Shaking Things Up
Creating a Space to Play

Welcome! This is the inaugural newsletter of Simply Gorgeous Life. My intention is to create a beautiful, fun place to discover the advantages of putting our own needs and desires first. To PLAY for the pure satisfaction of play. To discover that Creative Expression without Expectation can be a opening for all types of energies. To use PLAY as a form of SELF-CARE.

creating-space

This process of learning how to take care of myself FIRST has been a long one, and I’m still learning! Throughout my whole life I have been a very responsible, overachieving person. I thought that if I took care of all the tasks on my list then I’d have a clear space to do something for myself. The problem was the list never got cleared! There was always more to do.

If you are someone who works, has their own business, and/or has a family to raise, you soon realize there are never enough hours in the day. I was fooling myself. I thought that if I could carve out time on a Friday afternoon for my own art, somehow that would work. Even my thinking about “carving out time” is a big red flag! Really. Why should I have to “carve” out time in my own calendar for something for my self? Inevitably Friday would come around and I’d always have something “more important” to finish. I’d move the “me time” on my calendar to the next week, hoping that evenutally I would find time for myself the next week.

Guess what?

It NEVER happened.

There was a time when my daughter was about five-years-old when I discovered that if I took a little time for my self, I was a better mom. Usually I had massage, which was wonderful for my body, but it didn’t really feed my soul. Well, she is now 26 and I’m just NOW discovering the benefits of doing something to feed my soul.

Last week I was working on a project for a client. I had spent hours at the computer designing a logo. It was fun and productive, but it still wasn’t time spent for my self. After two days of work, I was at a great point in the project, but I still felt that I needed to do more. I was in the hallway going into my design studio and right at that door is another door leading to my garage, where I have a space set up for throwing pottery. I stopped at that junction and had to force myself to go into the garage and play with clay. There was a tug-of-war in my brain. “Go finish the logos and then you can play.” I was telling myself. The other part of me really wanted to get away from the computer for a while.

The play side won! I went out into the pottery studio and worked on things for my self. For the pure enjoyment of playing in clay! I felt so happy and energized afterwards. It filled up my creative juices. In hindsight, it seems so simple yet it was so profound. And I’m aware that it was still a struggle for me to take that time. I am learning that if I take care of my self first, I have more energy for the other things in my life. Just like I discovered when my daughter was five. Only this time I am paying closer attention to what feeds my soul. And it is working!

Upcoming Webinar!

Shaking Things Up!

Play your way to more time, energy and money

  • Over-Promised?
  • Over-Extended?
  • Over-Responsible?
  • Over-Whelmed?

At the end of the day do you feel spent, exhausted, too tired to do anything for yourself?

Then join me this free webinar to reveal ways to…

Shaking Things Up

Tuesday, May 20, 2014
3 p.m. PDT

Recommended Resource

Carey Kingsbury
It’s with great joy and happiness that I share this resource with you. My dear friend, Carey Kingsbury — the Joyful Living Coach, helps people find their joy and purpose in life.

Carey believes that if you’re feeling stuck in life, juicing and cleansing can help. You can fuel your body with whole food and juices to gain clarity and uncover your soul’s purpose plus have the energy you need to put it into action!

Next week she’s offering THE JOY CLEANSE — a 15 day journey to reset the mind and body. In this program Carey offers the recipes, guidance, and support you need to get healthy inside and out. Join today http://joycleanse.com

Inspiration
You don’t have to be “a creative” to be creative.
—Drory Ben-Menachem
About Me…

Stephanie Steyer

Stephanie Steyer has been a professional graphic designer for over 30 years. She’s the mother of two. She’s a daughter, a sister, and a friend. She’s also been a wife, a business partner, a costume designer, a cook, a home-maker, an acting general contractor, an aromatherapist, a Pilates instructor, an interior designer, a photographer, a single parent, a care-provider, and an artist. Sometimes she’s tired.

Stephanie lives in Northern California with her partner, her dog, a variety of chickens, and two mammoth donkeys. She’s discovering herself as a designer, a ceramic artist, and a play enthusiast. Whew!

Let’s Connect!

Feel free to send me your thoughts and comments. I’d love to connect with you!

With love and beauty,
steph-sig