Happy 16th birthday, Inspire(d)! (Read the Fall 2023 Inspire(d) anniversary issue online here.)
This magazine is officially old enough to drive. Which is funny, because it’s been driving our lives since its inception.
I was first inspired to start Inspire(d) my senior year of college at the University of Iowa. It was 2003, I was 22, and I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life, beyond writing. I was on track to graduate with a degree in English and journalism. But what next? That spring, I read a biography about a man named Dan Eldon (Dan Eldon: The Art of Life, by Jennifer New).
Dan had Iowa ties (his mom is from Cedar Rapids), was interested in telling stories (he was a photojournalist), but he was killed on assignment when he was 22. In his short, bright life, he did some wonderful things for his various communities. He raised money for neighbors in need. He aided friends at the drop of a hat. He helped organize a rag-tag team of fundraisers, took them on a perspective-broadening safari in Africa, and donated the funds they raised – $20,000 – to a refugee camp in Malawi.
He documented his life through art-filled journals, focusing on photography and collage. The cover of this issue is inspired by his art, in fact, and is made up of a variety of past Inspire(d) Magazines (compiled by me)!
Dan’s story lit a fire inside of me. I was inspired. I wanted to tell more of these stories of people helping their communities. Stories that proved you could make a difference as a slightly responsible kid in their 20s or as an elderly grandma in her 80s. Relatable, “I could do that!” stories. Stories that inspired other people to want to make their world a better place as well.
After that spring, I spent one more semester finishing up college at a magazine program in Canada, one year teaching English in China, and finally, I came back to the US in 2005, thinking I had to get a “real job” before I could start the magazine that had been formulating in my head. I met Benji in 2006 and told him my idea, to which he said, “Let’s do it!” The first Inspire(d) Magazine rolled off the press October 2007.
I like to think we’ve made our world a little better with each issue, and this one is no exception. We have great Community Builders, inspiring people and businesses, and topics I think should always be at the forefront of our minds: conservation, mental health, and enjoying this one beautiful life we are given.
Every day is an opportunity to begin anew. Every day holds the potential of inspiration. Sometimes it’s hard to find it, though, and my hope is that this issue of Inspire(d), and every before and after, gives you a little spark of something you’re excited about.
What comes to mind when you think of the word fun? Tropical beaches, hiking trails, or days full of adventure? Or maybe, gardening or long days by the pool?
Fun is an important aspect of mental health. It is a powerful antidote to stress, can provide relief from mental health concerns such as depression and anxiety, and can enhance social connection and bonding.
The funny thing is, we often think fun is something we plan for in the future. But if you reflect back on the times you had the most fun, it usually happens spontaneously.
So, let’s add a little play to your life and re-engage with fun this summer!
Finding Your Fun
Write down (or think of) some recent times you remember having fun. Maybe it’s a time you belly-laughed so hard your stomach cramped (laughter releases happiness hormones in the brain, like serotonin and endorphins). Or when you smiled so much your face hurt.
Now reflect on the last time you felt free. What happened to make you forget your responsibilities? Perhaps you can feel a sense of joy arising within you, even now.
Take a moment to revel in the most salient memory. See what happens when you check in with the five senses. Reflect on the who, what, where, when, and why that led you to encode that memory as fun.
As you read this article, keep that moment in mind. You might find your personal recipe for fun in the details.
The Psychology of Play
Children are gifted in the art of play. In fact, if you’ve spent any time with kids, you’ll likely recognize (at least intuitively) the importance of laughter, fun, and play. But it’s not just for kids; play is important in all of our lives. From a nervous system perspective, it gives us the opportunity to safely come to the edge of our sympathetic (fight-or-flight) nervous system without becoming overwhelmed or feeling under attack.
Think of your nervous system in terms of riding a rollercoaster. As you reach the highest point, the suspense and fear build (perhaps, to the point of fight-or-flight). But as the coaster drops, the wind blows through your hair, and you delight in the freedom of screaming at the top of your lungs; you experience a release. You might even turn to see others laughing or making eye contact as a non-verbal sign you’re going to be okay. By the time the rollercoaster arrives back to its starting position, you can feel yourself returning to a sense of safety (the parasympathetic state of rest-and-digest).
A Recipe for Fun
The basic recipe for fun involves three main ingredients: mindfulness, freedom, and novelty. As we break down each of these ingredients, keep your memories of fun in mind. Consider how these elements allowed you to revel in an experience of fun. Then feel free to experiment and make it your own. What additional spices add joy, pleasure, or delight to your life? What unique flavors bring meaning or purpose to the pursuit of fun?
