I’m writing this as much for myself as for anyone reading. Over time, I’ve realized there are a few simple, consistent needs that help me show up as my best self. When these fall out of balance, everything else tends to follow. When they’re in place, life feels more whole — more mine.
Here’s what I’ve found keeps me steady:
Proper sleep
Proper hydration
Rigorous physical workouts (at least four times a week)
Sunlight or vitamin D
Colorful, properly portioned, protein-focused meals
An event or project to look forward to
A good friend to share those events or projects with
A good book to meditate on
(Yes, I know that’s technically eight — I can’t help myself.)
If we zoom out to something like Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, these probably land somewhere between the foundational and the fulfilling — the space between survival and self-actualization. When these seven (or eight) pieces are in place, I feel fully charged to do the work I’m meant to do.
Looking ahead at my creative calendar, I’m grateful to have projects that motivate me to keep these needs in check: shows scheduled and in the works, recordings to lay down, song ideas waiting to take form, and lesson plans to help me grow in craft and art.
I’m learning that good things take time — and often, a bit of budgeting. Money isn’t the main motivator, but it’s a tool that keeps the creative machine humming. It’s funny how those high school and college business lessons keep bubbling back up now.
Lately, I’ve also been sitting with the idea that people become artists — they aren’t simply born as such. Artistry, like anything worthwhile, needs cultivation. It needs refreshing and refining with time. The best place to create from, I think, is one of freedom, expression, and connection — not one driven by “what will make the next dollar.”
When I start with the question, “How can I honor myself, my friends, or my family through this?” the process feels right. Sometimes those overlap beautifully, and sometimes they don’t. I’ve finally made peace with that truth: not everything is for everyone. The creator is, in many ways, the first and most important consumer.
As I write this, my mind is wandering — but maybe that’s the point.
The fall season is settling in, and with it comes that familiar whisper of shorter days and the potential for seasonal lows. These seven reminders are here mostly for me — to keep my cup full, my energy balanced, and my spirit steady as the year winds down.
Here’s to staying grounded, creative, and kind to ourselves through the changing seasons.