We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ashton Ryan . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ashton below.
Ashton , thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?
I never ever quit using it. When that creativity hits, in what I may consider the wrong time or place, I jot my idea down immediately (always on something that ends up loosely floating between car and home, journal to planner and who knows where else) or I stop what I’m doing and create whatever just popped into my head. It all began with writing little short stories in church as a young kid and while I never quit writing the short stories, I also found that sharing other’s stories truly sets my heart on fire. I find inspiration all around me and have learned that there’s no off switch, there’s no way to turn off your passionate soul once you realize what it loves.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Hi, My name is Ashton, creator of Wild Homes and Gardens, a lifestyle magazine for women, by women W.I.L.D. = What I Love Doing
Unlike any other publication that I have found, this print magazine showcases women from all walks of life, with all types of passions and talents.
As an artist, mother, wife and friend, my cup is always full and I am always meeting new, interesting women who need a place to share, to be themselves, to learn and to help remember their wild; this magazine is a melding of all this and so much more.
I created The Wild Ones Collective as well to accompany this magazine. We honor the wild within, we go deep within our souls to acknowledge all the dark and the light within and around us.
We are not ashamed of our sacred femininity and sexuality and strive To Be so that others can see us and know that To Be Oneself is so freeing and so absolutely beautiful.
I aspire to always hold space for the wild women who show up with a heart and soul on fire To Be Themselves.
My hope for all those reading or listening is to Dig Deep and find what sets your soul on fire, what makes your heart overflow with gratitude for living, lets go there, Lets Be.
I hope to hear from you, please share your art and words with us, we cannot wait to be a part of the Journey with you.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The best advice I never took was to scale down my interests, to focus on one subject or genre as I began my photography career, to write all about one subject and to slow down and rest, even when I had all the creative energy in me just begging to be released. If you’re tired, rest, if you love doing one thing in particular, do that, if you love it all or don’t know what you love, try it all. There’s not supposed to be an absolute and you really will not feel ambiguous as your world quite literally opens up with each path that you say YES to.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
Wild Homes and Gardens is always looking for women artists to share their words, their art, their healthy living tips and recommendations. What sets your soul on fire? I cannot wait to hear from you!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.wildhomesandgardens.com
- Instagram: Instagram/wildhomesandgardens
- Facebook: Facebook.com/wildhomesandgardens