Mindfulness
When we are present, we have the ability to engage. We notice the way a joke lands, erupting someone into laughter so infectious that soon we are laughing along. Mindfulness allows us to be present with joy as we fully connect with another human.
Mirror neurons are at play here. Researchers have discovered a place in the brain that lights up in response to another human’s behavior. For example, mirror neurons are to blame for a contagious yawn. They’re also at work when we feel empathy in response to another’s grief or sadness.
Mindfulness awakens us to the potential every moment has to offer. By staying present and engaged, we enhance our ability to connect. And when we are connected, fun – and laughter – become contagious.
Freedom
It can be hard to prioritize fun while chasing meaning, passion, and purpose. You might even be wondering why fun really matters at all. Surely, fun cannot stack up against the weight of routine, money, success, or responsibility.
But Travis Tae Oh, PhD, a psychologist who specializes in researching fun, says liberation from responsibility is an essential component of fun – and can rejuvenate you for when you do need to return to responsibility.
We might think of liberation from responsibility as freedom. It’s that moment after the freefall of the rollercoaster, when you’re completely engaged with the present moment, unaware of anything other than the thump of your heart in your chest, and the feel of the wind at your face.
Freedom is a break. Freedom is not, however, avoidance, denial, or procrastination, postponing the inevitable as the pressure mounts. When we try to pretend our responsibilities do not exist, they loom in our subconscious and take mental energy away from the present.
True liberation requires a healthy balance of both freedom and responsibility. Learn to rise to the challenge of responsibility when it is necessary. And practice embracing freedom and relinquishing responsibility when a break is due.
Novelty
So, what happens when we are completely present, and also free from responsibility? For many, a feeling of relaxation arises. But how can we elevate this moment of relaxation to one of fun? By adding an element of novelty – the third and final ingredient in our recipe for fun.
If it’s been awhile since you’ve experienced much fun, it might be time to step out of your comfort zone and add a little novelty to your life.
Novelty does not have to be scary – it can be anything outside your routine. (Although an element of playful fear or surprise can certainly be fun…think of a haunted house or horror movie.)
Maybe you commit to a fun exercise class once per week (think dance, yoga, or sports). Or perhaps you audition for a play, attend a community event, or set aside a date night with a friend or partner each week.
It’s also okay to let go of old hobbies that used to be fun, no matter how much time has been invested in them. A break from old hobbies might help you to rediscover the same passion and enjoyment they brought at the start. And in the meantime, what a great opportunity to try something new!
A Mindful Moment
Mental health concerns like trauma, depression, and anxiety can sometimes sabotage an experience of fun. Remember, if you’re feeling pressured to make a moment fun, that is not how fun works. Instead, focus on practicing mindfulness by allowing whatever feelings arise to be present.
As with any mindfulness practice, happiness and joy are not usually the first emotions to arise. It’s important not to suppress or judge any emotions that surface. Fun will come, eventually! Consider working with a mental health professional if feelings of depression or anxiety consistently block feelings of joy or experiences of fun.
Olivia Lynn Schnur is a professional writer, Licensed Mental Health Counselor, and Certified Yoga Teacher. She writes about healing, health, and happiness with the goal of educating, uplifting, and inspiring readers. To learn more about Olivia, or to book a yoga session, visit oliviaschnur.com
During a typical workday, artist Sarah Hedlund might be sketching pink and orange dolphins surrounded by hearts and stars. Or a disco-dancing, white suit-wearing dinosaur. Or a punk rocker playing a guitar that shoots laser beams. Or a single eye staring out from a pint of India pale ale.
As creative director for Decorah’s Toppling Goliath Brewing Co., Sarah designs everything from labels and packaging to ad campaigns, point-of-sale materials, merchandise, signage, and even bottle caps. Outside of the office, she pursues a range of personal art projects.
Sarah Hedlund is the artist behind the Summer 2023 Inspire(d) cover design. / Photo courtesy of Sarah Hedlund
“Like most artists, I want to know how to do everything. So, I’m always working on something different,” Sarah says.
Take the illustration she created in 2020, following the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. It unexpectedly helped Sarah raise nearly $30,000 for charity. It also demonstrated the impact that her art can have, whether she’s rebranding a brewery or advocating for social change.
“It’s that old question: You can talk the talk, but can you walk the walk? Are you willing to dedicate your time to actually trying to change something?” she says.
