When Inspiration is Elsewhere

Hindsight Tip #2 | Know When to Walk Away

I wasn’t planning to publish another Hindsight Tip today. I was planning to publish a real wedding. Unfortunately, I ‘m still waiting for that hindsight advice you all love. It’s just as well. I feel totally uninspired today. I don’t think I can muster enough energy to curate a wedding – even the lovely, joyful, vibrant mountain wedding I have in store for you.

It could be the snow, or the death of Steve Jobs, or simply the need for a quiet morning to myself; whatever the reason, I’m listening to my inner voice and spending some time away from the computer today.

I remember this happened when planning my wedding. I would get overloaded. I couldn’t do anything. I would become completely paralyzed by all of the options for the fun, laid-back, handmade, DIY wedding I imagined. Did I want and artful or rustic theme? Paper flowers or pinwheels? Traditional calligraphy or block print invitations? I was being exposed to so many options on the internet and in bridal magazines that I would sometimes lose sight of my original vision. The first moments after D. and I got engaged we talked about a fun party with our closest friends. There was no mention of paper flowers or pinwheels or invitation style. We just wanted to celebrate with loved ones. Period. But I soon got wrapped up in the little details and the crazy to-do lists that would pile up with each new idea or decision. I became obsessed with other people’s weddings, other peoples visions, and other peoples to-do lists. It stressed me out.

The best decision I made would be to take a break when I needed one.  I would take  a walk, read a book, or bake a cake. D. and I would go for a drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway, have a picnic, or go for a hike. When I would yield to the urge to walk away from wedding world when it became more of an energy suck instead of an energy inducer, I would invariably come back refreshed and rested. I would be back on track with my own vision and what made sense to us as a couple (given both our aesthetic and budget.) When I ignored the need for a break, I would simply suffer – unproductively, mind you.

So take breaks when you need them. Wedding planning is intense. And while it can be exciting and invigorating, it can also be overwhelming and exhausting. It’s important that you be kind to yourself and rest when you need to. Walk away from the hullabaloo. Reacquaint yourself  with your own head and heart. You won’t regret it.

I want to thank Becca from Life as an Artistpreneur for inspiring me to take a break today. All of today’s images are from her blog. Check out her guest post about her small, intimate Italian Wedding on Every Last Detail today.