tis the Season to be crafty?

To say it has been a while is an understatement. While it seems the majority of people around me have got their heads in the right place. My plans seem to change daily. I can't wake up with-out pressing the snooze button at least 5 times. I can’t get dressed with-out throwing everything I have out of my wardrobe in a rage, to the tune of "I have nothing to wear." I can't for the life of me remember what day it is; Sunday was Saturday and today was yesterday. I can't even hold a date down with my best friend (All work and no play, gets in the way and all that). But in my time of need, when all else fails me, what I can do is Craft! #1 It takes little to no money and #2 It takes little to no planning.

The last couple of weeks I've increased my productivity by about 90%. I went from changing the blankets around on my bed for fun, to completing three homemade Christmas presents and a Christmas wreath, made from magazine cut-outs.

So I got to thinking. I do this every year. It gets to December and I suddenly go all Martha Stewart, but by the New Year I've lost it. And I have indeed lost it. I'm capable of being creative all year round, but something is always missing from my arsenal. I just cannot stick to my guns and set out to accomplish all those half arsed projects in my cupboard. What has caused my lack of inspiration? Where’s the wind in my sails? The fire in my heart? The... oomphf?

I want to inspire and be inspired, so I thought I'd search for something to help. Some phrases, mottos or a simple 'mantra' if you will. Nothing complicated, or patronising, just a little reminder to give me that push.
Here's just a few I found.

1. "Everything is okay in the end, if it's not ok, then it's not the end."

It can’t just be me who tends to think it's the end of the world before I’ve even finished something. I worry about the silliest of things and panic. This mantra reminds us that what we care about most isn’t always straightforward and when you are at your worst, difficult situations make you want to give up. I know more than anyone that “Don’t give up, It’ll be ok”can be the last thing you want to hear, but this new phrase gives it a fresh spin and makes you less likely to want to punch someone.

2) "Never give up on something that you can't go a day without thinking about."

Every day I have a conversation, or read an article, or see something that makes me think, "I should write about that". It’s not always interesting, but if you show how enthusiastic you are about the subject, you can find something that interests others. A mutual agreement that you never knew you had. Even better, a point of view you may never have seen. Since me and my friend started a project last year called BexhillToBrighton, I’m always thinking about things we should write about. We may not always get round to doing it, but it doesn't mean it’s not important or that we’ve given up.

3) "Imagination is more important than knowledge." - Albert Einstein

Oh Einstein, this does bring me great joy. We British have a way of selling ourselves short. I claim I’m not very bright, or have no special skills, but I am creative. Intelligence is more than just mathematics and general knowledge. I'm not saying I'm the most imaginative, but I'm not the most unoriginal. If one person a day/a week/a month says to you "Oh, that's a good idea. I've never thought of doing that" you can’t be going wrong. If that little idea you had made someone think and got their own imagination going, it may have been the most creative and helpful idea they have heard in a while.

Plus, if Einstein says so, it must be true.