Lately I have been asking myself "what is my soul food?"
What is it that makes my heart sing, sometimes without even noticing because I am so engrossed in the moment?
After thinking long and hard, I figured it could be broken down into bite-sized pieces...
Well, I guess for entrees it would have to be a selection of my fave tunes, played on our DIY DJ decks - a more modern twist on the mix tape of old, just better sound quality! All those great songs that just transport me back to a time of bad perms and even worse dress sense, when I thought I was ahead of my time in the style stakes! (Fast forward twenty plus years and I'm back in fashion - AGAIN!!) For me, those songs, played loud with flashing lights and a disco ball are all I need to evoke fantastic memories with fab friends. It's not called soul music for nothing...
For my main course it would have to be a hearty serving of family and friends - and spread across two hemispheres, that's never easy! Nothing soothes the soul like spending time in the company of people who just know who you are, and love you anyway. That 'warts and all', take me as I am comfy-ness, like a pair of old slippers when you first see each other after a long time apart. Those friendships mean the world to me, and our time spent catching up with each other recharges my batteries.
Also in my main course is a side serve of new friends, that no matter how old I get there's always room for more amazing people in my life to enrich my soul.
Now for dessert - this is where it really gets interesting - this is a knickerbocker glory with extra cream and caramel sauce!
For me, the 'cherry on top' for my soul is being creative, well to be more precise, DOING something creative! The muse doesn't always visit, and sometimes there can be long, barren patches between spurts of creative activity. At this moment in time 'she' has chosen to visit and stay a while, taking up residence in my workroom, but sometimes spilling over into other areas of the house. We spend time painting, stamping, machining, felt-making, sketching and doing embroidery. Sometimes all of the above are being used in a very short space of time because the ideas are flowing and we need to capture them before they evaporate into the ether.
I try to maximise this flurry of creative energy and let my soul soak up the joy doing what I truly love, for I don't know when my muse will take her leave.
Until then I continue to learn, create, play, make a mess and enjoy the journey, for who knows where it will take me...
