Start with creative courage and all else will follow
Ohisashiburi, (it’s been a while), as they say in Japan.
I’ve been quite recently although I’ve been working on some exciting new things, more on that at the end of the newsletter.
Somehow we’re at the mid-point of the year and my son broke up for the school holidays today!
He’s finished Year 4/ Grade 3 and I’m super proud of his progress. The school year is ending on a positive note, which hasn’t been the case in the last few years.
After moving back and forth from Japan to Singapore (twice) and having to make compromises about his schooling over the last two years, he’d been struggling to find his feet. But moving back here last summer, I was leaning into my own self-trust by enrolling him in his current school. Not that I didn’t doubt myself along the way.
Singapore has vast choice of schools for expat kids - in general it’s hard to get into local schools as a foreigner, but that’s a whole other topic. The choice is overwhelming at first and theres often so much (too much) prestige and social status tied to which school your kid is at. The most popular schools have waitlists and are hard to get into, then there are “budget” schools which are less popular but not everyone has the same range of choices so they serve a need.
Anyway, without boring you about Singapore’s international school choices, it has been a journey into trusting myself and my own intuition. (Just like everything else these last few years!) He’s had an amazing teacher this year and the school he’s at feels very positive and nurturing.
No school is perfect of course, but my boy is happy and growing and he’ll enter Year 5 with good friends, a great environment to learn in and caring teachers who are guides and teachers as much as anything else.
Here’s to summer and in a couple of short week we’ll be heading to the UK for the first time in over three years!
Introducing Creative Courage 101
I’m convinced that we’ve got everything backwards when it comes to living a creative life.
We make plans believing that if we follow a process we’ll get the results we want.
Or we jump in with both feet believing that “real writers” simply have to show up and write.
As though meaningful, heartfelt writing comes from a formula or it’s downloaded fully formed from the universe.
No is talking about the COURAGE it takes to stare down the blank page.
Or the COURAGE it takes to accept your own flaws, imperfections and misinformed beliefs.
Or the COURAGE it takes to open yourself up to feedback and critique when your biggest fear in life is being judged.
So yeah, start with nurturing and cultivating your creative courage.
Everything else will flow more smoothly when you do.
I’m really excited to announce that I’ve been working on a short course called Creative Courage 101!
It will be ready very soon, and the cost will be $47. But if you join the wait list you can sign up for an extra special early bird price.
More info here: https://kamsinkaneko.podia.com/intro-to-creative-courage