What My Unfinished Zine Taught Me About Self-Care.

In the latest episode of the podcast, Plants, Flowers, Oils and Whimsy, the host discusses the beauty of imperfections through a personal journey of creating a zine, 'Moments of Light.'

• My Membership
• Moments of Light Magazine
• Journal Coaching

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:04):
Welcome back to Plants, flowers, oils and whimsy, a space
for slow rituals, herbal inspiration and creative self care. Hi.
I'm Carrie Sharp, author and skincare maker. Today's episode is
about something that almost felt too small to talk about.
A misspelling and a set of uneven margins in my
first scene. But those tiny mistakes ended up teaching me
more about patience and presence than I expected. To kick

(00:28):
things off, let's talk about moments of light. This scene
is a little project that's near and dear to my heart.
It combines my love for herbs, textures, and words into
something tangible and hopefully inspiring. I started creating this scene
as a personal ritual, a quiet moment where I could
indulge in creativity without any pressure. The initial intent was simple,

(00:49):
to have fun and let the creativity flow. It wasn't
about perfection. It was about enjoying the process and creating
something that felt meaningful to me. Whether it's the touch
of different paper, tech mixtures or the smell of fresh
herbs pressed between pages. Every element was chosen with love
and intention, and that's what I want to share with
you all today. The joy found in combining these simple

(01:11):
pleasures into something beautiful and uniquely my own. However, as
with any creative endeavor, things don't always go as planned.
Enter the joy of creating layouts and watercolor drawings. I
lose myself in the swirling colors and delicate brushstrokes. There's
something profoundly satisfying about seeing your ideas come to life
on paper. But this time, in the middle of experiencing

(01:35):
that joy, I made a couple of errors that were
all too easy to overlook until they weren't. I discovered
that some of the margins came out uneven, and there
was even a glaring misspelling of a word right smack
in the middle of a page. My initial reaction total annoyance,
you know that feeling right. My shoulders tensed up, and
I could feel a mix of disappointment and frustration bubbling

(01:56):
up here. I was pouring my heart into this project,
and these tiny mistakes felt like glaring obstacles, disrupting the
beauty of the whole thing. It was a tough moment,
but an important one, as it reminds us that imperfection
is just part of the process. But here's where the
real magic happens, in the acceptance of those imperfections. The
need for control can be so overwhelming, can't it, especially

(02:20):
when you've invested so much time and love into something.
But sometimes letting go of that need for everything to
be perfect is where you find the most beauty and growth.
Think about your skincare rituals or when you're blending herbs.
There's a rhythm and a ritual to it, an inherent
sense of control. You mix and measure, you follow steps
to get the desired result. But not every blend turns

(02:43):
out perfect right. Sometimes the scent is off or the
texture isn't quite what you imagined, and yet there's still
something wonderfully human and beautiful about those efforts. This little
zine project taught me the same lesson. In my desire
to control every detail, I almost lost sight of why
I started it in the first place, for the joy

(03:03):
of creation. The uneven margins and the misspelled word became
symbols of my humanity, of the beauty in trying and learning,
rather than just the finished product. So here's the realization
I came to. There's undeniable beauty in our little mistakes
and imperfections, just like in skincare rituals or herbal blends
the process. The being present and enjoying each step is

(03:26):
what makes it all worthwhile. It's a gentle reminder that
beauty isn't about perfection. It's about presence, about embracing each
moment and finding joy even when things don't go exactly
as planned. I made a conscious decision not to fix
the margins. Yes you heard that right. Instead of stressing
out over the uneven lines or spending hours trying to

(03:47):
make everything look perfect, I chose to embrace those quirks.
I left the uneven margins as they were because they
told a story of their own. They're a visible reminder
that beauty exists in the almost. They became a unique
part of this scene's charm, reflecting the very essence of
what Moments of Light is all about, finding glimpses of
gentleness and beauty in everyday life. In my journal, I

(04:09):
even scribbled the note beauty exists in the almost to
remind myself of this lesson whenever I face imperfections in
the future. It's truly freeing to accept imperfections and see
them as beautiful parts of our creations. By avoiding the
fixation on flawless execution, we allow ourselves to appreciate the
depth and character that these slight irregularities bring. So there

(04:31):
it is my own little experience of embracing imperfection in
the creative process. I hope this story inspires you to
find peace and joy even in the almost perfect moments
of your own creative endeavors. The current issue hasn't been
printed yet. It's still steeping, gathering richness and depth as
I make final touches. But here's an exciting invitation for

(04:52):
you all consider joining our membership. By becoming a member,
you'll get skincare recipes, devotionals, self care workshop, and journaling prompts.
You'll also get early access to new projects and bonus
audio so you can be the first to experience these
special moments. And as we wrap up today's episode, here's
a gentle reminder to embrace your unfinished moments and be

(05:12):
kind to yourself. The process of creation is as important
as the final product, and there's beauty and growth in
the journey. Until next time, friends, keep finding joy in
the small things and celebrating your unique, imperfect creations. Thank
you for being a part of this journey with me.