The Happy Creative Blog – an introduction

Welcome readers, friends and fellow creatives.

I’ve been meaning to set this blog up for quite some time.

I love writing. But sometimes in my line of work, I don’t always get to write what what's on my mind - as I’m often ‘shaping’ text for someone or something else; a customer, a brand, a product. Or in the studio creating and knitting.

Since we have been living with COVID-19 as part of our ‘new’ normal, I’ve taken up walking. In a big way. I walk on average between 3 and 7 miles a day and have re-discovered the beauty of a pair of good headphones. The last time I listened to music with headphones on a regular basis was when I was in my late teens catching the Saturday morning bus from Kilmainham (Dublin, Ireland) to Leixlip - Weston Aerodrome (as it was known in the 80’s) - to hang out with my Air Scout friends, watch the light aircraft come in and help around the site in the hope a friendly pilot might give us a free flip up on their next trip. Back then, I was listening to Jim Croce, Billy Joel or Cat Stevens and learning about a world I had yet to discover; New York, London, Paris, living alone, being married, having kids; all of these things were unknown to me – and the future was exciting.

Now as I stomp the hills around the East Midlands in the UK, I’m listening to new world music, combinations of sitars with bodhran drums, Arabic and Native American Indian tunes, Bollywood laments and dance music (and the odd Van Morrison track thrown in). This is as new and exciting to me now, as Jim, Billy or Cat were back in the late 80’s. The music and the walking now, just like the music and the bus back then, is helping me forget, even for an hour, the difficulties we are living through and I am re-imagining a new and exciting world at the end of the journey. I’m fresher, lighter and ready for the day after an hour tramping across the hills.

I have form with re-imagining my future. Those who know me well and have been on a life journey with me (of which there are just a handful) know how many times I have re-imagined and re-shaped my life. It’s never been easy, but it’s generally worked out well and almost always, end up happier. The one constant that has helped me stay grounded and authentically me throughout – is my creativity.

In general society likes to pigeon-hole people into what they do – and it's generally the first question people ask when they meet you; “So what do you do?”. I could have, at times, been accused of having an identity crisis, but I’ve always believed that what you do doesn’t define you. While I’ve been an International Marketer and Channel Specialist I’ve also been (and sometimes simultaneously) a Consultant, Sales Manager, Student, Textile Designer, Teacher, Cub Scout Leader, Market stall holder, Gallery Owner, Entrepreneur, Managing Director, Volunteer, Artist, Tailor, Singer and I’m sure there’s others I’ve left out - including one of the most important, being a Mum. But whether it’s crafting a collaborative marketing campaign with an international enterprise, baking a soda bread or designing a new knit pattern - if I’m being creative, then I’m happy. All of these roles demand a degree of creativity and so that’s why I’ve called this blog 'The Happy Creative'.

You may or may not find all the content relevant to your work/ life/ interests but I’m hopeful that there will be something in here each week that will at least inspire you or give you food for thought – and make you smile, occasionally.

If you can be kind, thank you - I will have the courage to be authentic.