A SATURDAY OFF

dune dog

T. S. Elliot “…April is the cruelest month…”

But not yesterday.

A rather spur-the-moment decision to take a break from the routine took us to a hike through the dunes along Lake Michigan’s northeast shore. The Siren’s call of Spring’s first glorious day proved too great to resist. (Those of you who live in climates that are tropically-challenged understand the effect of the first 60 degree day. Mix sunshine with a morsel of warmth and, like chocolate, it’s practically irresistible.)

What’s that have to do with creativity? Well, I’m getting to that.

A rare Saturday off from the paycheck-providing job provided an opportunity to catch up, get ahead or explore that latest creative whim that’s been swirling about. I was positively giddy with anticipation. However, when the day dawned spectacular, the creative agenda was ditched. I suddenly felt compelled, as if commanded to revel in the breeze and address a winter’s-worth of vitamin D deficiency.

After a day of wonderfully fresh air, exhilarating exercise and a simple change of scenery, the human spirit, the creative spirit is somehow refreshed, recharged and ready for action.

Bring it on.

AWAKENINGS

While approaching the end of a project recently, I found myself lapsing into a bit of a creative funk. What required mere hours to wrap up was turning into a succession of days. How could such initial passion turn to drudgery? A common occurrence, I think, with creative types.

What now? The owner of the creative gene is rarely allowed to rest, and heaven forbid, relax! So how do you kick-start the quest for inspiration? Try remembering that the world is not flat. Creatively-speaking, a flat world can be comfortable, at times cathartic, even necessary. However, the real rush (think; energy renewal) begins when you venture over that foreboding edge.

I recently faced my own fear of Death-by-Power-Tool and/or Fire by creating something I didn’t imagine remotely possible (by me). Ok, I enlisted an SFS (Skilled, Fearless Someone) to assist with the basics. (An SFS is an important component when you’re dealing with your own perceived mortality.) The result of the fear-facing serves as a dermabrasion for the creative spirit. Your newly awakened creative nerve-endings are tingling again. And that’s the point! Not necessarily finding a new passion but taking that positive, courageous step toward the preservation of your creative soul.


comfortable, cathartic, necessary...










power tools and fire...

CREATIVE SPACES

(Daffodils - just because...)

Someone posed the query recently “where do you create?” Being a literal thinker, I responded, “In my head, while I run”. Likely, that was not the anticipated response but I began thinking about the various places and methods we employ to get the creative juices flowing.

Where do we create?

Some of us have dedicated rooms, studios. Others carve out a small space at the kitchen table, sharing the real estate equally with a child’s homework and the salt and pepper shakers. A multitude of creating is accomplished cerebrally, virtually, with little concern for physical space.

Some creative types jump feet first into the bluest end with no conscious plan for swimming, others stand calmly near the diving board and think about it.

It matters not which type you are. Whether you’re a thinker or a jumper- just create the space. That space, be it virtual, physical or both is a most necessary ingredient in the creative roux.

What I created today...