Sarah Hedlund’s piece featuring Marsha P. Johnson, one of the most prominent advocates for the gay rights movement of the 1960s and 1970s in New York City, according to womenshistory.org. On her social media post highlighting this art, Sarah writes: “Marsha Johnson was bold, vibrant, loving, and brave. She fought for what she believed in, took care of those who had less than her, and found beauty in a hard world. Marsha was an outsider within an outsider’s movement, who had to fight prejudice against her race, sexuality, and economic status. Without people like her, the gay community might not be where it is today; she is a shining example of the power of the heart and soul. I ask you to be more like Marsha, stand up for what you believe in, be your authentic self, and don’t let the bulls&*t keep you down.” / Artwork by Sarah Hedlund
Drawing on a lifelong interest
Art has always been an anchor for Sarah, who grew up in a small town south of Iowa City. Her dyslexia made school a challenge, but art classes were her time to shine.
“Art was the one thing I was naturally good at. There was no wrong way to do it. There were no tests. You didn’t have to compete with other kids around how many books you read or who did math equations the fastest. It was a safe haven for me from a young age,” she says.
After high school, Sarah studied illustration at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. She then got a job creating products and packaging for a Minneapolis toy company. A few years later, eager for a change, Sarah moved to Wyoming. She did graphic design for a hospital network and then a nonprofit before returning to Iowa.
Sarah was back in her hometown when she spotted a job opening at Toppling Goliath. Though she had never visited Decorah and didn’t know the brewery, she decided to apply.
“I’d always thought working as an artist at a brewery sounded cool,” she says. “When I drove up for the interview, I was taken aback by how beautiful this area is. I kind of knew the second I hit town that I would take this job.”
Drafting a new direction
Sarah joined Toppling Goliath in 2016. The team was small at the time, and she helped with things like running social media, product photography, or managing the merch shop, while also doing marketing and graphic design. As the company was building its current facility on the edge of Decorah, Sarah saw an opportunity to update the Toppling Goliath brand.
She drafted a proposal for owners Clark and Barbara Lewey and got the go-ahead to reimagine the company’s look.
“I rebranded things from top to bottom – the logo, the fonts, the labels, the format of the packaging, everything,” Sarah says. “Clark was investing a lot into the equipment and building and people, and I think he knew it was time to elevate the visuals, too.”
Sarah Hedlund is the artist behind the awesome labels you see on Decorah’s Toppling Goliath Brewing Co. cans of brew, and across the company’s entire brand. / Images courtesy of Sarah Hedlund
These days, Sarah designs labels and materials that tell Toppling Goliath’s story in an engaging, impactful way. Her ideas help the business stand out in a competitive field. The Brewers Association, a not-for-profit industry organization, reports that more than 9,500 breweries were in operation in the United States in 2022.
“I know a lot of artists who do brewery artwork but are not full-time employees of those breweries. That’s a difference with Toppling Goliath. Clark and Barb definitely saw the value in having an in-house artist from early on,” Sarah says.
Her goal is to match the quality and creativity of Toppling Goliath’s visuals with the quality and creativity of its award-winning beers.
“I make sure we’re not cutting corners on the creative, because I do think a fun part of craft beer is the weird, crazy, cool artwork. It’s a micro-universe of art, and it’s a fun space to play around,” she says.
Design that makes a difference
Artist Sarah Hedlund has created posters, like this one, for roller derby teams across several states. / Image courtesy Sarah Hedlund
Sarah does a lot in her freelance world as well. She’s created posters for roller derby teams across several states. Some of those posters landed in the 2020 book, “Roller Derby / Girl Gang: An Art Anthology.” Each October for nearly a decade, Sarah has also produced drawings and digital illustrations through a month-long art challenge called Inktober. (“I love Halloween and all things spooky. It’s a fun way to make a bunch of creepy artwork,” she says.) And, a quick spin through Sarah’s Etsy shop reveals an array of pop culture-inspired posters featuring Pee-wee Herman’s bike, Bill Nye the Science Guy, characters from “Ghostbusters,” “The Golden Girls” cast members, and more.
“I was a kid that spent a lot of time in front of a television, and I love movies. A lot of that art is about my personal interests, and it’s also the kind of artwork that most people engage with,” she says.
Sarah uses art to process what’s going on around her, too, as she did through that aforementioned Ruth Bader Ginsburg illustration. After learning of the justice’s September 2020 passing, Sarah sat on her couch in tears. Then, she decided to do something.
“Going to my computer is not my first instinct when I’m feeling emotional. Usually, I want to draw or make something in a more classic style. But that night, I felt like making something to put on the internet for people who were feeling as upset as I was,” she says.
