Creativity Lab Report #6: Practice, think like a monk and harvest
Happy Friday! We've been a little quiet lately, but we're still actively swaying on our creative hammock, moving ahead with all our projects, some publicly and some secretly keeping to ourselves for now!
Hamaka News
We've been dabbling in pottery-making for the last few months. We made a few pieces to feature in The Live Well Collection, and now we're slowly developing a small line of items to offer later this year. There has been a lot of trial and error involved, especially trying to understand how glazes work. But we are still motivated to keep learning, practicing and crafting some experimental pieces!
With a deep feeling of self-doubt, we decided to participate in our first artisan market, organized by the Cottage Pottery Studio, on August 20-22. We'll send more details in our next lab report!
Book
We celebrated this year's Summer Solstice by doing 108 sun salutations. We started preparing for it in January, and we always thought it would be a physical challenge. But in the end, it proved to be more challenging for the mind than it was for the body.
We build so much tension in our heads, and often, we're the ones creating our own walls and imaginary problems. A book that has been very helpful for navigating our present times is Think like a Monk by Jay Shetty. The book includes entire chapters about identity, negativity, fear, intention, purpose, routine, mindfulness, ego, relationships and service. It has helped us reframe our thoughts to be more present and at peace with whatever life throws our way. One of our favourite messages from the book was:
"We live in a binary world; contradiction exists. In death, you should be fully cleansed, free of comparison, criticism, fear, desires and ego. Imagine looking back on a life where you have been a teacher while remaining a student."
If you’re not into reading, you can watch the book summary by Ali Abdaal How Thinking Like a Monk Can Change Your Life. If you prefer a less spiritual language, you can read The subtle art of not giving a f*ck by Mark Manson, which takes more informal approach to life. To quote the book":
“The pampering of the modern mind results in a population that feels deserving of something without earning it and sacrificing for it. They do it because they feel the need to be great and accepted in a world that broadcasts only the extraordinary. In truth, success is not greatness. Greatness is choosing what to care about. In the face of confusion and death, it is sticking to your values.”
Local Biz
We've been big fans of Blueberry Hills Farm since 2017. Every year we drive all the way to Rodney to spend a good two hours under the sun picking organic, flavorful blueberries. We always expect them to last until the following season, but they end up being devoured in a few months. That's how good they are! This year, we found out that the farm changed owners, and the new proud gatekeepers, Kat and Paul, have many exciting plans for the land that may include the addition of new crops, partnerships with cideries and more. There is still time to go pick-your-own this year, or if you prefer, buy them already picked or frozen!
Cookbook Update
We know that plans are only guides. We started the photoshoots with the idea of being flexible and prepare to adapt to life situations. Even though we had a few minor obstacles along the way and a few frustrating weeks, we're amazed at how consistent we've been with our photoshoot schedules and how we're keeping up with our timeline!
Here are a few more behind-the-scenes videos and blog posts from our photoshoots! Week #2 was all about smoothie bowls and ice creams. Week #3 was a mix between salads, a quick family vacation and desserts.
Quote
“You are not a hypocrite if you change your mind after getting new information.” – Whitney Cummings
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