Success and Failure

                                                       Chiura Obata, Japanese painter

Why do we do what we do? The choices we make, what drives us to them? Well, the answers to those questions are as individual as we are and the times they've been addressed are equally infinite in number. I think the why and the choices, although important, are not as vital as the fact that we try.

I am talking about the entities known as success and failure. Both are driving forces in our culture. They move us and they have the power to destroy, but only if we let them.

A story ...

Chiura Obata, a Japanese immigrant and painter, arrived in the US in 1903, intending to stay only a short while before moving on to Paris to study his art. As a young man he was a domestic servant and he was one of the co-founders of the first Japanese-American baseball teams on the mainland. In 1927, he visited Yosemite National Park and he was so moved by the beauty of the land, and by the stillness he found there, he remained for two months, traveling and painting what he called "great nature". His exhibitions brought great joy and "new eyes" to Americans. Seeing this great national treasure through his efforts was inspirational and healing to many people. He became an illustrator and commercial decorator. Eventually, he became a faculty member in the Art Department at the University of California at Berkeley. But his work was interrupted by WWII, and he was forced to spend well over a year in internment camps for the Japanese. He created an art school within the camps and when he was transferred to the Topaz War Relocation Center in Utah, he became the Founder and Director of the Topaz Art School which had 16 artist/instructors who taught 23 subjects to their students. Post-war, he contiued to exhibit and for many summers, he returned to his beloved Yosemite with his wife - also an artist - to teach art and talk about art in nature.

I tell Mr. Obata's story because of his approach to his life's work.

Success and failure. Mr. Obata had equal opportunity for both. I was not aware of his work until I recently watched The National Parks: America's Best Idea on PBS. Five minutes of the episode on Yosemite highlights his work there. Simple, colorful, inspired - I was drawn in, just like those who experienced it at the time it was painted. But it was the man's reason for making the choices he did - we're back to the why and the choices - that caused me to share these thoughts.

"Success or failure is not my aim in life. Whether I be a flake of snow or only a drop of dew, I do not care. I wish only to paint with gratitude to nature in my heart, and with sincerity in my brush. This is my future. This is my biography. Chiura Obata 

I do not know the angst he suffered. I was not with him when he met fear and doubt, anger and injustice. But I am inspired by his idea of not having success as the goal. I smile when I think about there being no such thing as failure. Removing the unspoken onus attached to them is like clearing a path to my joy and I am unburdened.

Our society grows things backwards. Despite itself, there is brilliance and innovation and beauty and humor and joy. When we meet a boulder bigger than our mind's capacity for strength to move it, if we can recall the thought that success or failure is not the point, it becomes a pebble on the path, respected for its part in building a good life.

Kittie invites you to comment directly below this posting - sharing your thoughts will inspire someone who needs it! Become a follower of this blog by adding yourself in the "following this blog" section along the right column of the page. Please forward to anyone you think might enjoy the read. I'm happy to include them on the mailing list. Just send me a note! HAPPY NEW YEAR!


Pssst ... Mr. Obata was prolific! I've included a few extra images below. One of my favorites was a postcard he sent to one of his children that reads: "The lovely moon is gone. It went to bed early to sleep. Grow big and shine more!" 

  

The Balance of Nature, the nature of balance ...

"The Balance of nature refers to the theory that ecological systems are usually in a stable equilibrium (homeostasis), which is to say that a small change in some particular parameter (the size of a particular population, for example) will be corrected by some negative feedback that will bring the parameter back to its original "point of balance" with the rest of the system. It may apply where populations depend on each other, for example in predator/prey systems, or relationships between herbivores and their food source. It is also sometimes applied to the relationship between the Earth's ecosystem, the composition of the atmosphere, and the world's climate." (from Wikipedia, December 21, 2009)

"When we don't have something, we have to compensate, we have to find our balance in other ways." Emily Carr, Painter

The above describes the cycle of living. It occurs to me that our worlds - nature, our relationships, our scientific world, the spiritual realm; art, business, athletics, health/physical - all of the facets of living we experience are going through a kind of natural balancing act. We are catching ourselves before we go beyond repair. There are many great tools emerging that have taken a back seat to ambition, gain, competition and progress. The nature of balance is to regrow, refurbish, rework until equilibrium is restored. The balancing of nature is a wonderful model to observe. We also see it in our children, our animal friends and if we allow ourselves, we can see it in our individual and collective relationships inside ordinary activities. 

In art, in business models, in emotions - perspective shows us different ways of seeing. What works for one may not appeal to another eye. It is in the differences of perspective that we achieve balance. Some of the tools coming to the forefront for use in this balancing act are: Creativity, Compassion, Communication; Energy, Enthusiasm, Education; Originality, Openness, and being Others Oriented. As we utilize these tools, we can literally feel our lopsided world right itself. 

