I'm both a writer and dreemer at heart, and both require time and space to convert thoughts into action and bring them to fruition. As such, the idea of having a purpose-built hour set aside daily for me to focus on my writing projects is more than a little enticing.
I've been struggling with time, headspace, energy, and motivation when it comes to putting pen to paper or fingers to the keys. I've had a lot going on off-chain this past year... and still do. So, it's been a balancing act, and not always possible to keep all the balls in the air. But I realised lately that I was showing up for everybody else, except me. For several reasons, for some time now, I haven't been a priority in my own life. My passions have fallen by the wayside, in deference to the needs of others.
The Dreemport - Creative Work Hour Collaboration for February is slowly changing that. Last week I managed to attend two CWH sessions led by @alessandrawhite, and I intend to show up for another two this week. Today I attended Pimp Your Post Thursday presented by @shadowspub, for the first time in many months. I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed being back in the zone.
Dreemport is my online home. It's where I found my tribe in the blogosphere back in August 2021, and where my writing heart comes to rest. I met the inimitable @dreemsteem two months into my journey on Hive, and have never looked back. I can only describe my friendship with her as blessed beyond measure. Our Pirate Captain leads with her heart and takes dreemers on journeys beyond our wildest imagination. Love you, Ms. Dreems!
I have hung out in the past with Alessandra in #Hivespace on X.com but had never experienced her Creative Work Hour sessions before this collaboration. Alessandra has the most soothing voice; perfect for leading creatives in meditation to start her CWH sessions, and when she interjects during focused time, it is never jarring. It's like a little passing hug.
Creative Work Hour has such a lovely structure. It starts with a breathing exercise/meditation which relaxes the body and stills the mind. There is then an opportunity for anyone who would like to share to do so before we head into a short burst of creative activity. We reconvene briefly and then have a longer period of focus in which to get fully immersed in our creativity. I was able to use my time quite constructively, mind-mapping various aspects of my pending post and doing a bit more reading and research. In this space, ideas build organically, and creativity flows naturally. Alessandra then spends five minutes winding the session down, before we all go our separate ways... until the next time!
I have both the Friday and Saturday sessions in my diary to attend this week, and can't wait to finish my research for my signature post during this time. There is something quite comforting and motivating about knowing that you are in a virtual live space with other creatives from around the world, all doing their thing - there is a sense of responsibility and accountability for the time gifted to us to produce our best work.
When we are running around our busy lives trying to snatch a few minutes here and there to dip our creative hand into the Lake of Imagination, it's hard to get going. It's hard to create something vivid and rich when you don't have sustained dedicated time. It all becomes a bit greyscale. But Creative Work Hour changes all of this. And when you bring your heart as a dreemer into this creative space, you realise with delight, as you log off the call, that you have just spent the past hour dreeming in colour.
Thank you for this wonderful collaboration @dreemsteem and @alessandrawhite. I'm looking forward to pulling my piece together over this final week to see what emerges on the other side.
Header image created in Canva Pro using written prompts in Magic Media AI.
Infinity divider created using Canva Pro library.
Dreemport banner used with permission of @dreemsteem and @dreemport and designed by @jimramones