Finding inspiration in the little things

by Bella Knight

A couple of weeks they told us. A couple of weeks… not too bad. Until it turned into a couple of months, then the realisation hit. Lockdown began to have a vast impact on our lives, our education, our health.

The first lockdown seems so easy, so distant that the current one appears to drag on: to be prolonged and somewhat different to the sunny days of the first lockdown, that meant you could find happiness outside in the sun. This time is completely different - we’ve been thrown into a state of the unknown - a time in which deeply impacts our educational needs, our mental and physical health and immensely restricts our social interaction.

So the question is… how can we find comfort within all of this, how can we gather the inspiration to lead a ‘normal’ routine everyday, to get up and get out of the house, to get some fresh air and witness new scenery?

The answer is finding inspiration in the little things. Yes you’ve probably heard it before - “just find inspiration”- but I’m not just talking about putting on a happy face, plastering on a smile and cheering up. It’s something so much bigger than this, so much more important, something so revitalising, and mentally as well as physically driving. I’m talking about finding inspiration through passion and asserting yourself upon a hobby that you love. Find inspiration from the things that you love, your individual passions and something that drives you mentally.

For me, that passion, that powerful thing, is graphic design. Creating artwork is what drives me day to day, a time where I can be lost in a world of my own imagination, a place where I can communicate my views, feelings and opinions through the beauty of design, a time where I am able to explore conceptual as well as simplistic designs, depicting my perception on the world as well as creating breathtaking designs to share with society and the people that I am closest to, this instantly puts a smile across my face. Knowing that I can communicate my values through my artwork enriches my attribute to society, a place where my personality can boldly walk free and express itself. This is what drives me to continue along the uncertain and somewhat bumpy road of life. This is what drives me to go on a walk and find inspiration in the beauty of nature, to gather excitement from a new technique I am going to learn the following day, something I can look forward too amongst all of this uncertainty and difference. Don’t use the current situation that we are all in, to slouch on the sofa, to not get out of bed or even get dressed for the day. Use this time as a designated section of your life to explore what you love, to drive your creativity and individual passion. Continue something you love or uptake in a new passion or hobby and you will find your spirits instantly uplifted, a sense of purpose streaming through your blood, something that makes you smile in a time of hardship.

Do what you love. Do it now. Become the person you know you want to be and use your future aspirations, your skills and interests as ways to harness a greater, happier you.

Find inspiration amongst your passions. Find it now.