It begins at home - that is, with ourselves. Starting right where we are, seeing what is, scooping it up into our arms and appreciating it - this is a place to begin. If you already do this, the next step is to try out some of the tools. As we work with them, we find that we begin to see and feel and ultimately, act in new ways and the balancing act becomes a song, harmonious with those around us. The tension necessary to hold us upright returns.

It is important to note that balance isn't forever, at least not in our human world. We have a propensity for excess - too much of a "good" thing. As good as something may seem, moderation is best in all circumstances. (Thank you, Elmer) It leaves room for every thing, every one ... and that, my friends, is the nature of balance - eternal and there for us to use at will!

Kittie invites you to comment below this article. Your thoughts and ideas might reverberate with others. She thanks you for sharing ... Become a follower (look in the right-hand column). Be sure to list your website or blog of you have one! 

Wishing everyone a blessed holiday with family, friends, and loved ones! See you in the New Year!

GIFT

Gift. As a figure of speech it is both noun and verb. As a focus for many of us this time of year, it can be both joy and duty. For me, it is creative and meaningful and fun! I love the giving and the receiving equally and I relish as much in the presentation as anything.

But it is good to remember the heart of it ...

I cannot speak for others because it is my own heart with whom I am familiar. I have given too much in the name of appearances. I have given too little for lack of imagination. I have even received and been disappointed, and it was merely my own expectation that diminished the joy. 

To offer a gift is a ritual so special, it can get lost in the crowd. When presumption or accountability get involved, gifting becomes joyless and a burden. There are lots of ways to lighten this load, to make it more meaningful and to breathe new life into a tradition intended for good.

It works best for both giving and receiving when the heart is open and greets these customs with arms outstretched. True gifts reach across boundaries, not only to touch the receiver but to strengthen compassion within ourselves and to deepen our personal sense of love. We spend time in thought about another, getting outside of our problems or interrupting our routine and that adds to the gift. Home-made gifts from children delight us so! Why not use our minds, our hands, our creativity to make something to communicate how much we value the person who will receive? Last year, my sister-in-law gave me the most beautiful memory book - FULL of pictures of us together, of our children when they were little. She cut out and wrote in her own hand words and phrases to describe how she feels about me and she cut out scenes that symbolize her love for me. I have picked that book up countless times and that one gift has lightened my heart throughout the year! My daughter has designed jewelry out of ribbons and metal pieces, crafting incredible works of wearable art. She hand-sewed a leather bag with pieced suede leaves and a braided handle. People have stopped me on the street to find out where I bought something so beautifully unusual. 

My friend, Lucy, often prefers to gift when it is needed or when her spirit is moved to offer a surprise. I love this practice! It's so satisfying to delight someone with something they want or need when they least expect it!

We don't have to make gifts for them to be meaningful. It truly is "the thought that counts". When I unwrap something I really need, or would never get for myself ... when the surprise comes spontaneously and sometimes with sacrifice, it is a real gift, one to be cherished and make me smile.

I have so many gift stories. I want to include two of them here. 

The first is hard to write because it comes with so much emotion. It is about my son. He is good about giving gifts, his heart grinning from one side to the other as he makes his presentation! I have imagined the fun he has making plans! I think if I published the list of his gifts here, it would embarrass him, so I won't. He knows how grateful I am for his thoughtfulness. He cannot know how incredibly helpful his support and sacrifice has meant to me ...

The second story involves both of my children, but specifically, my daughter. I wrote about it at the time it happened and called the short story "Surrender" because the gift required me to be truthful and to put aside my prideful nature in order to receive. I include it here, with editing for time's sake. It happened a long time ago, when my kids were still in school. As you read, perhaps something similar will come to mind for you ...

SURRENDER  

The past few years have been extra lean at our house. I made some choices that didn't help matters and I am grateful they weren't fatal. We are slowly working our way back, learning as we go. I included my kids in this process because on what felt like the "Eve of Destruction", they caught me crying in my bedroom and I could think of nothing else to tell them but the truth.

The days that followed were spent discussing ways to cut back and how to generate more money. We all participated. As we moved through the problem, something bigger happened to me. One of the things I knew to be true was that in this world you must persist. At every turn, in every way, you plant your feet, square your shoulders and face the giant. Sometimes the giant feels too big to face alone. What if he seems to have no heart, no reason, no mercy? What if when you square and face him, he looks exactly like your greatest fear with an army of endless doubt standing right behind him on the point of no return? 

At this juncture we become who we are, what we have practiced to this point ... and then the angels appear.

