Every single time I’m in Target I hit the book aisle. Just in case something new pops up on the shelves. Typically, it’s the same book collection that was there the week before, you know, the usuals: Atomic Habits, Girlboss, and of course, the many celebrity memoirs that fill the shelves. But every so often, maybe once every other month, a new shiny book appears. On this glorious day I saw the amazing book by Ashlee Gadd: Create Anyway. I immediately picked it up because it mentioned motherhood on the cover and duh! I did my normal “should I buy this book” routine: flipped through the pages, skimmed over a few paragraphs, read the back cover, felt the pages…and man was this book a beauty. I was also very intrigued by this book because I had heard this author's name before and had come across her blog before as well. Yup, we got us a winner! Side note - I can’t help but wonder if the 30% off sticker is an additional sale for book readers who shop at Target, I also wonder if we are really getting a deal here but I’ll table that discussion for now.

So I dig into this book instantly. I love it because she shares stories, she has journal prompts, and she has blurbs from other moms sharing stories; I’m hooked. One of the chapters is about showing up in our creativity as moms. And it prompts me to think of my creative process. This chapter made me realize that I have shiny object syndrome for reading and writing. I get inspired and get stuck in with a book, or a journal entry, or a blog post…and then I may experience a dry spell. I will go days and not read or write anything. And then I’ll get inspired by another shiny object and the process repeats itself. This chapter in Ashlee’s book was a shiny object for me. The journal prompt was to write about a time when being creative once caused me to keep being creative, to keep writing and reading. So here I am, writing!

But as creators, moms, business owners, and career women; how do we keep the rhythms? I honestly get so upset at myself when I can’t find inspiration to write, or when I have nothing that I want to read (despite the hundreds of books in my office, quite a few of which I have not read yet SMH). I don’t like being in that space of blah-ness. But I also don’t want to force my creativity.

Or, maybe force isn’t the right word. If you consider yourself a creator (whether in motherhood, art, your career, your business, and/or your family), then it shouldn’t be looked at as forcing. We have to do all the things even when we don’t feel like it. I’ve had times when I’ve been in the middle of writing a blog post and had to stop to go pick up the twins from basketball practice or from school, and had to come back to the post and try to pick up where I left off. I would sit at my laptop and read what I had typed so far over and over to try and bring back that last train of thought I had. It usually doesn’t work. I have to start from where I am at that moment. I have to start my creative process from scratch.

This is when I’ll ask God to please bring the juice back! But really, starting the process over isn’t so bad. Because the truth is God will meet us right there. Like He always does. Is it that same magical moment we felt yesterday when the idea flew into our minds? No, that same urgency to get the idea or the project started is gone, but we have to finish it, right? We pick up where we left off every day with the daily tasks we do in our households and in our work, so why not in our creativity as well? And this is where the showing-up part kicks in. It’s easy to give up when you’re creative juices get cut short. It’s easy to want perfection when working on our goals, but that’s not realistic. I really struggle with this. My workflow always depends on my mood and I hate that for me!! Mine is a bit of ADHD as well, but I’ve learned to push through it when I can.

In her book, Ashlee touches on how God doesn’t expect perfect work. He just expects the work to be done. That is what He cares about. Are we simply able to do what God has called us to do? The middle, the and the how… it doesn’t matter. The end goal is where the impact resides. Ashlee also brings up Noah and the ark. And she asks us to think of how Noah must’ve felt being tasked to build an ark for all of creation to fit on. An ark that would have to withstand the worst flood known to man. Noah, all alone. Just him and God getting to it. I know for a fact I would’ve given up! I would’ve tapped out after God told me the supply list. No way in the world I would’ve been able to gather that many supplies by myself; it’s legit comical. But Noah was made for such a time as that. He was called to do it and he got it done. Of course, he had moments of fear and doubt. I’m sure he took breaks and complained to his wife. I’m sure he wondered “Why me?”. But he did not quit. And God saw him through to the end. And the impact, well you know the story.

And so, we are made for such a time as this. Whatever it is that you’ve been called to do is for you to complete. Not in the light of perfection, but in the imperfect way that only you can do it. I have to remind myself that writing about motherhood is what I love to do. I may not be the very best at it, but God has put this blog on my heart to share stories because there are moms like me out here who will benefit from my experiences and the journeys of all the moms like us. I don’t always feel inspired or motivated, but I write anyway. As a mom, I 100% do not always feel like mothering, but I do it anyway. I can’t just not do it. Then who will take on that role? I don’t always feel like working period, but if I don’t, then who will do it? And then I will upset clients, and then will risk not getting paid. No ma’am!

If we don’t create the things God has called us to create, then who will do it? And then what about the people God intends for our work to impact? I’ve come to realize that our calling isn’t so much about us, it’s about listening to God, being available for Him to use us, and being able to marvel at the impact that our purpose will bring to fruition.

Be encouraged to show up for your purpose and for your goals each and every day. Be encouraged to create, even when it’s not the perfect time to do so. Push yourself to show up for what God has called you to do and watch how beautiful the results will be.

The cliche saying is true: trust the process, it’ll be a great story to tell one day.