My Choices for 2017 Best Nine

 My One Word for 2017 was Create. I am proud that I have maintained and cultivated the habit of creating every day and have no intention of stopping anytime soon. Through this daily creative practice, I learned a lot of different lessons.

A daily creative practice improves mood. There were only maybe three days throughout the year where this daily create commitment felt like a chore and those were usually related to illness. The last thing on my mind following let's say a painful oral surgery procedure was creating. Inevitably following a quick sketch or painting, I always felt a bit better.

For me, doing something creative with my hands helps focus my mind and eliminates distractions. Whether it's painting, lettering, drawing, or some creative programming with my Raspberry Pi, the creative act is a learning process that provides clarity and increased focus in this age of increasing distraction. This is why making time for creativity is so important. Unlike previous years, where creative pursuits fell away when I became busy, during 2017 it was creative pursuits that helped provide sanity and balance when things got busy.