I had become a pillar of alabaster. So practiced was I at being strong and good in the name of outward appearances, I looked just fine to those in the outside world. I was one from whom to seek guidance and direction. 

 

Inside, I was slowly hollowing out, becoming more and more brittle as I denied myself the truth, seeking solace from no one. Shining and white and as breakable as porcelain ... and when on the "Eve of Destruction", I collapsed in despair in my bedroom, God sent the angels in to help me. I looked at the loving faces of my children through my tears and humbly, gratefully fell into their arms.

There have been subsequent angels in my life. They know who they are. Through surrender came rejuvenation and I am better at guidance and direction now. A few weeks ago, I happily sent the gift of a sizable check to my daughter at college with a note attached that said, "Use this for what you want the most." It felt so good to be able to do it!

Last night, I was sitting on the front porch of our house enjoying the evening breeze when a car pulled up and out jumped my daughter, arms outspread, yelling "SURPRISE!" I couldn't believe my eyes!

 

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

She answered with a triumphant smile on her face.

 

"You said to use that money for what I wanted the most, so here I am!"

As we surrender to love, so do we teach it.

 

Any gift offered in love lasts a lifetime. It matters and reciprocally, it benefits giver as much as the person who receives. Put JOY into your gift giving this year! It isn't how many or how costly ... it is how much heart lives inside.

Do you have a story of gift-giving or receiving to share? Please post yours in the comments section directly below. Wishing everyone HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!!

The Blank Page

Image by Jorge Stolfi (http://www.link.cs.cmu.edu/splay/)

  

Words aren't coming this morning. I'm in Portland, Oregon, visiting my children. The house is set on a hill inside a rain forest. The autumn foliage drips color as if Jack Frost breezed through and the color scheme this year is earth tones - beige and moss green, splashes of russets and mushroom umbra, yellow. I've been up for hours and got to spend time with both night and day. There's a chill in the air and it has seeped into the room where I sit. Thanksgiving has come and gone. I'll be on my way home tomorrow. Taking advantage of the quiet and my new surroundings, I sit down to write. The words are slow to emerge.

Obviously there are a few; I just typed them. But where is my usual jumpstart phrase? Why is the voice in my head silent and shy?

I think I am not yet used to my surroundings. Having traveled a fair bit, I know there are those first few days spent adjusting to the terrain. I hear voices muffled in discussion in the adjacent room. If I am to have writing time, it is limited. I reach again for the words knowing they are there but not finding them.

This is a scenario I've lived before and one I will live again. I've started paying attention to When and Where it happens in order to get to the Why. It is from that familiar place I plucked the first words on this page. There is nothing strange or mystical about it. I must be patient and allow the creativity to flow. It's not Creativity's nature to be forced or contrived.

At home, I write in two places, my couch and a cushy chair in my art studio. Both work for me. I'm surrounded by familiar things that bring comfort and inspiration. Usually I can count on them for the charge that gets me going. When they don't do the trick, I get in my car and drive to a favorite coffee haunt, order my decaf and see if a local conversation or friendly face triggers a thought.

The last resort when the drought appears is to give up the ghost and upset my routine, dispelling any need for writing at that moment. Some days it is hard to give in to this. Other times I welcome the relief and the day opens up with unexpected time to do something new or unplanned. I am practiced at this and I can count on the words coming forward at some point. I'm a decent writer but my old friends - letters, words and sentences - sometimes give my brain a rest, inactivity it obviously needs.

I had planned to come up with some sort of poignant seasonal sharing about gratitude and family and taking stock of what is and isn't in our busy and ever-changing lives. It felt trite and so the words didn't materialize. Instead, what is leaping onto the page is this idea of not having words readily available and the notion that with helpful tools, they will and do return.

I'm using writing as my metaphor to illustrate a process that happens in all forms of creating: business, playing sports, homemaking, art, cooking. It is especially prevalent in lifestyle design and although there are more variables and possibilities in Life than in writing, the metaphor is just as apparent. As a writer, I can come to the page one morning and what usually comes easily is suddenly blank, or worse - it is dull and uninteresting. The same thing happens in our daily lives. We can be rolling along with gusto and BAM! one morning there is nothing that excites us. Life looks bleak and quickly works its way into overwhelm. Just as the writer who in the second hour of staring at a blank page doubts he has anything worthwhile to say, we begin to question our career choices, our love relationships, the paths we've chosen since birth. We forget the flashes of brilliance in the article written last month for that travel magazine, the business deal we closed for the company last week, the joy we felt seeing our loved ones after spending a long week on the road! The phenonmenon of not being able to create hits us hard. If we work for someone else, we feel pressured by this. If we work for ourselves we beat ourselves up for not being able to produce as cleverly or as easily as others. These feelings can spill over into our personal lives and it is easy to lay blame, point fingers, find fault.

