How I Kept My Creativity Alive This Year

 How I Kept Creativity Alive This Year

Creativity, I’ve learned, is like a houseplant—neglect it and it will wilt away, but nurturing it brings the most amazing results.

 Every human being is gifted with a creative streak, which shows up when we put our talents to use.  Creativity is an ongoing and ever-evolving process. Like an unused instrument or machine, your creative spark may gather rust if not tapped into regularly.

Tapping into your creativity gives you something to do rather than letting your brain idle away. Each time you create a painting or write even a single line, your skills improve.

As a writer, over the past ten months, I’ve tried to practice what I preach and have been fairly successful. No major literary award has come my way, but I continue to pound the keyboard for my own satisfaction and contentment.

There are a few writing apps, such as YourQuote and Sheroes, that I use quite regularly. I love creating reels but lack the technical expertise. However, I continue to dabble in creating them. 

Blogchatter challenges and challenges held by e-zines keep me stressed in a good way. 

Consistency is what counts is a lesson I learned in 2025. When you’re consistent, you’re practising, and practice keeps your creativity alive and kicking. 

How did you hone your creative skills in 2025? 

Image credit: Pixabay

December: Nostalgia, Reflection And Hope

 December

 

The countdown to December starts in October. In other words, the countdown to Christmas begins then. For the Christian community, December is synonymous with Christmas. It’s party time and a period for family reunions. The preparations for the festivities begin in October or even earlier. Many thus wrap up December on a joyful and hopeful note, looking forward to a brand new start in the new year. 

If I walk down memory lane, I’d find myself back in the little cottage that I lived in with Mom, Dad, and Brother. Mom prepared a fantastic array of Christmas sweets and savouries almost single-handedly. I so vividly recall dad stringing up the red and white streamers across the living room ceiling, the excitement of arranging the crib and decorating the Christmas tree and the can’t-wait-to-open presents.’ The best curtains and cushion covers were brought out, and little me faithfully penned a letter to Santa for quite a few years. I don’t remember attending the church midnight service, most likely because of the harsh Jamshedpur winters, but we did attend the Christmas morning services dressed in our brand-new, shiny Christmas clothes. I also recall the month-long school vacation and carolling as a teenager. Basking in the winter sunshine and downing cups of warm beverages, wearing thick sweaters—these are winter memories that I hold dear.

Post my marriage in 1995, I’ve been living in Mumbai, where Christmas is celebrated with great fervour, but winter remains just a nip in the air.

Well, December to me is not just about winter and Christmas. Personally, I view December as a bittersweet month that invites you to reflect on the year gone by, focus on the positives, and let go of the negatives. You express joy and gratitude for every blessing received during the year, while the month gently nudges you to clear out the clutter and chaos and move into a bright new year, hoping for the best! 

As I count my blessings, the high point would be the travelling that I was able to do, my health remained pretty stable, a few windows that I needed to desperately open have opened, and I know that life will not stop throwing curveballs. I hope and pray that I'm able to negotiate them in the New Year.

This is my entry to the Blogchatter Weekly prompt.  

What does December mean to you? How do you like to close your year?