What's NORMAL?

I said it to myself just now..."when all this is over, life will get back to normal."

What's NORMAL?

And how can I go through all this and then return to a "pre"-state? It's not possible.

I'm glad for that.

Creativity and Ideas

Where do creative ideas come from?

I think they are in the air waiting to be harvested. How many times have you had an idea, maybe for a story or a book, maybe for an invention, maybe for....who know what? Time and life get in the way and you don't pursue, develop, or encourage it. Some day, you think....One day you are strolling through the bookstore or hardware store and there it is...your idea. Fleshed out, well packaged, and for sale. Oh sure, it may not be entirely like you imagined, but that's because it came through someone else's creativity, but you recognize it. Someone else tamed the feral idea. Tamed it and made it theirs.

I often imagine ideas like the birds at my feeders outside. When seeds are put out, when water, shelter, and safety are available, an amazing variety of birds flock to the feeders. Ignore them, and they fly to someone else's feeders.


The same with ideas...when they are fed, nurtured, sheltered, watered, and made safe, they flock to you.
What ideas do you need to encourage and feed? In what ways can you offer a nurturing, safe environment for them to make a home?

Happy creating!

The Long Silence is Over

Howdy! I'm baaaaaaaaacccccckkkkkkkk!

Tune in for renewed updates on the creative soul living a creative life, moment by moment....

Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!

Today's the 106th anniversary of the birth of Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss.

A few Seuss quotes to rattle around in your brain today...

"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go...

Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.

I have heard there are troubles of more than one kind. Some come from ahead and some come from behind. But I've bought a big bat. I'm all ready you see. Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me!

Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, it's a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope.

You can get help from teachers, but you are going to have to learn a lot by yourself, sitting alone in a room.

Think and wonder, wonder and think.

Try them, try them, and you may! Try them and you may, I say.

Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.

Creative Half Halt

Hyacinth in the snow...photo by the Pilot Guy

There it is allllll stretched out in front of you, a fresh new month. A month poised with one foot firmly in the icy temps of winter while the other foot dips a toe in the warming pool of spring.

Today is a good day to revisit hopes, dreams, and plans. The last post remains valid...give credit for what's actually been done, but, today, let's also look forward. What do you want to accomplish this month (week, day)? How does that fit into your year-long or life-long goals?

In horseback riding, it's called a half halt, where the rider 'gathers up' the horse beneath him with reins, legs, seat, and voice. It's a quick maneuver that signals a horse to stop, then immediately to go forward again. The animal never stops, most witnesses might not even see the hitch in the stride. The result, however, is a more collected horse. Alert, with all four hooves directly under her...balanced...resulting in more nimbleness. A half halt is excellent when a change in direction is needed or to refocus both horse and rider.

A human half halt could be the two minutes you stand quietly, close your eyes, breathe deeply, and ask, what's the most important thing I can do right now? Really listen...what's important, not what's urgent. You'll open your eyes with greater vision and clearer purpose.

Take a moment...

What important goals have you neglected recently?

What actions do you need to take to put yourself back on the path toward your creative dreams?

Go for it!

Creative Perspective

Do you ever get down on yourself because you aren't regularly checking items off your to-do or goals lists? Yeah, me, too.

The voices in my head remind me ...
I haven't finish my work in progress.
I haven't finished a quilt project. (Finished? I haven't started)
I haven't kept up with my reading list....

And so it goes...

We creative souls beat ourselves up over our short falls and short comings. We are sensitive and easily discouraged at times. But, here's a thought. Instead of focusing on what hasn't been done, swap the perspective to what has been done. Unless you've been sitting in front of the TV 24/7, your list will get impressively long.

I have written. I have cleaned out some messes. I have painted and redecorated a room. I've helped my son and daughter in law move out. I've cooked some great meals. I'ved done a lot of stained glass. I've spent time being a friend. I've spent time with my husband.

The lists go on...

Take stock of what you have accomplished in the last few weeks. You'll feel confident and refreshed afterwards.

Memoir Monday ~ What You Wish You'd Known

How about a fun Memoir Monday?

When you look back on your life, what are a few things you wish you'd known to pay more attention to? You realize, of course, that someone in your life tried (hard!) to tell you, but you were young and not willing to listen. Okay, that's me anyway.

Here's a few to get you started:

1. Exercise more.

2. Eat healthier. Notice those first sneaky pounds piling on. Let's include here all those things you know you should have been doing...wearing sunscreen, getting enough sleep, and staying away from addictive substances like Dr Pepper....

3. Be money smart. Save more, spend less, work smarter.

4. Pursue dreams with greater passion and hard work and less by daydreaming for a big break.

5. Live with less fear. What's the worst thing that could happen?

6. Savor parenting more. Be stricter with my sons. Enjoy them more. Don't let the frustrations ever outweigh the delights.

7. Keep up with photo scrapbooking. The boxes of loose photos I have speak volumes. It's overwhelming to think about and a crying shame we can't enjoy our own photo memories. It's a double shame when you consider every photo leaving my studio was either in a frame, a folder, or an album. Beautiful. I wish I'd taken the time to treat my own personal photos with an equal amount of respect. Someday was what I always told myself.

8. Keep a journal of my son's cute sayings and antics. True, there's some things you never forget, but the older I get the more swiss cheesy my memory gets. Capture precious moments and write down family stories.

9. Hug people I love more. They may not be there tomorrow. Send more thoughtfully written cards telling people how much they mean to me.

10. Live more artistically. Be truer to my 'vision' and taste and less blown by winds of trends and fashions. Be more true to my creative soul.

I could go on, but you get the idea. Post your list on your blog and link back to here..and mention your blog addy in the comments below.

Profound or silly...I can't wait to read them.