There is more than hope at these times. Those of us who have experienced it repeatedly, who have faced a blank page in life for weeks on end and have persisted through the help of the simplest of tools, know this. We also know that the tools cost nothing except faith in the process, the courage to give it a try and the energy to keep it going. The tools have names:  Music, Exercise, Time With Friends, Good Food, Reading, Walking The Dog ... or maybe, Taking A Trip, Being Of Service To Someone, Buying A New Dress or Journaling. The list is customized and one of the most fun parts is that we get to choose whatever tool works best for us at the moment.

The point is Change. Change your routine. Your blank mind/disinterest in life is whispering this to you. It is saying "Do something new!" and it lets you decide what that might be. If you are one who has a hard time because of guilt or an overly scrupulous conscience or perfectionist tendencies, you will need this exercise most and will, most likely, respond to its results more passionately than others.

Creativity - whether it is in writing or business or inside your life - is a living thing and in that sense, must be nurtured, loved and allowed a variety of expressions. Any kind of blockage is a serious sign that a change of pace is needed. The result can happen quickly and you can be back to work/life in no time. But you have to give the change a chance to work its magic. I warn you, it's fun and once you give it a go, you will come to crave the opportunities the blank page offers you! Some times take longer than others. This requires more faith and more patience. It works unfailingly if you allow it. Sometimes you need someone/something else to give you a nudge. Think about what might work for you, let it in, and enjoy the ride.

I have literally awakened in the wee hours of the morning with words swirling in my brain. Phrases that sing like the sweetest song; nouns waiting to be painted with adjectives and led somewhere magical by verbs of every imagined action. Most of the time it has happened after a long hiatus from the blank page. The sooner I begin my quest for tools to awaken my creative mind, the faster I am back to the page, filling it with thoughts as fast as my fingers can fly across the keys!

See? The words are here after all. I had to look around me and let my beautiful surroundings join in the fun. Suddenly there are too many words that will require editing when I'm finished letting them all flow onto this page ... into my life and yours!

Kittie invites you to share experiences in life when you felt blocked - at work, at home, anywhere it might have happened. We learn best from each other! Be sure to check Kittie's website and  http://tiny.cc/blurb821  to review Kittie's latest books ...

Plunge In and Quit

James Marcus Bach has written a book called "Secrets of a Buccaneer Scholar". His book is about how to learn. Well, it's about a lot more than that but the goal is to kill the evil dragon that breathes the message "THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY TO LEARN!" James is an engaging writer and leads his readers through a labyrinth of related topics. We walk, get ambushed, waylaid and suddenly find ourselves back on the path - walking taller, more confident, ready to greet the next learning adventure!

It is his notion of "Plunge In and Quit!" I'd like to open for discussion. 

By James' definition, "Plunge In and Quit is a way of approaching any difficult task when you don't know exactly how to do it or even if you can do it." In my world, friends have heard me say, "I just dive in and learn along the way." Even when I knew I was drowning, the times I refused to quit were due to one of two things: Either I wanted things to happen my way ONLY or I was listening to the advice of well meaning others and not to my intuition.

James lists three elements in his theory: 

NO PROMISES
Do not have expectations and do not be attached to the results. 

TACKLE THE HARDEST PART, NOW!
Dive in and do it. Learn along the way. Because you've not set an unreasonable standard for yourself, you can do this without drowning. 

IF IT DOESN'T FEEL RIGHT, STOP.
Listen to your intuition. Many people are uncomfortable trusting this practice. There's no hocus-pocus here. You know if it's working or not! Stopping doesn't mean it won't work. It means you are taking a break to see if it's worth it to continue. Need to reframe your plan, rework your idea? Time to start over, go back to the drawing board? 

Picture yourself inside a specific challenge. Big or little, stop and picture it right now. 

For example, I'm seeing myself, standing in front of a giant wall of letters that spells

                                     M A R K E T I N G 

and even though I need to be informed, for some reason it seems the more I read, the more intimidated I am, the BIGGER THE WALL BECOMES! I feel small and insignificant  and I hear myself telling me "it's useless. The internet is so vast and I'm not well known and no one wants to read my writing or hear my tunes. I'm just a nothing ...." WHOA.  STOP RIGHT THERE. See where this is leading? Self-deprecation and cowardice. Scaredy Cat!

