Finding Inspiration While Un-Inspired

At the start of 2022, I made a personal goal for myself to post a blog at least once a month for the entire year. It seems I've developed a pattern of starting off the year strong and once April comes along, I tend to fall off the wagon (this happened in 2021 as well). Perhaps this goal of monthly blogging is all too similar to the creation of New Year's resolutions, which I've pretty much sworn off. When I sit and think about why I haven't been able to keep up with my goal I have to admit that the main reason is that I've been feeling un-inspired. Maybe it's the state of the world that's making me feel mentally and emotionally fatigued. Maybe it's the fact that once April hits I start to lose the momentum and excitement that the New Year brings. Although I will say that my stats are slightly better than average with most resolutions being abandoned by February.

When I sit and think about why I haven't been able to keep up with my goal I have to admit that the main reason is that I've been feeling un-inspired.

Sitting here thinking about feeling un-inspired forces me to consider how and where I can find inspiration... There are plenty of things in my life that are wonderful and that make me happy, but what is it that inspires me? So, I start to think about my life and begin recalling what my everyday life usually entails. I get out of bed whenever my kid rises, which is often too early for my liking. I get him changed, brush his teeth, make him breakfast. In the background I can hear some kids show on the television or my kid is at my side tugging on my legs while I'm working my magic in the kitchen. I make my partner coffee, have a little something to eat and think about the day ahead: laundry, vacuuming, cooking, errands, other household tasks, etc. I multitask and take breaks to entertain my little one. We read books, goof around, have snacks. When he naps I try to do things for myself like exercise, take care of business (i.e. phone calls, e-mails, etc.), but sometimes I'm so tired that I end up napping too. The rest of the day carries on much like the morning until it's his bedtime. After the kid is down for the night I spend those few quiet hours watching television with my partner, making a late dinner, tidying up the house, etc. I go to sleep and repeat this same routine four days out of the week since I currently work part-time.

There are plenty of things in my life that are wonderful and that make me happy, but what is it that inspires me?

Sometimes, we can get caught up in the routine of day to day. Sometimes we're just trying to stay afloat--at least that's how I feel. I say this as someone who is the parent of a young child. My days are sometimes so focused on just keeping my kid fed, clean, safe and happy that the creative side of me gets a little lost. While my routine may sound exhausting at times, it certainly isn't boring or dull! Ask anyone who is the parent of an active toddler and they will probably feel the same way. However, days of the same routine turn into weeks and weeks turn into a month... So here I am, the final day of May and determined to put something out into the world in order to keep to my goal.

The reality is that my everyday routine may not seem very exciting, but nowadays I don't always need excitement. My routine might seem mundane or ordinary to some, but in it I have found contentment.

While feeling un-inspired may not be exciting and entertaining, I've decided that it may not necessarily be a bad thing. The reality is that my everyday routine may not seem very exciting, but nowadays I don't always need excitement. My routine might seem mundane or ordinary to some, but in it I have found contentment. Life is slow most days, but I've grown to become okay with that. Some days I am so exhausted that slow is all I can manage and I savor those brief moments when I can sit and do nothing except cuddle with my son while we watch our favorite movie. So, no, I don't have any amazing new ideas to share this month and I haven't figured out how to solve the world's greatest problems. However, by writing this blog I have realized that while I may not feel inspired in the moment, eventually the inspiration will return. In the meantime it is completely fine to bask in the mundane because if everything were inspiring then that'd be pretty ordinary. Until inspiration strikes again... Life is Bueno.