Up early, much to do . . .
Professional rewards abound . . .
I’m grateful . . .
and seeking simplicity too.
Creativity and wellness message for today: Accept the bounty of what is and where you can simplify, simplify, simplify.
Just read Brian Jacques obituary. I’m feeling sad and remembering how his Redwall series of books (21 in all with one on the way) delighted my family for years. One of the things I admired about Jacques was that he had many careers and not all of them illustrious. Most of his jobs were working class, as a longshoreman, merchant marine, bus driver or speciality jobs as a boxer and a British bobby. He came to writing in mid-life.
The New York Times obit paints a good picture of him. Rest in peace Brian Jacques you are an inspiration to us all.
Creativity and wellness message for today: Dare to be all you are, let yourself wear many hats.
On this cold, icy winter day I’m thinking about how my mind works. Over the years of being a creative thinker, I’ve learned that it is usually my first thought that is my best thought. Experience has proven this for three reasons:
1. There are no edits yet when a first thought bubbles up to the surface of my conscious mind.
2. That first thought (even if it is “off-base” or silly) can free up my brain enough to lead me to my next thought.
3. Action steps I may take on my very first thought often times lead me to my very best thoughts.
I’ve helped support myself and my family on my creative ideas for decades, I’ve learned to trust my first thoughts and to let them lead me to where I am going.
Creativity and wellness message for today: Allow your first creative thought to lead you to the next.
Another foot of snow fell in the night. This early morning photograph reminds me of the quote by Leonardo da Vinci: Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.
Creativity and wellness message for today: Be in the moment and enjoy what is.
I’ve loved Pablo Picasso’s art since I was in high school, and a reproduction of his painting of two hands clutching a bouquet of colorful flowers graced my wall. In college I studied him in art classes and hung a poster of his painting Guernica in my dorm room. His spunk, individuality, and creativity continue to inspire me. Recently, Irene, a former member of my Writing Critique Group shared this Picasso quote: Art washes from the soul the dust of everyday life.
Creativity and wellness message for today: Let art wash your soul.
Happy New Year! A scheduling snafu at work granted me 3 extra hours today. I’m dusty from sifting and editing Pile #1 of 6 that have taken up residence on my writing desk. Finding a March 2009 copy of Writer’s Digest I look for my literary signal — a triangle page corner bent down indicating I wanted to keep something in the magazine when it surfaced.
Debut Author: Rhodi Hawk said her secret to success is, “Keep the focus on the writing and the story. All the advertising, marketing and promotion in the world are meaningless unless you’ve got a tale people want to read.”
Creativity and wellness message for today: Use gifts of time to their fullest.
Today is the Winter Solstice, the first day of winter, a day of the shortest day and longest night. Then, like a miracle the sun brings back the light. This is a season of stories, rituals and celebrations, with many cultures showing a recognition of rebirth.
On my early morning beach walk I accidentally twisted my ankle, seriously enough to make me stop and slightly enough to be able to walk home on it. It will be fine, just tender but the experience reminds me to slow down. It’s hard for creative types like us to do that. Our minds run a mile a minute, it’s in our blood. I’m reminded of a line I recently read:
It is a fire that consumes me, but I am the fire. -Jorge Luis Borges
Tolerance and temperance come to mind, I have to be who I am with my sparks of inspiration flying, but I have to also carry them within my very human body.
Creativity and wellness message for today: Embody your own flame, but don’t let it burn you out.
I think I just wrote my New Year’s resolution . . . until then, be well.
I’m basking in the joy of just completing a nine-month long, labor intensive project.
Creativity and wellness message for today: Remember to feel the joy of a job well done. Savor it before diving head first into the next.
Chilly waves lapping
this morning at my sneakers
happy to be there.
Creativity and wellness message for today: Be present . . . then share it.
Today is cold and blustery, the autumn leaves danced and crackled around me on my before-work walk. Keeping up my pace I changed my normal route to allow for passing a mailbox. Like in playing cards when the dealer shuffles the deck, that is what this morning feels like. I am doing everything I usually do, from personal to professional responsibilities but the order of my day is slightly different. The mix has changed and I like it. A buoyancy of sustained energy is keeping me going. I had no intention of writing this blog today and yet while I walked it wrote itself.
Creativity and wellness message for today: Allow for a different arrangement to your day and see what creative spark ignites.