Sarah spent 10 minutes on a simple illustration of a lace collar, which Ginsburg famously wore with her judicial robes, set below the words, “Vote & Tell Them Ruth Sent You.” She posted the image on social media, texted with a friend, and went to bed.
“I didn’t know you could get so many Facebook notifications that it can’t tell you how many you even have,” Sarah says after she created this artwork to honor Ruth Bader Ginsburg after her death in September 2020. The artwork went viral. / Image courtesy Sarah Hedlund
Overnight, the post went viral.
“I didn’t know you could get so many Facebook notifications that it can’t tell you how many you even have,” Sarah says. “Martin Luther King, Jr.’s son tweeted it. Celebrities shared it. It blew up, I think, because so many other people felt that exact same way at that moment in time.”
When people requested merchandise, Sarah hustled to make t-shirts, stickers, and buttons with the illustration. She sold digital files so individuals could print their own signs. She donated the proceeds – about $29,000 in all – to progressive charities.
“It seemed like such a chaotic time. I didn’t feel like I had any control over anything that was happening, politically, in our country. And voting feels small and insignificant sometimes, even though it’s so, so important. Working on that project was really, really, really fulfilling,” Sarah says.
Since then, she’s commented on voting, drag queen bans, LGBTQIA+ rights, and other issues through her art. It’s a way to spark cultural conversations and inspire action.
“Even though the Ruth Bader Ginsburg thing was internet-based, it’s still something that local people talk to me about. Sometimes, I’ll see people at the grocery store wearing my t-shirt. You realize the impact that you can make,” Sarah says. “A lot of people here are very passionate about dedicating time to groups and events that try to foster change or create safe spaces, and it’s inspiring for me. It gets me thinking, ‘Okay, how can I use my skills and talents to either foster change myself, or empower other people who already are?’”
Sarah’s poster artwork for the 2023 spring show of Decorah’s New Minowa Players. / Image courtesy of Sarah Hedlund
Creating community
Sarah’s art-as-advocacy efforts also include pro bono work supporting various community groups. For example, this spring she created a promotional poster for “Afterlife: A Ghost Story,” a production by Decorah’s New Minowa Players. Sarah calls volunteer projects like these a win-win. The nonprofits and events she partners with get free, professional artwork, and she actively gives back to the community that’s become her home.
“I definitely enjoy engaging on a local level. I moved here. I didn’t know anybody. I had no knowledge of this town, and I have never lived somewhere that was so accepting, immediately. I have amazing friends here. Community is a huge part of what makes Decorah special,” she says. “Decorah is still a vibrant, engaged small town, and, unfortunately, I think that’s rare nowadays. I don’t want to just look around and say, ‘Oh, what a cute, quaint town.’ I want to participate.”
When Renee Brincks needs a creative break, she picks up some yarn. Her grandma taught her to crochet as a child, and she’s since made countless hats, scarves and blankets.
Embrace Your own Creativity
Decorah artist Sarah Hedlund dabbles in many creative projects. She’s an illustrator and designer by trade, and her personal work ranges from pen-and-ink drawings to digital illustrations to watercolors. She has taken stained glass classes. She taught herself to sew dresses. She even learned to felt, and she’s used those skills to craft a witch-style hat. While experimentation comes naturally to her, Sarah knows that’s not the case for everyone.
Here are her tips for tapping into your own creativity.
1. Keep an open mind. Plenty of people want to tackle creative projects, but they don’t allow themselves to try. “They’ll say things like, ‘You’re so good at that. I could never do it.’ But really, unless you’re following a pattern, there is no wrong way to make art,” Sarah says.
2. Resist the pressure to be perfect. Sure, maybe you’d like to capture a magazine-quality photo or recreate the perfectly frosted cupcake that’s been circulating on social media. But remember, you don’t have to produce internet-ready projects. “It doesn’t have to be a finished product. You don’t even have to share things. I make stuff all the time that I don’t post,” Sarah says. “Sometimes, just the act of making the thing is the art.”
3. Let your hobby be just that – a hobby. In a world where productivity is prized, we don’t always give ourselves permission to play. Aim for personal satisfaction, Sarah suggests, rather than social media likes or the next side hustle. “If you can pay your bills, just relax. Not everything has to be a business. Not everything has to be for other people. It’s about getting into a space where you play and experiment,” she says. And if that artful experiment doesn’t turn out as you expected? “It does not matter. If you try something and it doesn’t work, you don’t have to tell anybody. Just have fun and be a kid and let yourself make a mess,” Sarah says.