Instead, I take 10 deep breaths to clear my head and I see it for what it is. A game. Marketing is just a game. It's playful and fun and I have lost my sense of humor in all of this. Marketing is communication. It's letting people know about my products and services . It's sharing and community oriented. I was VERY good at that according to my kindergarten report card! Marketing is my swimming pool right now. I'm learning a lot of new strokes by gathering information and trying things out. It's not hard at all and I'm already getting positive results! I plunge in, gather information through reading and talking with people who have been successful in this area. Then I plunge in again, start talking about my work/projects in present tense, trying different things, asking for help when I have exhausted my knowledge/expertise and when I get really frustrated or seem to hit brick walls everywhere I turn, I look at quitting as a viable option.

Each of us has walls to climb. Some walls are bigger than others. The current economic times are bringing forward new challenges in every arena. Some of the tried and true ways aren't working any longer and we are forced to find creative ways to make a living, to view and adjust our lifestyle, rearrange, replace, rework ... so we don't fall through the cracks. Plunging In and Quitting is a great way to explore new territory, discover new things about ourselves and best of all, to grow and learn.

I watched Ken Burns' series on our National Parks last weekend. Margaret Gehrke, wife of Edward Gehrke, was a writer and kept a fastidious journal during the years she and Edward worked to preserve the American land they so loved. She muses in one of her journal entries after describing the perseverance and diligent efforts people make in their lifetime .... "What else is there but to dream and do?"

That about sums it up for me. 

"A dream is a wish you make on a star. It makes its way from your mind to your heart. Your body will help by acting it out, bend and stretching ideas about. That is the moment the magic begins ...."  (pages 2-9, What Color is Your Dream?) 

Kittie invites you to comment below (click on comment and a window appears!) and to become a follower of this blog on the right hand side of the page. Be sure to add your URL and share with others your online presence! In the spirit of marketing, please forward to friends or colleagues you think might be interested in What Color is Your Dream?



 

 

Finding Your Way ... Creatively

Havasupai Indian Reservation

Last week, I posed the question: Where does a dream begin? to artists (painters, sculptors, photographers, directors, dancers, writers, musicians) and business executives, teachers and students, parents, doctors, people in marketing, accounting, manufacturing and construction. The response was not only brilliant but overwhelmingly similar! Each person expressed either his own process or what she thought might help a person begin.

It is no small task to share the wisdom that came forward! With permission, I am reproducing postings from 2 people who are professionals in creative fields and have practiced imaginations. Each of them shared personal experience with dreaming I think is valuable - practical, playful and profound. Also with permission, I am publishing observations from other professionals from a variety of vocations in the comments section of this blog posting. It is my hope that YOU will add to these with a comment of your own, sharing from your own experience what works for you so other readers and learn and can be inspired!

The first posting is authored by a musician/composer/film director, Ben M:

"Dreaming is everything to me. I, like many others actually look forward to sleep just so I can dream. On your blog, I read about information overload and I couldn't agree more. We are over-stimulated and the effects can and are negative if we don't learn to find the stillness in the midst of chaos. One of these conditions is known as "paralysis by analysis". Over thinking is a disease and I am an over thinker.

In my field of work I am often required to conjure up ideas out of thin air and manifest them into reality, be it an idea for a music video or how to better a commercial script or treatment, or when thinking about and writing my own movie script ideas. I have to use my imagination gland all the time and sometimes it can get overly taxed ... and just shut down. Imagination cannot be forced and ideas have to be allowed to come when they come. It is up to us to create the right atmosphere that allows the fickle ghosts of imagination to wander in and bless us with their jewels. From my experience, the imagination bunnies like a quiet place to wander into, with maybe a warm breeze to boot.

I usually find that if I think about something long enough and deeply enough, I can most of the time find my answer. Not always, but most of the time ... this may take minutes, hours or days; there are no guarantees.

After I watch all the movies, read all the books/magazines, listen to all the songs and completely overload my senses, I find that enough is enough ... and too much of a good thing will harm you in the end. I constantly have a need to regulate my stimulus intake and lately have found that looking inward for inspiration is often more fruitful than my local bookstore!

In my teens, I discovered that nature was the only thing that quieted my mind, body and soul. Frequent trips into nature were a must, be it forest, desert, ocean or the mountains. I am particularly in love with the desert and much like Georgie O'Keefe, I find it has an instant way of transforming me and causes me to contemplate my meaning of existence within hours of staring at a sublime rock formation. Camping in New Mexico for a week can charge my battery for almost a year.

As I got older, I discovered meditation - TM - as an extremely helpful tool for quieting my overactive mind, as a way to tap into my subconscious anytime, day or night, as long as I committed my 20 minutes of sitting. I admit that I have discipline issues and that I have not stuck to my twice daily necessary meditation ritual as much as I need it. However, I do recognize and have experienced the tremendous benefits of doing so. I am a huge believer in visualization and I use it daily whether I realize it or not. There is absolute truth in the saying that if you can visualize something, you can achieve it. Olympic athletes do exercises where they picture themselves making that score, crossing the finish line, etc., and this absoltuely helps on so many levels. Dreams are a dialogue with your subconscious that can and often do manifest into the real world. I am sure many people do this, but when I go to sleep I think of whatever it is I am wanting to solve or get further clarification on, be it creatively or personally, and most times I end up controlling what I can dream about ... at least in the beginning and usually by morning time my mind has drifted into a Salvador Dali painting of subconscious abstractness.

