heart Archives - Writing From The Kitchen

Share Your Gifts – Feed Your Joy

December 10, 2019December 10, 2019by Erika K Rothwell6 Comments

As December has arrived and gift buying is in full swing, I am reminded that gifts are not only made of material. Walking through the mall, listening to the Christmas music, and watching the young ballet dancer gracefully float across center stage, I recognize a deep longing within myself to reconnect to meaning as I push aside the hustling yet robotic tasks of the holiday season.

Gifts of the heart given from the center of our beings shine through us like twinkling Christmas lights. Yet it is possible that some of these lights can burn out leaving us with a half-lit strand of joy. When we allow the resentments of events that we cannot control to seethe beneath the surface, our power is drained eventually resulting in burn out.

Join me in changing the empty bulbs to once again receive positive, supportive, and loving energy. Let us recharge and reignite our passion, the direct passage of energy from the heart of our meaning. There is redemptive power in recognizing our individual gift to the world. So let it shine radiantly, joyfully sharing it with others.

Rather than allow the distractions of the season to zap our energy, let it infuse us with hope as we look for opportunities to encourage those around us even those who may judge us, outrun us, or are simply more talented than us. In truly appreciating other’s gifts to this world, we act as a conduit supporting the transfer of loving intentions and positive energy.

When we focus on sharing our unique and creative gifts, all else seems to fall into place. We reconnect to the power source, as our bulbs are refreshed.

We are once again ready to shine.

🎶”May your season be merry and bright.”🎶

©Erika K Rothwell

courage, Creativity, encouragement

Hiatus and Back to the Path

July 23, 2019July 23, 2019by Erika K Rothwell7 Comments

I wrote this a week ago and did not publish because I was so empty I was afraid to share. However, as this sits in the past and I celebrate placing it there, I want to encourage all out there who have hit the wall. Empathetic relating to your situation has brought me to openly share my personal detour off the path.

“ A hiatus is a pause in which nothing happens or a gap where something is missing.” Definition provided by Collins English Dictionary. Yet life does not exactly have a pause button.

It may be incorrect to state that I’ve been on hiatus, as so much has actually happened. However, there has been a gap, a “ginormous” gap where something is missing. And that something is me. I have suddenly found myself missing. Missing feelings, missing thoughts, missing a connection to my center. Life’s happenings appear to have executed full domination creating a major gap in my ability to function on a functioning level.

Needless to say, this gets in the way of productive energy and creativity. The standstill is rock solid and difficult to penetrate. I stand motionless and empty.”

Because I was searching for words of encouragement and did not have the strength to ask for them, I present words for you without you having to ask.

This soon shall pass. Momentary burnout and “this” seemingly helpless state will produce strength in you beyond what you imagined. You may question how this emptiness ricochets into a strong force that moves you along your destined and individually created path.

Every moment has its place. Every place has its time. And the path waits for you.

Your path. The path of your life. A unique path that is sometimes self-dictated, sometimes courageously followed, and sometimes simply faithfully followed, moving you in a forward direction.

This is the path you must stay on. This is the path you were born to follow. And in my most recent experience, I have learned it is a path you cannot always control the direction of, but one you can accept and embrace with positivity assured that forward is the only way to go. Gracefully acknowledge that detours and an unexpected hiatus only delays the inevitable direction. The direction of your dreams.

I encourage you today. You will recover. Stay on your path. Let your heart guide you.

©Erika K Rothwell

Creativity, Discovery, inspiration

Use Your Right to Create

May 29, 2019by Erika K Rothwell2 Comments

“Do not let your left brain outthink your right to create!”

Excited by my new brush pens I attempted to “paint” a flower subject for the first time. At first it appeared my left brain, leaning on its own experience, overthought the process by starting with an outline before filling in with color.

Quickly, frustrated with my lack of ability, the desire to complete the task took over. An elementary-level rendition of the flower was born. It was certainly not the detailed and logical result you might expect from a left-brain activity, So normally I would have given up at this point. As it clearly appeared, I had little ability in this arena.

