I'm still enjoying the book, "The Creativity Book". Here's an excerpt from today's reading, which include some phrases that can be used as everyday mantras or affirmations:
"It's all right not to know"
"I can enter the chaos and create there"
"I am prepared to work blind"
"I can move forward without a destination"
"What I need is inside the darkness"
"I would love things to be easy, but I prefer truthfulness"
"To create, I must embrace bewilderment"
from p 113 "The Creativity Book" by Eric Maisel, Ph. D.
Friday, September 09, 2005
Thursday, September 08, 2005
Taking inspiration
While listening to the radio today, I heard stories of people in the Gulf Coast region that are determined to rebuild their jobs, their homes, their lives.
At first I scoffed at this. And then, I took inspiration from it.
This is not to say that I understand, really, on any level what the people in that region are going through. My life has had its share of disappointments but I've never had my entire home, job, life taken from me. So these comments aren't in any way meant to minimize the pain of those who are rebuilding lives.
But who among us has not had something that was once precious to us that was then taken or destroyed? And, (and this is where I take inspiration) many times, I just give up. Say, "it's too hard" or "it'll never be the same..".
And both statements are more than true. Rebuilding is hard and it will never the be same. That is hardly the point.
What is the point? The point is, I think, hope.
It is uncanny that over the weekend - a weekend filled with so little hope from the Gulf States, that I saw my favorite movie of all time, "Shawshank Redemption" -- a movie that portrays hope in such a way that every time I see it, I cry. And my favorite moment? That would be when Tim Robbins' character says, "The way I see it, you either get busy living or you get busy dying."
When I remember those lines -- and see the courageous people that are doing just that -- living, that is, -- I am challenged to look at my own life, at my own failings, at my own disappointments. Some things can never be repaired, it's true. And some things can be rebuilt more beautiful and with more soul than ever before.
At first I scoffed at this. And then, I took inspiration from it.
This is not to say that I understand, really, on any level what the people in that region are going through. My life has had its share of disappointments but I've never had my entire home, job, life taken from me. So these comments aren't in any way meant to minimize the pain of those who are rebuilding lives.
But who among us has not had something that was once precious to us that was then taken or destroyed? And, (and this is where I take inspiration) many times, I just give up. Say, "it's too hard" or "it'll never be the same..".
And both statements are more than true. Rebuilding is hard and it will never the be same. That is hardly the point.
What is the point? The point is, I think, hope.
It is uncanny that over the weekend - a weekend filled with so little hope from the Gulf States, that I saw my favorite movie of all time, "Shawshank Redemption" -- a movie that portrays hope in such a way that every time I see it, I cry. And my favorite moment? That would be when Tim Robbins' character says, "The way I see it, you either get busy living or you get busy dying."
When I remember those lines -- and see the courageous people that are doing just that -- living, that is, -- I am challenged to look at my own life, at my own failings, at my own disappointments. Some things can never be repaired, it's true. And some things can be rebuilt more beautiful and with more soul than ever before.
Monday, September 05, 2005
Sunset on the summer
I sat in my pergola tonight until dusk, reading a book after weeding (always weeding!). I spent the weekend, and I do mean SPENT. I did next to nothing except rumble around in my head, reading, writing, organizing my office, making plans for some new renovations for the house and garden.
Dan kidnapped me late today and we say the "Constant Gardner"...and I took a chance and posted my review at my favorite movie web site -- it was accepted (I'm not sure if this is a big deal or not, but it always feels good to get an "acceptance" something!) Here it is if you'd like to read it -- http://imdb.com/title/tt0387131/usercomments-78
I went to library and checked out two more of Joyce Carol Oates books, "Tatooed Girl" and "Broke Heart Blues". Both appear promising in only the way that Joyce Carol Oates can be.
I am also reading "The Creativity Book" by Eric Maisal and am finding it a great way to start my day. Actually, I am finding after I walk, eat, I come right to my office and read then write for about an hour before starting my "real" work day.
My office is more appealing to me now than ever before. I have arranged all my writing books, gardening books in one place in my office so now they are a part of my work routine as everything else. I also invested in a new white board which has some key work routines on it along with the 30 chapter outline of (dare I say this...my novel). My goal is to write each week on one chapter and then go back and start the endless rewriting and refining.
This has completely jazzed me...and I'm looking forward to a creative fall.
Dan kidnapped me late today and we say the "Constant Gardner"...and I took a chance and posted my review at my favorite movie web site -- it was accepted (I'm not sure if this is a big deal or not, but it always feels good to get an "acceptance" something!) Here it is if you'd like to read it -- http://imdb.com/title/tt0387131/usercomments-78
I went to library and checked out two more of Joyce Carol Oates books, "Tatooed Girl" and "Broke Heart Blues". Both appear promising in only the way that Joyce Carol Oates can be.
I am also reading "The Creativity Book" by Eric Maisal and am finding it a great way to start my day. Actually, I am finding after I walk, eat, I come right to my office and read then write for about an hour before starting my "real" work day.
