I met Michelle GD through Jen Lee's Indie Kindred group, and knew right away that she would be a great fit on Embody Your Muse. As writer and photographer, Michelle's work is calming, and deeply intentional. She "believes there is beauty in tiny moments and healing power in image and word," and that shows up consistently in her work. Michelle contributes to some interesting spaces online, and you can find links to them here.

Artistic since youth, Michelle became serious about her art a few years after the birth of her children. Photography and writing were ways for her to mark time - practices in creativity and meditation - and could both be done in small packets of time. And the opportunity to do just that was, and is, very welcome in her busy days; inviting a slower, more meaningful approach to life. Ultimately, becoming a mother inspired, and continues to inspire, her creatively.

Mindfulness is very important to Michelle, and it's something she aims to practice day-to-day. Gratitude Week 2014, a free program Michelle facilitates, runs Monday, November 10 to Sunday, November 16. I hope you'll check out this special way to practice mindfulness.

What does Creativity mean to you?

to me, creativity means actively engaging in the making of something, anything. it might be writing or painting. it might be baking or knitting. it might be crafting a business proposal or configuring a website. but there is intent in the making, there is focus in the doing, there is active participation in the endeavor.

What inspires you most?

daily life and the everyday bits.

the little stories that are woven as sunlight falls onto tabletop or the way little hands grow into bigger hands. the way bread dough rises. laughter. honesty. all of these things that piece together to create a life. all of this inspires me.

What turns you on creatively?

daily life and the everyday bits.

they make me want to create and capture and record and explore and share and love.

Do you have any gratefulness practices?

most days i record gratitudes in my journal. but, even when there is nothing written down, my kids and i share our gratitudes at bedtime…huddled on the bed, the room dimly lit by a nightlight. every night.

Do you daydream often? If so, does it inform your work?

i think i always daydream…so much so that it’s woven into my daily activities and there is often a pleasant and slight blur. daydreaming allows me to keep my heart open and and keeps me questioning. much of my creative – and life - work is about keeping an open heart and paying attention to what life offers me.

How does a relationship and/or children affect your creativity?

i think my children inspire me hugely. they have taught me about being present and have reminded me to appreciate what rests at my feet or fingertips. and, although being a mama sometimes presents obstacles to personal, creative work, i know that my life with them feeds my creative spirit exponentially. i think i’d still be creating without them…i was an artist first. but their presence in my life absolutely influences the way i view life and the way i create.

Is there a Creative, past or present, that you would give just about anything to work with? Who, and why?

georgia o’keeffe. i love her immediacy, her zooming in, her way of making the little large and known. i love her spirit and spunk and the woman she was, living in the time in which she lived.

How do you balance life and art effectively? Or, do you?

my life is my art. rather than thinking about whether i’m balancing the two or not, i tend to embrace the fact that, for me, artistic expression and daily living are intertwined.

as a homeschooling mother, creative work is done in pockets of time…i don’t quite remember what stretches of hours just for me are like right now! but i think the way my life is structured presently has informed the work that i do. the pockets of time have encouraged me to look in, zero in…to get to the heart of the matter while i can. the pockets have invited me to take it all in and celebrate it in ways that, for me, are easy to record…for me that comes in the written word and photographic image.

How do you deal with creative dry spells? Do you make space for them, or push through?

if i’m stalled or overwhelmed, i allow for space…i seek silence. i immerse myself in daily activities – the laundry, the dishwashing, the meal planning, the schooling. i listen, i pay attention. eventually, i find inspiration somewhere in the midst of all that doing. if i participate in my life deliberately and with intention, my heart remains open and the inspiration always returns.

How do you deal with change, especially when it comes to creative mediums and passion?

i’m somewhat resistant to change. i like to think i’m easygoing – and, in some ways, i am - but i admit to being a creature of habit. i know change is a necessary part of life, however, and so i keep showing up. i take photos, i write words, i bake cookies. eventually things click and i transition.

How does criticism affect you?

it used to crush me. it often halts me still. but i try to view it as a chance to check in with myself. i try to keep some emotional distance from the words. sometimes that’s easier said than done ;)

Do you enjoy collaborating, or prefer to work alone?

i tend to work alone but i enjoy collaborations too! right now, i work collaboratively on a mothering blog, makings of motherhood, with jennifer deville catalano, as well as a photography project, 12of12x2, with barbara paulsen. it’s wonderful to work with fellow creatives and enjoy the energy exchange. it’s soul-filling to work with someone who feels as passionately as i do.

Do you work in a studio/space designed specifically for your creativity, or on the spur of the moment/anywhere inspiration strikes?

i have a creative space in the form of an old desk which stands in the corner of our family room. it’s an easy spot for me to sit for five or ten minutes and scribble words in my journal or upload photographs, and still be accessible to family. but mostly i work spur of the moment…in those pockets of time i mentioned earlier or when something inspires me and captures my attention.

Do you plan thoroughly for projects, or go with the flow?

mostly i go with the flow as my work is very much a witness of current moments. for something like my e-course, 28 moments, i do plan thoroughly and work through the details ahead of time. but once the class runs, i’m back to going with the flow, as each new group of participants opens the door to a fresh experience.

What is your typical day like?

a typical day includes homeschool work with the kids, driving to sports/activities/playdates, meal prep and clean-up. photographs and writing squeezed in between.

Do you have any rituals that help to set your creative time and/or space?

a hot cup of tea and maybe some music. but mostly i just grab the time as it presents itself!

Do you believe art can change the world? If so, how?

i do. see answer below.

Do you believe that connecting with your creativity, or helping others to do so, can positively affect the world? If so, how?

most definitely. i believe creative expression – ours, as well as responding to that of others - helps us get in touch with ourselves, helps us pay attention and live more mindfully and with intention. intentional living colors the way we feel and impacts the way we interact with others. those who cross our paths can, in turn, become more intentional in their living too. there’s a great ripple effect.

What effect do you want your art to have on the world?

i want my art to be an invitation to slow down, to open eyes, to soften hearts.

Do you have any advice for aspiring creatives?

show up {even on the shitty days} and do the work.