My right brain appeared to be enticed by a second look. So I made another attempt moments later. I found myself immersed in a feeling of timelessness, seamlessly connected to creative inspiration. And I was now able to move effortlessly, almost thoughtlessly, in the direction of creation. Finally, the second endeavor resulted in a piece resembling artwork. It was certainly not perfect either, yet clearly designed from a presentness in my heart.

Do you see the difference?

Awakening Your Right

From further research, I read that through the right brain we are able to be present and therefore become imbedded in the process rather than being overly concerned with the destination. The right side of the brain is responsible for empathy, intuition, imagination, and creativity. It is no wonder that dreams are born from our right brain.

“Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.” Albert Einstein

Words are the same. We cannot overthink as we write and expect to create a connection, a meaningful rendition of thoughts from our heart.

This exercise was undertaken simply as a step to awakening. My life’s purpose is still somewhat unclear, yet I am drawn to create from the heart ignoring self-interruptive negative messaging and help others find a connection to their own creative centers.

If you are one who struggles with organizing your thought process, you may appreciate that logic does not always hold the answer. Our creative journey cannot be dictated by thought. Rather, our authentic work must be guided by the heart.

AND, I have just personally discovered a whole lot more heart and art in the right brain.

Happy Creating!

©Erika K Rothwell

Creativity, self-acceptance

Embrace You

May 8, 2019May 9, 2019by Erika K Rothwell6 Comments

“Write about what really interests you, whether it is real things or imaginary things, and nothing else.” C.S. Lewis

The curse of a creative style. Or is it? This is my style. I accept me, so I need to learn within my style, not force myself into an uncomfortable position, where all I can think about is an escape.

I love what I do. I do what I love. And my wide-angle approach, allows me to see where I want to focus my energy for the day. I feel refreshed, ready to take action because I choose to work within my style.

This is what I refer to as fine tuning a creative living. Find your style. Embrace it. Use it as the support system and foundation to create authentically. Create from where you are, from who you are and from why you are.

Self-defeatist behavior will not support you. It will bury you in negativity, sucking your last breath of enthusiasm for life, and your creativity will die along with it.

Revive your soul, listen to your heart, use your mind and embrace your unique style.

Creativity, hope, inspiration

Kaleidoscope of Hope – True Inspiration

April 8, 2019July 26, 2019by Erika K Rothwell2 Comments

Fragmented, broken pieces of myself have formed into a moving creative pattern appearing through a kaleidoscope induced image of myself. My feelings of inconsistency remind me to accept the orderliness of a divine arrangement marked with symmetry and cohesiveness to produce authentic work reflecting my individual design.

Psychology of perception ground up learning theory would state that I am a product of experience. What I see is because of what I already know. Having learned to finally tweak the vision of those broken parts into some sort of manageable recurring design for others to view plays on this well-accepted theory. However, what is perceived still remains subjective.

Events can turn the environment causing a new realm of stability, slightly shifting the lens, and strikingly new patterns emerge. Consider too that each repetitive pattern is continually morphing into a modified version of itself until it becomes completely unrecognizable in the metamorphosis, retaining only some of its original colors.

We can all recognize the beauty in the constantly changing visions of a kaleidoscope. But can we accept change in ourselves?

Vivid colors surround me daily, awakening a deeply-rooted purpose to express my feelings and reflections in the form of artistic creation. I cannot deny the profound effect of colorful displays of inspirational images on my heart. Motivation to share and create is born from these visions of delight. Flowers, birds, and trees, as well as oceans and mountain streams, enlighten me and guide my heart deeper into a natural realm of being where self-acceptance combines with a desire for a non-hurried lifestyle to allow my dreams to thrive.

As in the turn of a kaleidoscope, creative development often remains a work in progress and a mystery. A journey refined by every step. Joy felt from our individual perspective of each design as seen today without our eyes on tomorrow or our hearts left in the struggles of yesterday.

It is for each of us to appreciate the constantly changing visions of our inner kaleidoscopes.

For what we think to be true, is often only true because of how we see it.