My office is more appealing to me now than ever before. I have arranged all my writing books, gardening books in one place in my office so now they are a part of my work routine as everything else. I also invested in a new white board which has some key work routines on it along with the 30 chapter outline of (dare I say this...my novel). My goal is to write each week on one chapter and then go back and start the endless rewriting and refining.
This has completely jazzed me...and I'm looking forward to a creative fall.
To my friends at CNN
For 25 years, you have been the eye on the world. You have reported everything from assinations, to massacres. From famines to celebrity. From new found fame to classic wealth.
For most of that time, I've been a faithful friend, enjoying our moments together, often turning to you when I felt I needed comfort or information.
I feel, today, that you have failed me. As I turned off the coverage of the hurricane (finally!) I shook my head in disbelief. Why would you do this?
Why would you exploit the men and women of the New Orleans/Missippi region for your own gain and political agenda? Why would you use this opportunity to create more unrest in an already battered place?
Somewhere along the line, we have to start asking the question, "What is opinion and what is fact?" Somewhere along the line we have to start being critical thinkers again and get on with what is important -- which is providing healing to those who suffered this tragedy and those who have sat somewhat helplessly by.
Here's my question: What could possibly be the motivation of our government to keep aid from the people of New Orleans and Missippi? Isn't that what a good criminal lawyer would ask if he were trying a case? It seems to me that we have already issued the indictment without even so much as a public hearing.
I was encouraged by the interview with a mega-church minister, himself black, who was asked to comment on the comments made by Kanye West. This "interview" was so leading (the corresopndant kept asking questions such as "Aren't you mad it took so long.." and the man being interviewed said, "Yes, I'm furious. But I'm not so mad that I'm going to jump to accusations and assumptions until I find out what went wrong. Something surely went wrong, but we don't know yet where the system failed and that's not the point. The point is to get these people out and to get them help."
Between Christian Amanpour and Anderson Cooper's "coverage", good critical thinking and judgement have gone out the window. They appear to be more interested in laying blame than in being creative on helping discover where the system needs to be repaired. Their logic appears to be, "We have a white president and these people are black, so it must be his fault."
I personally have a lot more questions about the state government of New Orleans than I do of the federal government. Where were you when your state needed you? Where were your evacuation systems and relief systems? If the state -- the first line of defense in any tragedy -- gives way, then mobilizing a federal relief aid is logically the next.
How many times have we had a chance to prepare for such a crisis? How many times have the systems used been put to the test for survival? How many times have we dealt with the reality of problems of this magnitude...and here's the big question, "now that we see the defects, how do we fix them?"
And again, the question, "What and who would gain by ignoring people at a time like this?" What agenda would be served? Whose career (except those of the resporters) is being helped by such thinking?
Are there clearly mistakes that have been made? Surely. What I find amazing is that we're not asking the question, "how did anyone survive at all?" Given that we have not one, but possibly three tragedies of nature, how did those who survive do so?
I find the reporting that your correspondants are doing, CNN, to be sloppy and self-serving at a time when we have neither the patience or time for either.
For most of that time, I've been a faithful friend, enjoying our moments together, often turning to you when I felt I needed comfort or information.
I feel, today, that you have failed me. As I turned off the coverage of the hurricane (finally!) I shook my head in disbelief. Why would you do this?
Why would you exploit the men and women of the New Orleans/Missippi region for your own gain and political agenda? Why would you use this opportunity to create more unrest in an already battered place?
Somewhere along the line, we have to start asking the question, "What is opinion and what is fact?" Somewhere along the line we have to start being critical thinkers again and get on with what is important -- which is providing healing to those who suffered this tragedy and those who have sat somewhat helplessly by.
Here's my question: What could possibly be the motivation of our government to keep aid from the people of New Orleans and Missippi? Isn't that what a good criminal lawyer would ask if he were trying a case? It seems to me that we have already issued the indictment without even so much as a public hearing.
I was encouraged by the interview with a mega-church minister, himself black, who was asked to comment on the comments made by Kanye West. This "interview" was so leading (the corresopndant kept asking questions such as "Aren't you mad it took so long.." and the man being interviewed said, "Yes, I'm furious. But I'm not so mad that I'm going to jump to accusations and assumptions until I find out what went wrong. Something surely went wrong, but we don't know yet where the system failed and that's not the point. The point is to get these people out and to get them help."
Between Christian Amanpour and Anderson Cooper's "coverage", good critical thinking and judgement have gone out the window. They appear to be more interested in laying blame than in being creative on helping discover where the system needs to be repaired. Their logic appears to be, "We have a white president and these people are black, so it must be his fault."
I personally have a lot more questions about the state government of New Orleans than I do of the federal government. Where were you when your state needed you? Where were your evacuation systems and relief systems? If the state -- the first line of defense in any tragedy -- gives way, then mobilizing a federal relief aid is logically the next.
How many times have we had a chance to prepare for such a crisis? How many times have the systems used been put to the test for survival? How many times have we dealt with the reality of problems of this magnitude...and here's the big question, "now that we see the defects, how do we fix them?"
