Two months ago I wrote about podcasts and how they keep me sane. Soon after my techie man sold me on the benefits of Stitcher, which knits content together like a radio station, I made an unexpected discovery. Podcasts helped lessen my insomnia. This was no small feat, as I’d wrestled with it off and on for years.
Over time I incorporated podcasts into other parts of my life: workouts, walks, and commutes. I found comfort in filling my mind with positivity and knowledge. I liked hearing the voices of can-do types hosting dialogues about things I care about, like wellness, entrepreneurship, and creative women. So you can imagine my joy to come across an episode that incorporates all three topics in a single conversation.

Life on Purpose‘s Gregory Berg is up front about the times he interviews people he knows personally. In that spirit, I’ll put out there that I met both Berg and Morris at Camp GLP this past summer. I can attest to the fact that they’re as thoughtful and genuine as they sound online.
Life on Purpose, Ep. 38 is an interview with creative entrepreneur Cynthia Morris: The Paris Tragedy and Creative Expression as a Force for Good. This compelling show demonstrates the kind of conversations that routinely draw me to the podcast. I started listening around a year ago, well before The Huffington Post sang its praises, pointing out that “this podcast will open your eyes to what it means to live your life with intention.” I’ve been wanting to write about it for awhile, and this episode provided the inspiration I’d been waiting for.

Here I am listening to a podcast during a workout. My bike trainer allows me to lock the bike into place anywhere in the house. Yes, Frankie the golden retriever and Tiger the cat like to gather around. (My apologies for the bad lighting and weird panorama effect. Sigh, not every moment of my is life photo-shoot worthy.)
Morris and host Gregory Berg discuss topics like growing as a person through travel, overcoming fear of discomfort, and responding to the Paris terrorist attacks of Nov. 13, 2015. (For years, Morris has led creativity workshops there.) Woven through this material was the theme of creative expression. My favorite part was their dialogue on a well-known quote from researcher and storyteller Brene Brown: “Unexpressed creativity is not benign.”

I took this photo while visiting family in Raleigh for Thanksgiving. Within walking distance of my parents’ house, Forest for the Trees is a place I always draw comfort from. Taking a stroll to the scuplture park at the North Carolina Museum of Art is something I do on every trip to Mom and Dad’s.
According to Morris, these words brought her to tears when she heard Brene Brown speak at the World Domination Summit in 2011. Helping people express untapped creativity is at the core of Morris’ work as a coach for writers, artists, and even those who think they’re not creative.
For me, too, Brown’s quote is visceral. I feel it in a way that eludes conscious thought. It’s only been in the past few years, though, that I’ve become aware of it, slowly, over time. I started this blog last January after a girlfriend suggested I join her Blogging 101 course. As it’s turned out, establishing this vehicle for my writing and photography has changed me. It’s made me stronger in all areas of my life, which is mostly a good thing.

Here’s a shot I took when visiting Brooklyn for the first time this past October. I immediately fell in love with the use of streets and walls as a space for dialogue and art. I wished I’d had time to spend an afternoon just capturing a photo series. This one, though, I absolutley could not pass up.
Along the way another thing’s happened. Now that my creative voice has been given a place to speak, it wants more. As I’ve grown more confident in speaking out, I’ve also become more aware of times in life when that isn’t possible. Things I’ve accepted for years as normal–my normal, anyway–may no longer be sufficient.

A few years ago I adopted the habit of buying a letterpress calendar from an artist online. This image from DittoDittoWorks is the one I can’t get out of my mind. If you were to draw a picture of what my blog’s done for me, this would be it.
The idea of looking further is what brings me to Quest2016 from Tracking Wonder. It’s an online community I recently discovered. During December, participants submit responses to prompts about the coming year. A recent prompt, from professor and author Tina Seelig goes like this: What advice would your future self a year from now give you today?
I’m insanely curious to find out what my future self will be able to tell me in a year. Based on ways I’ve grown this past year, I’ve committed to continue learning. I’m on a specific path of expressing my creativity in several ways: writing, photography, sewing, and–most unfamiliar at this stage–starting a side business.

I learned in another episode of Life on Purpose that Berg nearly died while in his teens. Now in his 40s, Berg still draws meaning from what the experience taught him.
I can’t say exactly what will happen this year, but I’m confident my future self will have concrete examples to show. It’ll remind me of ways I’ve benefitted from expressing my voice. My future self will encourage me to take a breath, a palpable one, and celebrate these accomplishments. With a gentle nudge, though, it’ll also remind me how important it was to take action.

