The Pandemic Helped Me Embrace My Creative Spirit

How I use writing to tap into my creative energy

I’ve always lived with a motto that when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. And after the pandemic hit, I tried to find a silver lining and make the most out of every situation, however hopeless it seemed to be.

One of my major strengths is that I am highly adaptable and quickly adjust to changes. In difficult situations, I try to make do with what I have and apply it to everything in life. I look out for fascinating things with which to preoccupy my mind. Being a creative person, I have no problem tapping into my creativity. And one of the things that fuels my creative spirit is writing. Writing enriches my mind and feeds my soul.

As I ponder about the pandemic, I think of lessons we can learn from living through tough times. We’ve all been affected by the pandemic and endured the hardships of prolonged lockdown. But when the going gets tough, the tough get going.

If everything in life ran smoothly and according to the plan, we’d never be equipped to adapt to changes that come our way. We’d never be able to see past our limits. We’d never be able to put our abilities to the test. And we certainly wouldn’t be able to build the strength and resilience to get us through the challenging times.

Lessons we learn through challenges are the best lessons that life can offer us. Being in troubled waters helps us build strength and endurance. It builds our character.

As the proverb says: A smooth sea has never made a skilled sailor.

How I Discovered My Passion For Writing

Like everyone else, I’ve hit rough spots in my life. I’ve had my fair share of ups and downs. But every time life didn’t treat me as fairly as I wanted, there was something positive to gain from it. On many occasions, the situations I was in have helped me develop coping skills I’d later use to deal with life’s changing patterns.

And so, while, on the one hand, the pandemic proved to be devastating and put the brakes on many activities, it opened up the door for new possibilities and opportunities for growth. The one thing it didn’t take away from me is my creativity. On the contrary, it allowed me to flourish and blossom. It helped me to connect with my new passion — which is writing. I realized that writing is a truly rewarding and enriching activity that helps me feel more positive about life.

Exploring new horizons has always been an adventure for me. As a lifelong learner, I strive to enrich my knowledge, gain new skills, and hopefully inspire others. And even though I didn’t start writing until the beginning of the pandemic, by now, I feel like I’ve been writing since I was born. I believe that’s because writing feels so dear to my heart, and it feels so natural to me. To me, there is no better therapy than writing.

I knew I loved writing, but I couldn’t figure out how to get started until I discovered Medium. As I tested the waters with writing my first post on Medium back in May, I finally saw the light. I realized it isn’t as hard as I thought. The platform makes it so easy to write, share, and connect. I’m grateful for the experience I’ve gained from writing on Medium and connecting with so many amazing and talented writers on this platform. It’s such a profound joy to express my thoughts and connect with readers who read my work and show appreciation. I’m grateful for this simple fact.

My new passion for writing is the shocking surprise of my husband, who still can’t wrap his head around why I’m all of a sudden so addicted to writing and how I so enthusiastically switched from music to writing. When I unveiled to him that I started writing on Medium — I kept it a secret for a month — he rolled his eyes and gasped in disbelief. To this day, he still mocks me and teases me occasionally saying: “Why do you spend so much time writing? Are you not into music anymore?” In response, I make a confident remark: “I’m a writer because writing is in my heart.”

Since my life changed after the pandemic, I now use every spare minute of my time to write, and I must say, I’m addicted to it the same way I’m addicted to a rush of caffeine every morning. Along with writing, I also like to read. Reading pushes my boundaries and inspires me to write.

I’m a writer because writing is in my heart.

Final Thoughts

The blessings of life can be given to us in the form of lessons from which we learn and grow. When life gives us lemons, we can choose to see the brighter parts of life. We can learn how to be more adaptable and make the best out of every situation.

We can all benefit from having extra time by doing what we love. The key is to find a creative outlet that will enrich our spirits. I fuel my creative spirit with writing and that’s how I preoccupy my mind during the pandemic. And I’m so glad I gave writing a chance.