Some of my favorite creative outlets are also sport arts. Dance is clearly both – but gardening and drumming are also where the two concepts meet. I believe every art form can also be a physical activity and vice versa. And it’s a great idea to find inspiration in these areas because there are enough studies to prove that physical fitness and creative expression are good for us physically, psychologically, and even in terms of attaining material wealth and success¹.

In High School I also loved track and field sports and cheerleading. Both of these activities were art forms. For cheerleading we created dances and wrote our own cheer “lyrics”, which were effectively rap songs, and our claps and stamps were nothing less than a cappella music (especially when the crowd joined in). And the techniques learned to clear ten hurdles in the 100-meter dash and throw a javelin are completely aligned with the art of ballet movement.

Some people called cheerleading “frivolous” and even “stupid”. It is no wonder, that standing between every person and the healthy things that they love to do, are often barriers rooted in the fear of being judged. The brilliant Kurt Vonnegut knew better than to care: “Practicing an art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow, for heaven’s sake. Sing in the shower. Dance to the radio. Tell stories. Write a poem to a friend, even a lousy poem. Do it as well as you possibly can. You will get an enormous reward. You will have created something.”²

While partnering with a client to develop their tailored LaIF Financial Plan, I learn what material things the client wants most. With this information in hand, we can begin to plan on gaining the means to get them. But “understanding, creating and sharing abundance” means looking beyond material wealth goals. So, the LaIF Abundance Assessment is used to learn what else inspires the client. And invariably, some form of physical fitness an/or artistic outlet emerges as an important, missing “piece”.

I enjoy helping clients realize how a small adaptation to a daily activity (photograph it, film it; turn on some music, find friends to share it with) can turn into healthy inspiration for their heart (-fitness) and soul. And LaIF “Wellness Events” are tailored to take it a step further. They are conducted by personally vetted specialists whose only goal is to share their passion and inspiration in a safe, non-judgmental, fun environment.

Tailoring and implementing a plan, together with the client, on how to “invest” in their heart and soul has become an exciting cornerstone to the LaIF concept.

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1. ^ Dawn P. Coe, Thomas Peterson MD, Cheryl Blair EdD, Mary C. Schutten PED, Heather Peddie MA, “Physical Fitness, Academic Achievement, and Socioeconomic Status in School-Aged Youth”, Journal of School Health, Volume 83, Issue 7, July 2013, Pages 500-507.
2. ^ Kurt Vonnegut, “A Man Without a Country”, Collection of Essays, UK, Bloomsbury, 2005.