It has been said that "knowledge is what you learn in school and wisdom is what you remember". I could go on and on but I hope this does the trick, Kittie ... I guess sometimes all it takes is for someone to ask the question."

Ben

Ben shared the photograph that heads this blog posting. It's a place that replenishes and inspires his creativity. He frequents it and other places in nature when he can ...

The next post is from artist Lucy Boody. Lucy's mediums are textile, watercolor and pastel, photography and words. Lucy lists some of her goals and not all of them are in her professional life ...

"An excellent question and I'm up for the review. Sometimes dreams come into the world with us. For example, I always knew I would be a mother. I knew I'd make a nest (home) for them. I hoped to have my home paid in full, long before the maturity of the 30-year mortgage ... and I did. These are lofty images and they altered my life.

Okay, when your dreams are accomplished, how do you replenish the ever-important list of goals, aka 'bucket list?' There may be years of practicality and commitment involved in order to realize your dreams. Some gain importance and momentum along the way while others go by the wayside. Envisioning them is part of it. If you can imagine it, you can make it happen. If you are a "yeah, but ..." sort, the likelihood of fulfilling dreams becomes less because you are your own worst enemy. Or, if you need a pill as a quick fix to get the job done, again, you are sabotaging both the opportunity and the process. Open mindedness and greeting each day as a gold gift of opportunity is key. Surrounding yourself with positive energy, starting with yourself, is critical. People respond to energy fields, and negativity is just as infections as positivity. You choose how you think ... choose your friends wisely. 'If you want to change yourself, change your mind.'

When the primary bucket list is realized, there is sometimes a "now what?" phase.

Well, enjoy reaching a goal and reward yourself. Take a break and sit back, then when you're ready, begin the process again. Decide what captures your attention. It's as individual a process as the unique design of a snowflake. Just make it happen. Without sorrow, it is said, there is no real joy. We all have our ups and downs. Life is like that. It isn't so much the situation as much as how we deal with it that matters. 

As creatures of habit, how can we expect different results by doing the same thing over and over? Only you can shake things up and get the ball rolling. Want to meet new friends? Join a gathering where there is a common interest - a knitting group, a book club, take an art class, travel. Make yourself do it. A good quote: "Is what I am doing today going to get me where I want to be tomorrow?" So you seem directionless. Nothing seems to turn your head. Try editing the things you know don't work for you and focus on being in the present.

This musing is loaded with others' pearls of wisdom, but they make sense to me. Here is one I read today .. 'If I am suffereing, it is because I expect a different outcome than what is.' Look at yourself in the mirror and try to grasp the idea that what you are seeing is what others see. Is the outside a reflection of the inside??

A dream can be as short as the time span of a quickie day dream. It doesn't have to take all night to experience it. Test things out. See if momentum builds or wanes. Was there something that turned your crank at some point in your life? What was the process you experienced that made it fulfilling? Spend some focused time with vision. Of course, you have to have a vision. Volunteer your time so others can benefit from their dreams while you are working on yours.

I'm often skeptical of those who give so much credit to luck., 'Oh, you are so lucky to live here, or have that'. You can be sure that very little of life fell into my lap without my help. Yes, luck exists, but not when related to accomplishments. 

Some folks are natural path makers. Others prefer walking the established road. It's all good as long as you are enjoying yourself and feel a sense of comfort, joy, peace. Passion enters the picture when you are ready to pay for it. The currency used has many shapes, colors and sizes. It doesn't matter if you gather inertia like a snowball or with baby steps. Some have loftier dreams than others. They are all important. Webster's definition of 'DREAM' has a number of meanings. Choose the one that works for you and go for it.

It doesn't have to please anyone but you.

 

   Lucy Boody/Telluride, CO

THANK YOU Ben and Lucy! Thank you, too to those posted in the comments section! Be sure to check the comments section of this post for other 'pearls' and PLEASE be sure to add your own! 

The Vanishing Point

The vanishing point. It's different for each of us. Some of us are fused by formal education; others need a day in the woods. For any creative, a trip to an art museum or to a favorite shop fuels the fire inside with either the inspiration of aspiration or the realization of one's own ability. In both cases there is the urge to go home and create!

But when does this enthusiasm diminish? How does that happen? How do we keep the heart fires burning? How do we avoid the decline in the first place? 

