"The real purpose of art is to give emotional lustre to a range of ideas that are most important to us, but that are also most under threat in the conditionals of everyday life."
This quote from The School of Life has shown up as a message in various subtle and not so subtle ways literally every day last week. And when messages show up that often, I listen!
Yesterday morning, I took my usual bike ride down to the lake. It was warm, breezy, and calm. I made my way to the gravel pathway and, long story short, had a disturbing and unexpected interaction with a stranger—someone who seemed to carry a lot of anger and hostility.
In today’s world, it feels more important than ever to pause and think about safe ways to navigate these kinds of situations. Without going into the details, I can say my energy shifted, as you’d expect. But I paused and asked myself: What can I do right now to bring myself back?
It was Sunday, my “I won the lottery” day ('cause I protect Sundays like they're goin' out of style), and I wanted to create the right conditions for inspiration. I had plans to work on my novel, and I wanted to savour that pre and post session ritual.
Small happenings—encounters, emails, run-ins—can leave a dent in an otherwise easy-going day. Even for those of us who think we can easily “brush things off,” the nervous system still feels it. The body collects.
"The real purpose of art is to give emotional lustre to a range of ideas that are most important to us, but that are also most under threat in the conditionals of everyday life."
The conditions of everyday life. Hmm Not everything has to be big and booming to scar.
I rode my bike a little further and found a quiet bench where I decided to record a voice memo to a friend who’d helped me earlier in the week. I shared how her feedback and notes on a project had opened something up inside me, how sometimes those “by the way” comments create the biggest ripple effect. I told her she’d made a big impact on my world.
Riding back home, I felt my energy shift back to where it had been before.
I didn’t give in at the lake, even when someone basically made it clear I wasn’t really “welcome” there.
"The real purpose of art is to give emotional lustre to a range of ideas that are most important to us, but that are also most under threat in the conditionals of everyday life."
For me, this was just a gentle reminder of how our self and mindset work shape not only our projects but our whole creative life.
Next week, I’m planning to share something pretty big with all of you, so please stay tuned!
Reflect + Rewrite
This Week's Reflection Question: How do moments of unexpected challenge affect your creative energy, and what practices help you reset and come back to your work with clarity and care?
After answering the reflection question, revisit what you wrote.
Is there a single line—just one—that surprised you?
Maybe it stirred something. Maybe it made you pause.
Copy that line out. Sit with it.
As always, if you feel called, I’d love to see it. Hit reply and share it with me.
See you next week! If this letter moved you in some way, please forward it to a friend.
with love, Chelene
Founder, Breathing Space Creative
Want to explore more of my work? I offer bespoke writing mentorships, creative support calls, and free creative resources through my studio. But for now, just take what you need. I’ll be here.
