What a Wolf Taught Me About Creativity and Burnout

A few days ago, I found myself face-to-face with a wolf.

It was early morning on a remote beach on Vancouver Island. I was spooning oatmeal into a bowl while my husband packed up our tent. When I looked up, a cinnamon-coloured wolf was standing twenty feet away. For a moment, I thought it was a beautiful dog. Then another part of my brain insisted, not a dog.

We locked eyes. I clapped my hands, and he ran. I nicknamed him Fireball.

That encounter lasted only seconds, but it stayed with me. It was not fear I remembered most. It was presence. I was fully awake, aware, and grounded in the moment. No distractions. No overthinking. Just connection.

That moment with Fireball reminded me why I turn to creativity, especially during times of burnout. Both invite the same thing: presence.

When Burnout Silences Creativity

Years before that wolf appeared on the beach, I was living a very different rhythm.

My career path had taken me from plant molecular biology to medical device regulation. On paper, everything looked structured and successful. But behind the scenes, I was exhausted. During the pandemic, the pace and pressure caught up with me.

I was so burned out I could not even enjoy my art studio. Canvases sat unfinished. Picking up a paintbrush felt impossible. For someone who had always turned to painting as a release, this absence was a sign of how far I had drifted from myself.

What helped me return was not forcing productivity or making a polished piece of art. It was rediscovering simple, art therapy-inspired practices: a quick scribble, a small sketch, a few minutes of colour on a page. These moments were short, imperfect, and pressure-free. And they worked.

Why Small Creative Acts Matter

Neuroscience shows us why these tiny practices matter. Creative activities stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for rest and recovery. They lower cortisol, release dopamine, and help the brain enter flow.

The effects do not depend on talent or training. You do not need to be an artist. What matters is presence.

Just like that wolf’s gaze, creativity has a way of pulling you into the moment.

Textures as a Superpower

On Too Saucy Dames, I shared that textures are my creative superpower.

When I am out in nature, I am drawn to details: the roughness of lichen, the layered patterns of tide pools, the sharp edges of shale next to the smoothness of water-polished stones. In my studio, I explore those textures through collage. I layer papers, add sand, and then sand the surface back down until it is silky smooth. To the eye, it looks weathered and full of history, but to the touch, it feels soft.

For me, that layering is more than an artistic choice. It is a metaphor for resilience. We all carry layers, whether from work experiences, family responsibilities, or memories of times when we felt both strong and worn down. Creativity lets us see those layers not as something to erase, but as something that tells our story.

Music as Reset

During the conversation, I was also asked about music. The songs that came to mind were not just background noise. They were time markers in my life.

In university, I called into a college radio station every Saturday night to request Love Cats by The Cure. At my wedding, the dance floor overflowed when Home for a Rest by Spirit of the West came on. And I still remember the energy of seeing the Beastie Boys live, where rhythm and movement became their own kind of release.

Music has always been a reset button for me. Certain songs bring me back to myself in the same way as drawing or collage. They remind me that joy does not have to be big or complicated. Sometimes it is as simple as a beat that makes you move.

Daily Practices That Build Strength

Not all creative resets happen in the studio. Some begin with everyday routines.

For me, mornings start with a walk with my Aussie doodle, Bow. Lately, I have been adding a weighted vest, a small shift that supports women’s bone and muscle health during perimenopause and beyond. It is a practical way to care for my body while also caring for my mind.

When I return home, I make myself a vanilla latte in an old Italian espresso pot and sit on the deck. That quiet ritual of walk, coffee, and stillness anchors my day.

These moments may seem small, but they are the scaffolding that makes space for creativity later. They are reminders that presence does not always come from dramatic change. Sometimes it comes from the most ordinary rhythms.

Watch the Conversation

If you would like to hear the full conversation, you can watch my interview on Too Saucy Dames here:

This chat with Bonnie D was wide-ranging and fun. We talked about creativity, burnout, music, textures, and even the story of Fireball the wolf.

A Creative Prompt: Word Mandala

If you have been running on empty, here is a simple practice to try:

1. Draw a circle on a piece of paper.
2. In the centre, write one word that describes how you are feeling right now.
3. In rings around it, add related words, emotions, colours, thoughts, or associations.
4. Continue until it feels complete.

Some people colour their mandala, others do not. What matters is that it gives shape to what is inside. It is not about performance. It is about noticing.

Three Questions to Reflect On

As you experiment with small resets, you might ask yourself:

• What everyday textures catch my attention?
• What song always shifts my mood?
• What five-minute practice could help me feel more like myself this week?

From Burnout to Creative Wellness

In the interview, I was asked how women in STEM find me. The answer is simple: they recognize themselves in my story.

Like me, many of them once enjoyed creativity but set it aside. They have been living in their left brain, solving problems, managing deadlines, and carrying invisible loads. When burnout hits, they are left wondering why they no longer feel like themselves.

What I offer is not about teaching art skills. It is about creative wellness: small, approachable practices that help release tension and restore presence. I share them on LinkedIn, through my blog, in coaching programs, and in free challenges. The women who reach out often say the same thing: I am burned out. I need something that feels different. I need space.

And space is exactly what creativity gives.

A Gentle Next Step

If you are curious to try, I would love to share two free resources:

• The Creative Shift, my weekly newsletter with simple creative practices and reflections.
• The 5-Day Creative Reset Challenge, a free, low-pressure introduction to practices that take less than five minutes a day.

You do not need to wait until the burnout lifts. You do not need special tools or skills. You just need one small moment, whether it is a word, a colour, a song, or even a glance from a cinnamon-coloured wolf.

Presence is always waiting. Sometimes, you just have to pause long enough to see it.