Again, I suppose it is different for each of us. For me it is when I have too much input. It is true in every creative piece of my life. I reach out for support and for my muses. I look for inspiration when I am a blank canvas. But there is a vanishing point of vitality, energy and enthusiasm that happens when there is more information than imagination, too much stillness and not enough experimenting. I need to exercise my chops on the back side of meditation. That heightened energetic dervish slathers paint onto the canvas, pours words onto the page, hears the music of the rivers and streams accompanying my own footsteps as I fly home to play it out on the piano.

The vanishing point is a clue for me, a sign that I am too much of something and I need a jolt. My mind is cluttered with words or processes or advice. I have reflected long enough and the stillness has become a stupor. I know it is time to move.

I do not know the mechanics of this process. I feel it is about connection, electrical and energetic. It is felt and manifests in a moment. It can be a surprise or it can come in the middle of a diligent effort. It is rich and deep and broad ... and the source of life.

What do you think? Creative urges come when we garden, cook, work a problem; when we read or see a film; when we see our children/grandchildren explore the world through new eyes. When does creativity happen for you? When does the vanishing point appear? Please comment below! 

photograph by kittie beletic; dollie created by sally cobaugh

Smile

  Courage. It's a big old word. It elicits other words like bravery and heroism. There are many synonyms for the word Courage but in my experience there is no substitute. It's the Mother of it all and none of us miss the opporutnity to live it.

For most people, there is no public display or award ceremony to honor the courage shown in their daily lives. Each of us has carried a silent secret obstacle we had to overcome to get to where we wanted to be. The challenges are as many in number as there are individuals meeting them. They are differnt because we are made of different stuff and in varied stages of development and expereince. But there are two creatures we share in common that throw us over the edge and bring us face-to-face with our monsters: PAIN and FEAR. They feel that large sometimes and they only get bigger when we avoid them. Oh, we are the masters of diversion and excuse and worst of all, blame. We are incrdibly imaginative and the creativity spent on running away is great and sometimes admirable in it own right. But it doesn't take us where we want to be. We share that place in common, too: to be through the Fear and finished with the Pain of worry, angst and drama that permeates our lives.


Immediate danger brings forward one brand of Courage. We are forced in a single moment to chose and we do it. When it is life or death, the choice is made and it's over. There is relief in one way or the other.


When the situation is a slow one, or passive, or seems so insurmountable that it has worn us down, there is temptation and even a kind of reasoning that begs us to give up. (Be advised, giving up can be a very courageous choice, to be sure. It can also be a way of avoiding the inevitable. It is a personal choice and only the person knows what is best.) This is when Courage is not only most powerful and most important to our success. It is also the most courageous kind of courage there is. It comes from the depths of our souls. It is desirable and it is directly related to our self-respect. When we choose this type of Courage, it carries us through to the other side of the monster and once we arrive, we feel the relief, yes, but we also feel our own strength and we gain understanding of its brother, Confidence and its sister, Peace.


The place to start is with a sense of humor. Find the smile. There is one, I promise you. Even in sickness, in bankruptcy or financial setback, in business and school challenges, in all relationships - there is a smile there that will lead you to a lighter load. A smile relaxes 23 muscles in your body. For that reason alone it is worth it. Go ahead, try it. See how you feel. Now try smiling with your eyes. Go to the mirror. Try to smile only using your eyes. Did you discover that the corners of your mouth turn up when your eyes relax into a grin? Did you notice how it made you feel? Try it today, randomly smiling at everyone you meet. See the percentage of people who return the favor. It gets a conversation off to the right start and it works like magic with children and those who are lonely or ill.


There's an old standard, written by Charlie Chaplin called Smile. I've included the lyrics below. I've also posted renditions of the song by 3 different artists. Please vote for your favorite in the comments below. When you're finished listening, scroll up to the top of this writing and get started on that smile. Miss Raggedy Annie is offering her most special grin ... just for you.


Wishing everyone a Happy Day!


http://tiny.cc/smile197
http://tiny.cc/smile207
http://tiny.cc/smile497


Smile though your heart is aching, smile even though it's breaking,
When there are clouds in the sky, you'll get by
If you smile through your fear and sorrow,
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll see the sun come shining through - For You.
Light up your face with gladness,
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be every so near
that's the time you must keep on tring
smile - What's the use of crying
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just Smile!
                                     Lyrics by Charlie Chaplin

Our Brain Child

Our creativity is one of the greatest life skills available to us and we're born with it! 

