Nature Inspires Creativity
I am grateful to be living in paradise, on Vancouver Island. Since 1999 I have been living in the absolutely beautiful Comox Valley in British Columbia, Canada. From living in Comox, to Denman Island, and then in Ships Point, Fanny Bay, I have been blessed daily, by seeing the awe-inspiring visual beauty of my surroundings, wherever I go.
Why did I leave the city? Well first off, let me tell you that I LOVE cities, and I LOVE Vancouver, where I spend much of my social, work and business life. I want to work in cities, travel to cities, stay connected to cities.
I want to teach workshops in the city. I want to offer speaking engagements in the city. In short, I love the city. I left the city simply, to try something new, to stretch my mind, to get out of my comfort zone, and to see what I might find. And also, I had heard that the Comox Valley had the highest number of artists per capita anywhere in Canada. (that would have been around 1998 that I was researching)
However, having now lived the rural and island life for several years, I truly see the health benefits AND the benefits to living the creative life, by living a quieter, slower pace, surrounded by nature. I choose to live the creative life, and to live IN the creative process. I have walked daily, at the ocean or in forest trails, and down dirt roads with no traffic. I breath fresh air and drink clean, pure water bubbling nearby.
In the summer I swim, often twice a day…once in the ocean, and once in a lake, or twice in the ocean, as my mood sees fit. I observe deer, bald eagles, the salmon run, the salmon spawning, the herring run, seals, sea lions, and hear a multitude of bird sounds, daily. I view mountains and trees. I have time to see the minute by minute changing of the seasons. I drive to my little city of Courtenay, which is the closest major centre to where I live, and I drive along a beautiful ocean drive, trying to pay attention to the road, instead of what might draw my attention on the ocean on my right.
I am convinced that nature, choosing the quiet life, the island life, a rural life, is simply…good for you. Nature is good for Health, body, mind and spirit. And through that all, Nature Inspires Creativity. I have the time (and the desire) to let my mind wander, to create in my mind, the life I choose to live. I have the time to work on my next creative project, whether writing a book, writing a blog, painting my next work of art, or crafting a speaking engagement.
In the Comox Valley, I SEE beauty everywhere I go. Seeing the beauty of nature daily, does something to the heart. It opens my heart. This opens my mind. I want to create.
Nature Inspires Creativity.
- brenda johima -
