create.

I have noticed something about myself during these last couple of months of quarantine.  At the end of the day, I find that I am the happiest if I have created something.

I am not an artist, by any means, but creativity doesn't have to be that formal.  Creativity is whatever you want it to be-- cooking, baking, making your yard pretty, rearranging a room, organizing, redecorating, flower arranging, coloring, making a digital book on a site like Shutterfly, creating and sending things like Jib Jabs, building,  hand lettering your favorite quotes, or making videos on TikTok.   It is anything that puts you into a state of "flow." 

I am sure you have been in this state before.  It is that feeling you get when you are so completely engrossed in your work that hours go by and you don't even realize it.  You know the feeling, your stomach is empty and your bladder is full because you have ignored your basic needs in favor of the feeling you get from whatever project you are working on.  

It turns our there is research that supports that doing creative things does, in fact, make you happier and healthier.  Being in the state of flow lowers your heart rate,  decreases anxiety, and boosts your mood.  It can even pump up your immunity and help with dementia.  What?  No wonder I have been feeling  better on the days I do something creative!  

If you don't consider yourself an artist with a capital A, but would like to try to make creativity a habit, check this article from NPR out.  And then go create something! 😊

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