February is a good time to take stock of the goals we set at the start of the year and decide what’s worth carrying forward. As I continue focusing on eating healthy and improving my prayer life, I am also choosing five creative pursuits to support better mental health. They are free or low cost.

If you choose to do any of these, you may find that they help you process your emotions and improve your mood. Photography, baking, dancing, gardening, and letter writing are my five pursuits.

The first creative pursuit that I will highlight is photography. I can use my cellphone’s camera, as it is the most accessible to me. I will be picking it up more often to snap photos of my family, especially my growing daughter, our dog, and the flora and fauna around my home.

My daughter’s joy is visible in the pictures I snap of her playing with our dog and with her toys. Capturing that happiness is a thrill, and I can treasure the memories when I look back on the photos of her.

Nature photography is something I want to improve on. There are different settings that can help show off macro or micro images. For example, I can zoom in on a bee on a flower and the rest of the image can fade so it looks fuzzy.

I am not experienced with photography, but I am an eager student. I will be taking pictures of the beauty I see each day.

The second thing that I will be doing more of this year is baking. We have so much frozen fruit saved from this past summer. I would like to make blueberry muffins, rhubarb coffee cakes, and apple pies with it.

When I bake, I am present in the moment. I am using my hands and my mind to think about what I need for a recipe. It is an all-consuming task that I enjoy. I also want to bake rustic bread and pizza dough.

Dancing is the third creative activity I will be doing more often this year. I find doing movement improvisation relaxing and fun. It makes my daughter laugh when I twirl about the room like a ballerina, or she squeals when I jump and spin.

I have tried all kinds of dance, from hip hop to ballet and from flamenco to Peruvian folk dance. Out of all these different dance forms, my favourite was performing with the Peruvian folk dance group, as their routines included fast movements and passion.

I can bring that energy into the dance I do in the comfort of my own home.

The fourth creative pursuit that I will take more interest in is gardening. My husband and I carefully curated what plants to grow in the front and backyard garden. We have eight rose bushes, lavender, hydrangeas, a herb garden, and many more varieties.

Taking care of the plants in our garden, inside and outside, will help me to feel a sense of accomplishment. Seeing the plants and flowers grow will make me happy.

It is rewarding to see the beautiful blooms and watch the wildlife and insects enjoying the fruits of my labour.

Letter writing is the fifth expressive outlet. I will write letters to myself and to my friends and family. When I write letters to myself, it will help me reflect.

Reflecting on what is happening in my day helps me process things that are challenging. I’ll title the letters to myself, “Dear wildflower,” a tender name I give myself.

When I write about difficult events, I will find clarity and negative feelings will dissipate. Writing letters will help me slow my thoughts and find a new mindset.

I’m looking forward to doing my five artistic endeavours this year. Jesus always provides us with what we need, and I will be mindful of his direction. I’ll pray to be open to the Holy Spirit for inspiration in each of these activities.

I will offer Jesus my passion. I hope he blesses me with health, creativity, and wisdom.