Creativity is cyclical. As it goes, many aspects of life can either destroy or produce creativity. You wear it like an ancient dress—imbued with language, culture, traditions, and beliefs.

If I could not participate in grief’s meaning making, I would feel impaired in a desolate terrain. However, grief can send me into a perilous Wonderland, waiting to wake from Alice’s non-adventure. These are the major signs of distress I look for while grieving.

My grandma once said, "First years don't always follow a traditional calendar year, Honey.” I like to remember her words when the rhythm of life inaugurates a new era. A tender loss, triumphant start, or unexpected move—the seasons of life turn, turn, turn.

Dwelling on current woes in home and work life is normal. As an artist, introspection is often the way to a wellspring of ideas. If you are isolated at home because of pain or fatigue, deriving inspiration from seemingly mundane or limited experiences can help you cope.