INSPIRATION A to Z (N - Nurturing)

This post is the fourteenth in a blog series where I’m exploring various aspects of INSPIRATION. When I chose INSPIRATION as my word for this year, my first thoughts were about finding, acting on and (in some cases) limiting INSPIRATION. I also knew I wanted this word to motivate me not only in my scrapbooking and crafting but also in my physical, spiritual and intellectual goals. During my FUN year last year, I published a two-week series entitled Where Does My Inspiration Come From?, which looked at the many different sources of INSPIRATION specifically for scrapbook layouts. However, in this series, I’ll be sharing a word for each letter of the alphabet (from A to Z) that relates to INSPIRATION along with my random and in-depth thoughts on that word and the various ways it relates to INSPIRATION in our lives.

N is for Nurturing

Nurturing is defined as "the act of encouraging, nourishing and caring for someone or something." Nurturing involves giving care and attention to aid in growth. Nurturing is providing support or nourishment and often requires a commitment of time. Sometimes it takes Nurturing to turn our INSPIRATION into action or tangible outcomes.

For example, I have collected lots of INSPIRATION and ideas for scrapbook layouts, but for me to turn that INSPIRATION into a collection of layouts for our scrapbooks, I must spend time Nurturing this FUN hobby. That Nurturing can take many forms - thinking about and planning how to preserve our memories, learning new techniques and designs through online or in-person classes, buying and organizing supplies, and, of course, actually taking time to create layouts.

Nurturing also involves encouragement and support. One of the things I most enjoy about scrapbooking is the encouragement and support within the scrapbooking community. I especially enjoy receiving comments here on my blog when I share layouts and other crafty projects, and I like to give encouragement and compliments to others, too. I think by sharing our creations we are able to support one another in this hobby as well as provide INSPIRATION for each other. (Thank you, lovely bloggy friends, for the Nurturing you provide to me regularly!)

As an added bonus, scrapbooking is a Nurturing hobby! Check out this great article about how scrapbooking is good for your health - it helps lower stress, is a form of meditation, gives our brains a workout, supplies a social outlet, and keeps our hearts happy. 

In summary, Nurturing is important for growth and can be the conduit for acting on INSPIRATION.

How does Nurturing play a part in your hobbies? Please share your thoughts on Nurturing and INSPIRATION in the comments.

Click HERE to see all my INSPIRATION A-Z posts, or click a letter below to see individual posts.

A(Art)   B(Baking)   C(Creativity)   D(Drawing)

E(Experiences)   F(Finishing)   G(Goals)   H(Hiking)

I(Immersion)   J(Journaling)   K(Knowledge)

L(Learning)   M(Movement)   N(Nurturing) 

O(Organization)   P(Planning)   Q(Quiet)   R(Reading)

S(Style)   T(Teaching)   U(Upcycle)   V(Vacation)

W(Work)   X(Xciting)   Y(Yuletide)   Z(Zzzzzs)