The SECRET to Joy

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The Secret to Joy

So first of all, I would like to say that it is more than possible to find a much deeper connection with yourself and with the universe of creation. I just recently started crafting again. Over the years, I have attempted many times to enjoy my creative side by doing crafts of some sort, in one way or another. Sitting down for some time to just actually explore my artistic side and let my ideas flow into actual creations, always proved to be difficult however. It always looked so easy as I would watch others come up with beautiful creations crafted by their own two hands. Memories of looking at what my friends and family took time to invest in, whether it was for fun or for profit, I was always amazed at what others would invent from their minds. It looked so easy and fun to say the least. I can recall thinking, “this looks fun...it's like getting to be a kid all over again!”

For me though, I found the process a bit frustrating because I was a pro at getting started and the ideas flowed quick and fluid...like water, but actually completing the visions that I had, never seemed to come into fruition. I was always attempting to get too many balls into one net. Living my entire life this way...I was a master of ideas but a novice in follow through. Often finding myself investing time and time again in expensive products and supplies, that would just end up sitting in a corner for years at a time, I became disheartened and decided that maybe I was just not meant to craft.

I continued to live my life running around like a chicken with my head cut off, constantly feeling the stress and push of everyday life, to always strive for more. As my stress in life increased, I would always look at that pile of items in the corner, and tell myself that someday, I would find the time and devote myself to just ONE thing that would bring me pleasure. As hard as I tried though, and as much as the crafting fire burned within me, it just wasn’t meant to be. After staring at the JUNK corner that contained all my “treasures”, month after month and year after year, I finally gave in and took all my crafting supplies and dreams out to the garage. I forgot about my hidden treasures and immersed myself back into the never ending matrix, we call LIFE.

Life is a growing process and we learn many valuable lessons along the way. Slowly, I started to realize that all this running in circles was not making me happy. I began to lose pleasure in everyday things, and each morning, I felt like I was getting back on the revolving belt of a treadmill. If you have ever been on a treadmill, then you know, it's just the same thing over and over, time and time again. A path that leads you nowhere... super quick.

I guess with age and experience, one thing that i always promised myself, was that i WOULD, one day get back to my pile of JUNK, (once viewed as a treasure) that was hidden away. Out of sight was never out of mind... for me anyway. It almost haunted me. Had I just failed in yet another one of my dreams? Look, I believe that we are not meant to be successful in everything we try, but success comes in the things that make us unique! We are not meant to all be the same, we are not designed to be just like everyone else.

After years of endless paths that led me nowhere, and finding disappointment in just about everything that I ever invested myself in, it finally dawned on me. I was a walking zombie, in a world full of other zombies. I had zero happiness and joy. One day recently, while cleaning, I came across my “junk” corner. All of a sudden it was like a creative awakening, and this time, I was going to put myself first. You can almost say, that this time around, it was literally calling to me. A spiritual experience of the sort, through my creative desires. I jumped in the pool of artistic creation, feet first.

Getting out my sketch pad and my dollar store scissors, I carved out time in my day, for my ideas to flow. Friends and family would call upon me to follow the life I had carved out for myself, and to not be so secluded or to myself. This time was different for me though, I wasn't having it. No pressure in the world was going to allow me to put down this spark, that was once again ignited, deep in my soul. For me, this was the beginning of finding my truth! This was not just “crafting”, this was more than “artistic”, this my dear friend, was a Spiritual Awakening!

You see, I was blind and now I see. My eyes were able to look at life through a different lens. As my colored pencils and sketch pad united, magic was happening, right in front of me. Yes, this truly was a spiritual experience, because for me, while allowing my creative side to speak its truth, my mind was allowed the time to have peace and reflection. My higher self emerged and started to show me every single thing I had learned in life. All those thoughts that we have in the back of our head, are NOT just random thoughts. This is the voice of your higher self, calling out to you from a place of higher consciousness. I would sketch and draw, color and cut, all while my higher state of consciousness began to expand. I began to eat better, and took up meditation. I found a completely different dimension of reality, all from a pile of junk! You see, finding myself through the creationary process, has proven to be the SINGLE most joy filled moment in my life! All this from some scissors, and colored pencils and paper.

Joy for me, is not just feeling temporarily happy. Joy for me is not just friends and family. For me, JOY comes in viewing this world, and every single thing in it, through the eyes of my creator! I see love and experience and find true JOY in every single breath and moment I exist. I am not saying that it's not possible to experience happiness, or joyful times through our journeys in life. But I AM saying, that until we see through the eyes of a creation standpoint, that we are not able to experience All that this path is here to show us. If you don't have the time, i implore you to find it. If life has got you stuck in the routine and boring repeats of day to day living, that is not joy! Pick up your scissors and glue, and find yourself. It's way bigger than just feeling like a kid again, it is the SECRET to joy!