, rejuvenating week. We all need that break from time to time, that's for sure!
    May your dreams add fuel to your fire!
    Blessings!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. As always, Thanks, Martha. I am just about to close the doors to the world and enjoy and escape watching a beautiful sunset. Catch you next week.

      Delete
  6. Kathy--as always a great post! What an amazing writer you are, just love your words. I have been in a flurry of activity myself and my relaxation break comes next week. Several days at the beach with some good friends and some fiction books that I NEVER read since I'm always trying to keep up. Yep, looking forward to it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lynne,
      I'm humbled by your compliments! Enjoy your break as well. Doing something so different from what we might be used to is often just what we need to help us do the stuff we are always doing with more clarity (at least that is what I am telling myself every time I pick up a golf club or wind surf!

      Delete