If Inspiration Is Everywhere, Then Why I Am Searching for It…

I started feeling extremely restless on Wednesday. It was a pronounced sense of idleness that weighed upon me heavily, winding my mind up like a toy while crippling my immediate productivity. All I could think of were the many ideas, desires, and plans I’ve had and do have and how those things are frozen outside of time. I’m not producing, and I haven’t created…as much as I would like to. This thought streaked through me and electrified me, almost dead. And so the cravings hit like that. I needed inspiration.

Is my identity as a creative person locked into my having created something of value to others? Or is it just a recognition within myself? And the confidence to be that without set expectations?

I was frustrated, sitting on my couch watching Netflix with Facebook and Instagram just a swipe away. (Social media drains my creativity, but I’m such a procrastinatorrrrrr. Smh.) So I decided to find the inspiration my soul – my psyche – was craving.

Honestly, it sounds and feels cliche to say that I’m going to an art gallery for creative inspiration, but I didn’t know where else to turn. I needed to be outside of my everyday environment. I needed to see different, hear different, feel different. Sensory reset.

…So I found my way to the McColl Center for Art + Innovation.

The artwork focused my racing thoughts. The bright colors were hypnotizing. The artists in residence were friendly and inspiring. And here I return to that cliche word Inspiration. I heard a quote from a video from an exhibit,

“Inspiration is everywhere.”

I pondered this idea because I came there for inspiration. If inspiration is everywhere, then why did I have to come to an art gallery to be inspired, I wondered. It occurred to me that it is good to be in a place where creativity is the norm. I don’t live like that everyday, and I need reminders. When you have an artist’s heart and an analytical mind, creative inspiration gets lost. So I went looking for it.

Some days, I breathe creativity from the time I wake up to the time I go to bed. On other days, I have to remind myself of who I am and what I have.

…Ultimately, I am inspiration.

The Royal Coil

Evolution and Apologies and Blog Vision

Hi readers. I just want to say thank you if you still follow me or if you happen to read this. I have been completely absent from my blog this summer, and I apologize.

I’m sitting here watching Kim the Natural Fashionista on Periscope, and she has mentioned having integrity, being consistent, and evolving. I feel a bit convicted because I have been guilty of being terribly inconsistent AND not being true to myself AND, subsequently, not allowing myself to become who I am and express who I truly am through my blog. I have to be honest; I have found it very difficult to allow my true self to be translated to social media. I think it is because I am naturally introverted. Recently, a friend stated that she knows that I am an “extreme introvert.” I was taken aback, but I quickly realized that it is true. As an extreme introvert, it takes a considerable amount of time for me to come out of my shell and completely be myself in my relationships with others. I think that is quite amplified when it comes to social media and blogging. I know how to post what I see other people like, but I’m often at a loss as it pertains to posting or sharing who I really am.

Anyway, I’m sharing this because I just want you all to know that it’s easy for me to get caught up in what others think is good or all the lists of how to be the best blogger and how to make you blog popular and things like that. Do I want to have a great blog? Yes! Do I want to be entirely purposeful and entirely MYSELF, for the glory of God? YES. So please bear with me as I figure this out. I’m getting better at being comfortable in my skin, with my body, with my thoughts and perspectives in real life and real time. It’s just a little different, in my opinion, when I’m putting it out there for others to experience on a larger scale. Can anyone relate?

But I think I know what I need to do or, rather, what path to take. This blog is going to be multitudinous, like me! I plan to celebrate my natural hair and share that journey. I’ll share what I’m learning about purpose because that has become a major theme in my life. Finally, I’ll share whatever is on my heart. I believe that that will help with my consistency. I just want to be myself. I just want to share my world!

…so come along with me!

Natural Hair Life Lessons…: Love for the Process

I used to be obsessed with the end result, but now I’m falling in love with the process.

First, let me apologize for being away for so long. The blog is new, and I’m still getting into the habit of blogging regularly. However, I just want to let you know that I appreciate you following and reading!

So the aforementioned thought came to me a few days ago, and it’s one of my natural hair life lessons. Natural hair is so philosophical. I remember when I first went natural, I went through a phase in which I was obsessed with achieving the perfect afro. There were several moments of extreme frustration with the shape of my fro, the kinkiness, the way different parts grew at different rates. It wasn’t perfect. I didn’t realize that perfection wasn’t the goal, and the process was more important.

