Good morning friend.
How have you been? I hope this letter finds you with a warm cup in your hand and some time to relax. I’ve been savoring the early morning walks because they’ve been so cool and calm lately.
I have been inspired to change things up a bit…well I guess it’s more of an addition to the regular schedule I’ve been keeping.
This week I am revisiting a book that helped me tremendously in the past: The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. It’s not just for artist’s, it’s a book that helps you to refocus your passions and find any obstacles that may be blocking your creative flow. It starts with morning pages…you begin each day by writing three full pages, stream of consciousness style, to allow flow to begin and to just get the extra junk out of your head. It doesn’t need to be about anything in particular, grammar isn’t important and you never go back and reread it.
This daily ritual feels so good, like you accomplished a huge task before your day has even started. There is also the Artist Date, basically an hour each week set aside to do something fun with just YOU. This can be a solo museum trip or even a walk on the beach ( I’ve been coloring! ). Anything that nurtures your inner creative. The book is filled with prompts and activities to continue finding connection and purpose to yourself.
I am committing myself to the morning pages as a way to strengthen my creative muscles and nurture my spirit. To accomplish this I wake up 15 minutes earlier than my normal so I can sit down and get the pages out of the way without disrupting the rest of my morning routine.
I have to say, just a few days in and I find myself enjoying my day more. I even experimented with my simple syrup for coffee this week and came up with something super yummy:
APPLE CHAI SPICE SIMPLE SYRUP
Ingredients
1 T chai spice ( or combine 1 T cardamom, 3 T cinnamon, ½ T ginger, ½ T cloves and ½ t black pepper to make your own blend; adjust ratios to your liking)
1 apple, chopped small
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup water
2 T vanilla extract
Instructions
Chop your apple small and add to a pot with your water and sugar. Bring to a simmer
Once at a simmer, add your spices and vanilla extract
Simmer for at least 10-15 mintues
Allow to cool slightly before straining out the apples
Once syrup is cooled completely, put into your favorite jar or bottle and label
Add to your morning coffee and feel cozy!
Let me just say that this syrup made waking up a few minutes earlier feel easy…I was too excited to have a cozy cup while I wrote my pages. I hope you find something this week, just for you. A moment in the morning or before bed to let yourself dream.
I’ll see you back here for more cozy…
Same time next week.
— Sara
Fresh-Roasted Coffee, Without Leaving the House
A third-generation LA roaster ships 50+ coffees — single origins, flavored favorites, decafs, even teas — days after roasting. Mix and match Keurig®-compatible boxes for tiered savings up to 34% off. First order? Take an extra 15% off, automatically.