The Magic.

Big Magic.

Have you read it? If you haven’t, run. Buy it. I made the mistake of waiting for it to arrive at the library and one chapter from the end, I amazon prime’d it so I could remove the thirty sticky notes from the library book and switch it to permanent underlines in my very own copy. I want to quote every chapter, because there was something in that beautiful mess of words that spoke right down to my core & moved me in a way no book has in a very long time. Call it the Big Magic, call it fate, call it inspiration. I don’t know. But there are so many connected dots and I am so ready to explore them. Some privately, some publicly. But they are THERE. My curiosity is at an all time high and so many parts of this book helped me see that I have my own permission to be right where I am in my own creative shitstorm. It helped me find peace with all those businesses and the ideas I still have and just weave my own way on this winding path I wrote about last time.

“You may spend your whole life following your curiosity and have absolutely nothing to show for it at the end except one thing. You will have the satisfaction of knowing that you passed your entire existence in devotion to the noble human virtue of inquisitiveness.” –Elizabeth Gilbert, Big Magic

I mean, really. What better gift can I give myself, AND my children, than to live life this very way.

styleberry copyright_15

I’ve determined that my personal path boils down to two things: being curious and making stuff that makes me happy. & somewhere along the way, many years ago, I began to share it. Both here & in my real life. & I loved the community that began to surround me. Not because of the ego boost, but because so many of you have shared with me that you learned something here. You learned something that helped you in some way. & that is just as addictive to me as the creative high. The feeling of being helpful and giving.  Talk about giving meaning to art.

It may not have seemed to fit together until now, but I see it. I see my journey in a whole new way. & I cannot tell you how much relief this book about creativity and inspiration has gifted me.

Are you sold yet?

HA.

styleberry copyright_16

In this magic spirit I want to move forward here with a familiar but defined mission. Move forward. Why have I not yet been back here regularly? Time? Energy? Priorities? Yes. But there’s that perfectionist I have been fighting for all my life lurking down inside me that has kept me away. If it’s not right and the story isn’t all there, then I stop.

“Perfectionism stops people from completing their work yes–but even worse, it often stops people from beginning their work.” 

AMEN.

& then she talked about perfectionism as the “high end haute couture version of fear…in fancy shoes and a mink coat, pretending to be elegant when actually it’s just terrified.” 

Am I (is she) preaching to a choir yet? Social media has warped our perception of beautiful realities so much that I feel this is so so imperative for me to bring to light here. & make it part of my blog mission moving forward. WTF is perfect, anyway? (Sidenote: I LOVED this article I read recently.)

So here’s how I am defining this blog/happy place of mine from here on out:

My mission is to change the conversation between mothers (& makers), as we work to intentionally build each other up. I want to foster a place of empathy, so we can talk about where we stand and why & share feely, respectfully. I want this to be a place where we do not forget to acknowledge struggle, but always seek to find the joy. I want to create a source of honest inspiration, so we can learn from our different choices & help better define why we each do what we do, and find ways to do better. To be better. & to encourage those around us with genuine energy & a realistic spirit. 

You never know how what you choose to share, and how you choose to share it, may change someone’s day. 

& as always, I aim to make the complicated simple & inspire you to GO and DO. In style. & as warmly and positively as I can. This is my little creative haven…where pretty meets practical. 

& because this is the internet, and I’ve seen my fair share of less than pleasantries…I just have to include what is quite possibly my favorite passage of the entire book. Because no one, I mean NO one, can ignore a perfectly placed f-bomb:

“If people enjoy what you created, terrific. If people ignore what you’ve created, too bad. If people misunderstand what you’ve created, don’t sweat it. And what if people absolutely hate what you’ve created? What if people attack you with savage vitriol, and insult your intelligence, and malign your motives, and drag your good name through the mud? Just smile sweetly and suggest–as politely as you possibly can–that they go make their own fucking art. Then stubbornly continue making yours.” –Elizabeth Gilbert, Big Magic

styleberry copyright_14
Cheers to THAT! Now hop to it. Your magic is waiting…go make something! Even if it sucks. Pick up your camera, your paint brush, your glue gun, your laptop, your spatula. Life’s too short to wait to make something that will make you (and your kids!) smile, today!!

Hi! Hello! I am Shawna, the founder of Styleberry Blog. This creative corner of the internet has become a learning haven for moms and creatives, offering a warm and encouraging nudge to those who wish to be better and do better, but often don't know where to start. From Decorating to DIY to Diapers and Paleo-ish Dishes, I strive to make the complicated simple and empower women to take action beyond their personal comfort zone. I subscribe to the Shine Theory & so strongly believe that we shine when the women around us shine and mutual support—lifting up instead of tearing down--will always be the culture here. Are you in? I hope so! Beyond the computer, I run Styleberry Creative where I work with clients to create low fuss, high function spaces that are pretty and practical in San Antonio, Texas and beyond. I LOVE making a house a home. My own studs out renovation is now complete and I am now back to working with clients. Please don't hesitate to drop me a line if you'd like to work together! I hope you’ll join me on this fun new adventure! Xo.

Read More...

Archives