Now that I’ve done my second big chop, I can appreciate the process much more. I’m not used to having such short hair, and it’s a bit complex to work with because it’s a tapered fro. Different lengths can be frustrating to grow out. Just remember that Anything that is cause for frustration conversely can be a source of creativity. That is why I’m doing my Work Whatcha Got style challenge, even though I’m not going to make the time frame that I created for myself (6 weeks). It is challenging me to think outside the box, to try even when I think I may fail, and to appreciate the small wins.

Those things, among others, are keys to falling in love with the process. So now, I love what my hair does in its current state and at its current length. Let this be a reminder to you that you have what it takes as you are. Just get creative. Think outside the box. Try even if failure is a possibility. Appreciate every single achievement along the way – appreciate your progress. It’s all a part of the process. 

In short, my natural hair has taught me to love the process – to love every day of my hair rather than obsess over an idea of perfection. In general, for my hair, the process is more important because the right process will make it healthy, and the end result will likely exceed my expectations. The same goes for myself as an individual. The process is when I focus on myself, I learn myself. I take care of myself. I love myself. I improve myself. The end result will be exactly who and what I am supposed to be, and I will exceed my own expectations.

Now, unto Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think… – Ephesians 3:20

#NaturalHairLifeLessons

The Royal Coil

The Awkward Phases of Natural Hair (or Life)

This post is kind of about my hair, but not completely. I’ll start with the hair though.

I am in an awkward phase. (My autocorrect wanted to put “awesome” instead of “awkward.” Honestly, it could be that too. It’s all about perspective.) Anyway, I had my hair cut down on the sides and back last fall. I loved it. It was boy hair short, like the cut life short, like all you need is a brush, if that, short. It was so fresh and fine. It was a wonderful phase while it lasted, and at the time, it was exactly what I needed to see my own beauty in a different form, to learn to accept and adore another side of myself, and to embrace a more mature look, in my opinion. I had it cut down a second time after letting it grow back in. That was in December, and I have since committed to allowing it to grow back because I miss my afro. So now I have about half an inch of unstretched shrinkage around the sides and back and about 2 inches of unstretched shrinkage on the top with more length in the front and less length in the back. Are you visualizing the awkwardness? I mean awesomeness.

Because this looks sufficiently awkward.

Honestly, though, I believe that, in order to get the best out of my hair, I have to be as positive and creative as possible during this phase. As I’ve learned about natural hair before, controlled chaos is beautiful in itself. So I’m challenging myself to create 6 styles on my hair in the next month. Now that was kind of about my hair, but I’ve found that having natural hair and what I’ve learned about it parallels so many things in life. Like, my hair and my life are twins kinda!

I’ve been in an awkward phase in my life lately too. I was in between jobs for 9 months last year. I’m working 3 jobs right now. I’m still trying to get comfortable in my new phase of singleness. I have dreams and ambitions out the wazoo and am still in a character development phase. I don’t sleep enough, and I’m pretty sure I’m more busy than I am happy. Awkward enough, right?

It wasn’t until last year that I realized what I really want to do. And that’s awkward because having 2 degrees and not being able to articulate what you want to do with them makes for awkward silences and awkward looks. Awkward pep talks and awkward scoldings from your elders who only want the best for you. Even awkwardly trying to fit your squareness into a round job all for the sake of gainful employment. (Don’t get me wrong. Sometimes, you do have to take a job because you nees to pay the bills and be able to have fun.)

What I have learned from being natural is to embrace the awkwardness. Revel in it and let the creativity flow. Don’t force it. Work hard. Don’t make or allow for excuses for your ends not meeting. But work with what you have and if you don’t know what you have, start to explore it. You appreciated your last really great season, just as I thoroughly appreciated my haircut. However, if you’re going to get to the next level, you must focus forward and not lament what you’ve got going on now. This goes for your hair and your life. Keep building. Keep growing.

Awkwardness ➡Creativity ➡Awesomeness. Thank you, Autocorrect, for the lesson in hair and life.

Gavrielle