Creative Dates

Staying in your Inspiration. Returning to your light

Several years ago, my dear friend, Margarita, gifted me The Artist’s Way. One idea that stayed with me—and continues to shape how I reconnect with my creative spark—is the concept of the “Artist Date.”

Over time, I’ve made it my own, calling them Creative Dates—a time on my calendar to check in with my inner child and ask, What do you want to do today?

Sometimes the answer is swinging in the hammock.
Sometimes it’s a swim, a walk in nature with my camera, getting messy with art supplies, or playing with my sewing machine—upcycling old clothes into something new.

These dates aren’t about productivity.
There’s no end goal or outcome.
They’re about wonder, curiosity, and joy.

For me, creative dates are a way of staying connected with the childlike part of me—the one who leads with imagination, makes messes without judgment, and feels the world through play.

This is how I return to my essence.
This is how I return to Joy.
This is how I stay in my Light.

One of my most memorable dates was to the Lone Star Round Up last year—camera in hand, heart open. Just me and the lens, playing with light and angles, chasing beauty in unexpected places.

I ran into some old friends, Mike and John, from Michigan—people I hadn’t seen in over 20 years. As we caught up, the conversation turned to my photography. Mike asked if I’d ever thought about sharing it more widely.

(Yikes. Vulnerability alert.)

This year, I went back—and Mike shared more of his own story. How, years ago, he took a leap of faith to do something he loved, surrendering the outcome. Now he restores classic cars with his son, travels the country, and teaches the next generation.

That story landed deeply.

So many people never take that leap.

And yet when we do- when we follow the nudges, trust the spark - it can open us to something powerful and life-giving.

That’s what creative dates are for me:

They’re invitations to follow the nudge.
To play without pressure.
To be surprised.
To remember who I am beyond the doing.

These moments are small, but they’re potent.
They reawaken something real. Something alive.
They help me show up more confident, more authentic, and more deeply connected—to life, to others, and to myself.

Because when I feel creatively alive, I’m in my flow.
When I feel joy, I radiate lighter and brighter.

When I feel connected to that part of me, the world around me feels more like a dance than a struggle.

Your Turn
What part of you is asking for space to play?
What will you do on your Creative Date?

Post a selfie or share in the comments - I’d love to see what lights you up.

A Peek Into My Creative Dates with Friends

Here are a few snapshots from recent Creative Dates — spent with friends, experimenting with art supplies, making messes, and letting joy lead.

There’s something magical about creating just for the sake of it—with no pressure, no outcome, just presence and play.

Maybe it will spark a little inspiration for your own date with wonder.

John & Mike of Gas Axe Garage