It's a ready  part of us, accessible at every moment. Sometimes it comes unwillingly, interrupting our linear process. We often stop our creative thoughts because we have been taught we must be logical and serious when it comes to our work and our life plans. The nature of creativity is sometimes like an unruly child - playful, ignoring the rules, blurting out thoughts that seem unreasonable and incorrigible! The part of us that has the "unthinkable" ideas is our creative side and it lives on the Right Side of the brain. The left Side compliments all of that free thinking by capturing it and looking at it, analyzing what it means, asking questions in order to draw a conclusion. 

Let's get this out of the way right now. 

BOTH THE RIGHT AND LEFT SIDES OF THE BRAIN ARE EQUALLY IMPORTANT. 

Because people often have a tendency for one side or the other (and people can be so insecure), this is sometimes argued when they come together to resolve something. Our brains don't argue about this. Quite the contrary. They want to work together to help us put our best foot forward! When we get out of the way and let them do their work, giving each of them equal representation, we find success more quickly ... and it's a lot more fun! This is no small task. Our world has been living in a linear fashion for so long we've come to know all that is logical, structured and sequential as "normal" and "reasonable". We learn it and it is reinforced as good and since we want approval (there's that insecurity), we push away our interruptive thoughts; so much so, they have become known as "silly", "nonsense" and worst of all, as "bad". 


It takes practice to learn something well. At first it is uncomfortable and we feel awkward and sometimes embarrassed. The discomfort and awkwardness is natural. It happens to us when we are learning to walk. But we are encouraged then. Our efforts are applauded and Mommy and Daddy help us, guiding us lovingly toward our first steps. We don't feel embarrassed because of this. Embarrassment comes when we feel we have to be perfect. Since there is no such thing as complete perfection at every moment, there is no reason to feel embarrassed; we are catering to a myth. 

Time to get real. Relaxing into what is new - no matter which character we are, Right or Left - allowing ourselves to make mis-takes (like in a movie), we get better and better the more we do it! We are more likely to be good at what we do when we are relaxed. Our sense of humor comes forward and holds our hand, falling down with us, laughing with us, playing this game called creativity. How fun it is to learn! How wonderful to feel free to ask all the questions we want! How satisfying it is to look at all sides of a project! How GOOD I feel about myself when my whole brain is involved in my experience!


                           LEFT                                         RIGHT

                          intellect                                   intuition
                          rational                                    intuitive
                          rational                                    holistic
                          analytic                                    holistic 
                          analytic                                    relational
                          analytic                                    synthesis
                          parts                                        wholes
                          sequential                                intuitive
                          objective                                 subjective
                          logical                                     random
                          logical                                     whimsical
                          convergent                              divergent
                          abstract                                  concrete
                          directed                                  free
                          propositional                           imaginative
                          linear                                      nonlinear
                          sequential                               multiple
                          successive                               simultaneous
                          reasoning                                mystical
                          mathematical                          creative
                          speaking                                  visual-pictorial
                          accuracy                                  aesthetics
                          digital                                      analogic
                          dominates                                submits
                          pattern user                             pattern seeker

If you felt the urge to divide this into sub-categories and re-file it, you are primarily left-brained. If you wanted to change the font colors and saw little faces in the letters, well ...


Kittie invites you to comment below on this posting. She also hopes you'll become a follower of her blog! (be sure to leave a link to yours if you have one!)

Secret To Happiness

It is so wonderful to work simply for the joy of it! Keeps you coming back every day. Even when the sales and the acclaim are not there, you have your experience of joy. Exploring the beauty of something that isn't readily apparent to you can be an experience that is deepening. Take, for instance, the music of your teenagers (or if you don't have any - teenagers or their music - flip onto "their" radio stations). If you are a fine artist, learn more about a performance artist, better yet, allow a youngster to share his creative experience. You can be renewed in your own enthusiasm through the naive or cynical views of someone else. Finding joy in your work, no matter what that might be, is the not-so-secret to happiness!

How Do We Create?

How Does Anyone Create?

I am reminded of the movie Rain Man with Dustin Hoffman. During the rolling credits at the end of the movie, the director chose to show Raymond's snapshots taken with his camera throughout the story. The pictures were never discussed or shown before this time. Subtly, used as a prop (whether intentionally or not) the pictures he takes beautifully illustrate Raymond's interest: Numbers. Pictures of street signs with numbers, license plates, addresses above doorways ... Raymond saw them as beautiful and chose them as his subject. What and how a person 'sees' and then chooses to express is as individual and as valid as anyone else's choices. On road trips, see what people notice ... especially if the people all have the same occupation ... say, artists. One will notice architecture. Another will notice the trees, the landscape. Some will see the people. Others, animals or a single blooming rose. What we notice matters. How we see the same subject might also determine how we put it onto canvas.
 

Dollie by Sally Cobaugh/Photo by Kittie Beletic