And again, the question, "What and who would gain by ignoring people at a time like this?" What agenda would be served? Whose career (except those of the resporters) is being helped by such thinking?
Are there clearly mistakes that have been made? Surely. What I find amazing is that we're not asking the question, "how did anyone survive at all?" Given that we have not one, but possibly three tragedies of nature, how did those who survive do so?
I find the reporting that your correspondants are doing, CNN, to be sloppy and self-serving at a time when we have neither the patience or time for either.
Sunday, September 04, 2005
The Creativity Book
It's raining here today. I am torn between starting a new gardening project, or cleaning out my closet.
Both, according to this great little book, both are creative, spiritual endeavors.
I've learned something this past year -- that as long as I focus on what some might call "the creative life" things in my life appear to move along intrinsically, organically. Things just seem to flow and are easier.
This book, by Eric Maisel, Ph.d, is a series of ideas and suggestions to direct some in their creative urges, whether that be solving company staffing, world hunger or writing a novel.
Towards that end, I spent yesterday in my office doing some massive cleaning out while at the same time freeing up some space for the creative part of my life -- writing and gardening. Where there once was scattered papers and unused space, my collection of books on writing and gardening now sit. I've taken some pictures that I may post, may not.
What came later, though, was truly inspiring. The act itself gave me room to breathe and therefor I sat down and wrote several pages on simple office organization -- something that I'm good at doing anyway, but never had "gotten around to" putting my ideas on paper. This may be used later for training or sharing with others. I find that most professionals suffer from mismanagment of two things -- time and money. And it is precisely those two things that we want to understand better because the "how we invest or spend" these things can tell us a lot about ourselves.
Why do I spend the first part of my day doing this rather than that? Is that congruent with my declared values and goals? Why or why not? These are tough questions, not for sissies.
Truth is, making room for the things in your life that matter can be convicting. Do I keep my never-listened-to collection of Dan Fogerty tapes out of nostalgia or do I make room for that book on better senetence construction? Which one is more a part of my life NOW and which is just a testimony to a life lived in high school? And why is it so *^&( hard to let go of those things that I know -- I know -- I won't use today, tomorrow or in 6 months.
There is a spiritual element going on here, no doubt. A sense of cleaning out one's life to make room for the new. Truth be told, the "ramp" to this place has been filled with a lot of tilling of spiritual soil to get me to even look realistically at the cluttered part of my life (metaphorically and literally speaking).
I'm learning to limit spirituality to things that go on in church building or doing one's "quiet time" is to limit a holy foce that can wreck spiritual havoc (cleansing) in my life. If God isn't a part of order from chaos, peace from fear, calm from anxiety, then I don't know really what He or She may be a part of.
For me, God is in the details -- the order on my desk, the cleanness of my closet, the whisper of comfort.
Both, according to this great little book, both are creative, spiritual endeavors.
I've learned something this past year -- that as long as I focus on what some might call "the creative life" things in my life appear to move along intrinsically, organically. Things just seem to flow and are easier.
This book, by Eric Maisel, Ph.d, is a series of ideas and suggestions to direct some in their creative urges, whether that be solving company staffing, world hunger or writing a novel.
Towards that end, I spent yesterday in my office doing some massive cleaning out while at the same time freeing up some space for the creative part of my life -- writing and gardening. Where there once was scattered papers and unused space, my collection of books on writing and gardening now sit. I've taken some pictures that I may post, may not.
What came later, though, was truly inspiring. The act itself gave me room to breathe and therefor I sat down and wrote several pages on simple office organization -- something that I'm good at doing anyway, but never had "gotten around to" putting my ideas on paper. This may be used later for training or sharing with others. I find that most professionals suffer from mismanagment of two things -- time and money. And it is precisely those two things that we want to understand better because the "how we invest or spend" these things can tell us a lot about ourselves.
Why do I spend the first part of my day doing this rather than that? Is that congruent with my declared values and goals? Why or why not? These are tough questions, not for sissies.
Truth is, making room for the things in your life that matter can be convicting. Do I keep my never-listened-to collection of Dan Fogerty tapes out of nostalgia or do I make room for that book on better senetence construction? Which one is more a part of my life NOW and which is just a testimony to a life lived in high school? And why is it so *^&( hard to let go of those things that I know -- I know -- I won't use today, tomorrow or in 6 months.
There is a spiritual element going on here, no doubt. A sense of cleaning out one's life to make room for the new. Truth be told, the "ramp" to this place has been filled with a lot of tilling of spiritual soil to get me to even look realistically at the cluttered part of my life (metaphorically and literally speaking).
I'm learning to limit spirituality to things that go on in church building or doing one's "quiet time" is to limit a holy foce that can wreck spiritual havoc (cleansing) in my life. If God isn't a part of order from chaos, peace from fear, calm from anxiety, then I don't know really what He or She may be a part of.
For me, God is in the details -- the order on my desk, the cleanness of my closet, the whisper of comfort.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)