These bleeding hearts caught my attention on walk I took over Memorial Day weekend. I never get enough of our neighborhood trail system.
My future self will point out that the things actually happened, only did so because I acted: sent an email to an entrepreneur who inspires me, wrote down a schedule, or published a post. It’ll prod me to remember Cynthia Morris’ words: “The work we make, make us.” Indeed, it was the process of doing my writing and my business that brought the growth and reward.
No advice from my future self would be complete without a reminder to to be patient. To take a longer view. “I know you love shiny objects,” it’ll say. “I love them too, and I always will.” But you simply cannot chase them all. “Look back at the ones that mean the most,” it might whisper, “and remember they took time.” After more practice, I think I’ll be better at heeding than advice than I used to be.

This shot was taken by blogger, gardener, sewist, and former roller-derby gal Lilly Warner. Also a photographer, Warner told me she still loves jumping shots, even if they may be passe. We decided, why not take one at that moment? My camera was too slow to catch me in air, but I love how it turned out. Much of my life I’d have been too shy to jump like this, openly on the streets of Brooklyn, in front of someone I’d just met the night before. These days, I say to heck with the shyness. Look what I’d have missed!
If I’m lucky, advice from my future self will have the warmth and urgency Morris’ voice. Like hers, my own voice will want me to step up to my crative impulses and do what I want to do. Yes, even if I have no idea where it’s going to take me.
Know, too, that I wish the same for you. Where do you want to go in the coming year? And what what will your future self say to you when you get there?
So much of what you’ve written is along the lines of what I’ve been thinking about in terms of the direction I want to go and what I want to focus on and learn in 2016. Thank you for the added inspiration!
I’ll have to follow along and see what’s to come, Laurel.
You write sooooooo well! I really do like coming over for a visit.
We all want to better ourselves in a creative way. Blogging helped me see that I like to share the places I have been and what I have seen. I try to show those places in a fun way… as I am a fun person.
I also enjoy visiting others at “their blogs” and see where they have been and what they have seen. I also enjoy learning from them.
I learn a lot from you, my friend, as you not only give all of us inspiration… but you also teach us and tell us about how to do so by reading from others and watching from others. THANK YOU!
Nancy, your fun comes through on your blog. I’m sure that had a little something with me wanting to come say hi when I was in your town. Thanks for mentioning the learning from others part. I’ll keep doing it!
Yes please do!
Don’t be afraid to be yourself. It’s the only self you’ll ever have, so embrace her! Brenda
I’m learning, Brenda. I’m learning! Thanks for the reminder.
Thanks so much for including me in this article! I love how you’ve written about and shared what moves you. You are on a roll Suzi!
How lovely to see you here, Cynthia! Here’s to creative momentum, am I right?
I really enjoyed this post. You are right about the fact that the more we stretch ourselves the stronger and less afraid we become.
Sounds like you’ve got some stories about getting stronger, Conversationcat. Love it!
This so had me nodding my head. I’m also a lover of shiny new objects.
“No advice from my future self would be complete without a reminder to to be patient. …it might whisper, “and remember they took time.”
I think your future self will be much wiser too 🙂
Thanks for all the links to help lead a more creative life. I’m thinking of signing up for the Quest 2016 too.
If you’re looking for a strong network of people doing creative things and having open, encouraging dialogues about it, sign up for Quest2016, Leenna. People contribute comments as FB posts, videos, whatever works. And fingers way crossed you and I figure out the patience thing!
Thanks!
Same here! Thanks again for a very inspiring post 🙂
Wonderfully inspiring post! I love podcasts and I’d never heard of Life on Purpose. I’ve popped it into my subscriptions at Instacast and can’t wait to give it a listen. Are there other episodes (in addition to ep. 36 and 38) that you found inspiring?
I like Episodes 21 and 35 and both of his roundtables! I hope you like the show. Got any faves of your own?
I love This American Life, Radio Lab, and The Moth. Those are my three favorites.
Good choices! A friend of mine, Bobby Wilson, did a live performance of the Moth and I was SO excited to hear it. (I wasn’t in attendance; not in my city.) Then I found out that particular show was live only and never intended to be recorded, and I am ridiculously bummed. Boo. But I’m still glad he got to do it.