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Our theme for October is SOFT. It was chosen by our Victoria chapter in British Columbia, Canada and illustrated by Leah McInnis.

The world feels hard in so many ways. Couldn’t we all use more softness? Soft is gentle, empathic, and vulnerable. But being soft is not a weakness. It is a sign of deeper strength. Having the courage to walk through life without armor. A willingness to listen before speaking. Welcoming whatever comes with open palms. Pulling someone close for a hug. What if our work was softer? What would we make with a little tenderness? Art that truly resonates. Innovations that heal instead of harm. Communities that hold one another instead of tearing other people down. Soft can be a quiet form of resistance. Practice subtlety, trust, and intimacy in a world that celebrates loud braggadocio, knee-jerk reactions, and blunt force. Let’s snuggle up and let down our guard. Soft can be our salvation.

#cmphx #creativemornings #cmSoft

Our theme for September is “BLOSSOM”. It was chosen by our Pereira chapter in Colombia and illustrated by Edwin Morales.

Every blossom is an act of becoming. The quiet force of roots pushing through the dark, the slow unfurling of a bud, a sudden burst of color. But plants don’t blossom on command. Each flower requires the right amount of sunlight, water, and nourishment across the cycle of the seasons. It’s the same for creativity. Our next idea lies dormant, while we fertilize our mind. With attention, protection, and space to play, our work becomes what it is meant to be. Petal by petal, the passion inside us bursts into a glorious bouquet. But remember that flowers don’t bloom purely for their own sake. They share their fragrance, attract pollinators, and serve the larger ecosystem. Your creativity needs to pollinate as well. So, share your gift. Spread more ideas, more beauty, and more courage. To truly blossom, you must take the risk of opening up. This is your season. You deserve to be seen. Offer your abundance of color to the world! Ask yourself, “what within me is ready to blossom?” “What can I nurture to help others do the same?”

#cmphx #creativemornings #cmblossom

Our theme for August is NOMAD. It was chosen by our Ulaanbaatar chapter in Mongolia and illustrated by Oyuna Bold

Some people feel compelled to travel from place to place. To live outside the confines and constraints of a permanent address. Others have no choice but to leave home in search of a better life. A nomad embraces discomfort, welcomes the unknown, and sees every detour as a new adventure. Have you heard the call of the open road? Ever dream of being a digital nomad working from exotic locales? Crossing borders and time zones to discover fresh inspiration and share-worthy views. But following your nomadic spirit doesn’t require collecting stamps in your passport. The act of creating is its own journey. So, meander through your ideas. Roam between different executions. The most important thing is to take the first step. It doesn’t matter where it leads, because the joy is suddenly finding yourself somewhere unexpected. Whether you’re racking up frequent flyer miles or navigating a change in your creative career, remember that motion fuels imagination. Wander. Wonder. Repeat.

#cmphx #creativemornings #cmnomad

Our theme for July is MENTOR. It was chosen by our Glasgow chapter in Country/State and illustrated by Molly Hankinson, and is presented by Adobe.

No one is born with all the knowledge and skills they’ll need to thrive in life. That’s why kids go to school. But we shouldn’t stop learning once we graduate. We need to find new teachers. A mentor doesn’t have to be an expert or the top of their field. Just someone who’s been there and done that before. Someone to show you the way and offer a bit of advice and encouragement. Ideally, they’re willing to make introductions and mention your name when you’re not in the room. Being a mentor is considered a way of giving back. But mentors get just as much out of the relationship, if not more. Beyond the satisfaction of helping, mentors also learn from their mentees. From a fresh way of looking at established practices to tackling new problems with a beginner’s mind. So, ask for help. We all could use a guide as we climb. Find your mentors and be a mentor in return. Your plans for growth are more likely to succeed if they include lifting others up as you rise.

#cmphx #creativemornings #cmMentor

Our theme for June is PUNK. It was chosen by our Bologna chapter in Italy and illustrated by Cristina Portolano.

🎸The description for this month’s theme is written in the style of lyrics to a punk rock song. If you know a band that wants to put them to music, we’ll feature their cover song of our punk rock anthem on the CreativeMornings blog. 🎵

Does the system feel broken Staring at our screens Not hearing the screams Wake up wake up wake up We’re not meant to go it alone Find your people lift them up Do what you can with what you got Wake up wake up wake up Your creativity can save you What you gonna make What you gonna change Wake up wake up wake up 🎸🎵🧷

#cmphx #creativemornings #cmpunk

Our theme for May is REVIVAL. It was chosen by our Fort Worth chapter in Texas and illustrated by Mariell Guzman.

“Everything old is new again” sums up the revivals that bubble up throughout culture. Clothing styles, art movements, and all kinds of things come back into fashion decades after their original popularity waned. It’s a useful paradigm. Take something old, dust it off, and adapt it to suit the present moment.

But are there really no original ideas left? Has everything been done? Does it matter? New context adds new meaning. You can recycle whatever you want, just make it your own. Lots of things from the past are worth saving from obscurity.

What we need is a few more revivals.

A revival of empathy and understanding.

Kindness and caring.

A revival of handwritten notes and holding open doors for strangers. Let’s pursue hobbies and join clubs instead of optimizing and monetizing every hour.

