September has come and gone in a flash. I felt like I was wading through quicksand with each passing day. Every day, I would step into my studio to work, but the demands of life would find ways to interrupt the oh-so-elusive flow of creativity.

Over the past seven years of running my online art school, I've been open and honest about the challenges of balancing family, life, and creativity. It may seem like I have it all together, capturing and sharing beautiful moments with everyone, creating classes, and encouraging you on your creative journey. But, if you pull back the curtain, there are distractions and challenges that I don’t always enjoy facing.

I have hesitated to share this part of my story because it has nothing to do with art and creativity - or does it?

I took an unplanned break from social media in September because I was overwhelmed by the demands of having a parent with dementia. My mom is not the same person she used to be, and I'm struggling to see her this way. Her many appointments seemed to go on for hours in rooms with no windows and seemed void of ventilation. I'm probably imagining it, but there doesn't seem to be any air circulating in those exam rooms! We wait for someone to magically appear, ask questions, check her blood pressure, and then disappear until the next person appears. Time seems to come to a complete stop.

The upside is that she still gets up, picks out a lovely outfit, puts on her makeup, empties an economy-size can of hairspray to ensure her hair stays put, and sets out to meet her friends for breakfast. I'm unsure how long this will last, but she is in a beautiful senior living facility six minutes from our home, where she is safe when we're not available.

I hope you don’t mind that I’ve shared this personal story. It may not be beautiful or inspiring in any way, but what can be inspiring is walking through unexpected moments and finding something beautiful on the other side. These experiences may accompany us into the studio as we explore our artwork and tap into something new. Maybe something so remarkable it will take our breath away. I can hardly wait!

I would love to know if you have any tips that help you return to making art when life becomes challenging.