Bring back boredom and curiosity.

It’s time for a revival of the golden rule.

It’s up to you to distill the best of the past and create a better future.

#cmphx #creativemornings #cmRevival

Our theme for April is “Crossroads”. It was chosen by our Wroclaw chapter in Poland and illustrated by Joanna Gniady.

We all reach turning points in life that change the course of our destiny. Should you continue straight? Or turn left? There’s no map that shows where the consequences lead. In folklore and mythology, crossroads represent a gateway between our mortal coil and the supernatural realm. An in-between place of transition, where anything can happen next. How do you decide which way to go? There’s no wrong choice. Only different journeys to where you’re meant to be.

#cmphx #creativemornings #cmCrossroads

Our theme for March is PARALLEL. It was chosen by our Kuala Lumpur chapter in Malaysiaand illustrated by OLI.

Like train tracks receding in the distance, our lives eventually hit the end of the line. Along the way, people tend to live parallel lives. Work. School. Eat. Sleep. Rinse and repeat. We exist side by side with strangers. Always keeping the same distance of anonymity between us. But unlike those tracks, our paths don’t run in straight lines. We can meet someone new at every turn. We may be living parallel lives. But we don’t have to go through them alone.

#cmphx #creativemornings #cmparallel

Our theme for February is LAYERS. It was chosen by our Lausanne chapter in Switzerland and illustrated by Catherine Olivia Pearson.

Simplicity provides clarity, but layers give our work a richer complexity and depth. Just like a collage is created by overlapping layers of found materials, we pile up experiences that form our beliefs and reactions. People have layers too. It is the layers that give life meaning. We must peel them away to discover our deeper truths.

#creativemornings #cmphx #cmlayers

Our theme for January is JOURNEY. It was chosen by our Muscat chapter in Oman and illustrated by Salim Al Salami.

As we travel through life, everyone you meet is at a different point in their own unique journey. Some of us know where we’re going. While other paths are full of twists, turns, and obstacles thrown in our way. The trick is to embrace the detours and delays. Because there are no shortcuts on a journey of self-discovery or creative expression.

Just please remember: you are not traveling alone.

Our theme for December is CYCLE. It was chosen by our Freiburg chapter in Germany and illustrated by Isabell Meister.

Our world runs on cycles. There’s the frantic buzz of the 24-hour news cycle. The boom and bust of economic cycles. The changing seasons. Every plant, animal, and organism exists in a life cycle of birth, growth, reproduction, and death. Water flows through a cycle of evaporation into vapor to condensation in clouds to precipitation that falls as rain or snow. The menstrual cycle. The circadian rhythm of our sleep cycle.

Cycles are circular and keep things moving. Which cycles are you living in tune with? And which ones are you fighting vainly against?

Our theme for November is THREAD. It was chosen by our Derby chapter in the United Kingdom, illustrated by Carla Dee, and is presented by our global partner Adobe.

Have you ever pulled on a loose thread in a sweater or sock? Things can unravel quickly.

The creative process can feel like that. A nagging thought, an imperfect bit, or a big tangled mess. But maybe that thread is trying to tell you something. Follow it and see where it takes you.

Our theme for September is REFLECTION. It was chosen by our Oklahoma City chapter in Oklahoma and illustrated by Aditi Heins.

Just like an echo is a reflection of sound… and how a camera lens focuses reflected light to form a photograph… our subconscious reflects on our experiences to form our beliefs.

Reflection turns our traumas and triumphs into lessons. It’s how we can create a vision for a brighter future.

Our theme for September is REFLECTION. It was chosen by our Oklahoma City chapter in Oklahoma and illustrated by Aditi Heins.

Just like an echo is a reflection of sound… and how a camera lens focuses reflected light to form a photograph… our subconscious reflects on our experiences to form our beliefs.

Reflection turns our traumas and triumphs into lessons. It’s how we can create a vision for a brighter future.

Our theme for August is RITUAL. It was chosen by our Charlottesville chapter in Virginia and illustrated by Matt Smithson.

What rituals do you practice in your relationships, your spirituality, and your creative work? How do they heighten your sense of purpose and belonging in this world?

Our theme for July is TRUST. It was chosen by our Islamabad chapter and illustrated by Ibrahim Nasir.

When we trust each other, we feel safe to share ideas, give feedback, and take risks. It requires vulnerability and a willingness to be open to the possibility of disappointment or betrayal. So, trust is not purely belief or faith. It is an active choice.

Trust is a gift. It must be given before it can be earned.

#cmphx #CMtrust

Our theme for June is PATTERN. It was chosen by our Chennai chapter and illustrated by Nishant Saldanha.

Our Chennai chapter’s selection of this theme was inspired by the art form kōlam; which features patterns of dots that are encircled or connected by straight and curved lines. These intricate, geometric designs are created on the thresholds and floors of houses, temples and businesses using rice flour. The practice is deeply rooted in South Indian culture to welcome guests into the home and bring good fortune and prosperity.

Which patterns in your relationships, work, and habits are worth repeating? Which ones should be changed? What new pattern do you want to create?

#cmphx #creativemornings #CMpattern

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