Resistance Overcome

Day Six – 2020 Creativity Project

I do not believe in the concept of creative block, which includes Writer’s Block. I think we are capable of constant creative output, not, however, that all of it is fit for public consumption.

I keep a planner with brief notes most days, a gratitude journal frequently, a brain dump journal much of the time, and I write more creatively a lot. Today is day six, the resistance has unearthed itself and come to stand like a Spartan, with shield ready to repel me. “You SHALL NOT pass!” Yeah, um, that will not work. I, tentatively, committed to be here and do this, so it is happening.

Thing is I do not often know what to write. I could call it a block, but really it is not. It is usually that I have enough ideas flying around like kamikazes; eventually, I will find one to rescue. Ever tried to talk a suicidal idea into allowing you to work with it? It can be a bit of a challenge. A tribe of screaming banshees jump up, down, yelling, “Why in tarnation are you doing this, it is too much. Quit, quit, quit already. Why torture yourself.” Take a chill pill and climb aboard cause this train is gaining momentum, and negative hoodlums are not in the engine compartment.

If I hit a boulder too large to push out of the way, there are means. I am not afraid to employ dynamite, but it requires strategic planning. I will take note of the obstacle, then I will step away and make preparations. I may read, especially creativity, writing, or art instruction books. I am also apt to write sheer junk, where I give license to my critic and all its cronies in negativity, to spew. I write the crap down to clear my head. Afterward, I say, “Enough, shut TF up!” I pulverize the boulder, and I do what I do, which is create.

I am guessing most creatives face similar challenges, you may not use the same images to objectify what goes on, but you probably have your things. I am well acquainted with resistance. Creativity is not effortless, or everyone would be writing bestsellers, painting art to rival the Sistine Chapel, making blockbuster movies to vie with Star Wars, or creating software to supplant Windows and Apple OS. Though some of us are achieving, many never get out of the gate.

Kudos to you when you keep on long enough to make something out of thin air. The world needs your ideas, creations, methods, support, determination. People need to know that giving up, cashing out, leaving the stage is not an option. Life is difficult, but when we open our imaginative minds, we bring new concepts, stories, creations to life. We find the hope we and others need and the love to survive in the desolation.

Be well, create, love like it is your only chance, dream, and make dreams real. Make resistance reach for the sky and cartwheel by it, leaving it to wonder who you are and where you are bound. You are chosen for this time, place, position, do what you are meant for, and do it with passion. The more love you expend, the more you will have to give, and the more will come to you. Be a creator and make 2020 your year, if you do not believe in you, someone else will go in your place doing it half as well.

Ccchhhaannggees…

My son, Alex, who is an adult, has been visiting since mid-December, except for some weekends he went to visit others. He is making a move back here to Georgia from out West.

Things are different when your child is an adult, it seems I get corrected more than ever. It is bearable, well, we are still speaking to one another.

One thing we had discussed accomplishing while he was here with me was dealing with all the things Mom left behind and other clutter I am so adept at accumulating. Picture border-line hoarder, here. I collect things and collect things and more things. I can admit I run amok.

We got Mom’s room under enough control that he can sleep back there, and we carried off an Explorer load of clothes to GoodWill. There is still so much.

If you are a person like me or are dealing with someone like me, strap on your patience good and tight and stay hydrated. This declutter crap is harrowing and no wimps need apply. I can only take it in spurts and even then I have rip-roaring headaches. Most things he sees as just junk, I know all the history about and could spend significant time explaining. Yeah, cue the Eagles, “Get Over It!”

I worked part of the kitchen today. It has not been a blue-ribbon day. I did make admirable progress in my estimation, clearing some counters, moving things, rearranging others. The really dismal thing is I am not a fast person, I am meticulous. Not exactly the best trait when trying to throw away a lifetime of collected stuff (for you enlightened beings, that probably translates as JUNK.)

Dishes that are of the original or close to that pattern of Corelleware can probably leave. The stuff Mom brought home from yard sales that I wished she had never seen, those go too. Where did all these margarine tubs and lids come from? Mom never met one she did not like. The bowls with all the pretty colors and patterns, we are not doing so good over. Ever heard, “I might need it someday?”

The worst of it is he wants me to get rid of some books. To say I am attached to ALL my books would not be overstating my situation.

Anyway, I think I raised a drill sergeant in disguise, recruiter duty did that set of pipes no justice, none at all.

He is working on his novel when I am not on his radar for repudiation. I am working on this when I can get to it. I need to HideAway as Mick Jagger sings about so well.

Things are looking better. I have to admit that, just the process is so painful I would like to get the heck out of dodge.

I hope all of you are meeting your goals, beginning 2020 right. I have high expectations for everything we can accomplish in the coming weeks. Life is such a blessing and flees from us so soon. Every day is precious and we should spend our time improving lives with love and being who we wish.

A river running
Throughout space and time, all us
Loving, living, wise.
As a prompt, look at the poem above. It is my favorite type of poem, a Haiku. It is syllabic, where you count syllables, first-line – five syllables, second-line – seven syllables, final line – five syllables. Write some of your own, they are excellent creativity warm-up exercises.

Gratitude is a balm to the soul. If you will regularly make lists of the things for which you are thankful more happiness and blessings will find you.

I am grateful:

It was not raining so much today.
I made progress in the kitchen.
I have adequate medications.
My son is visiting.
I came into this year without being alone.

Thank you for the time you have taken to visit Haphazard Creative. I hope you found something to inspire, entertain, or just make you think. There is a follow button or come back at your whim. God Bless You and Yours, Always!

Nobody, But You, Now

Day Four – 2020 Creativity Project

We have the present, we look forward to the future, but unfortunately, sometimes we allow ourselves to view time and living through the lens of the past. This often robs us of opportunity and causes us to limit ourselves to patterns that do not serve us.

If we invest all our effort in the things before us, letting go of attitudes and habits which restrict our horizons, we live fully and vividly alive.

Let us encourage one another to don our best selves each day and create lives where we are the heroes and heroines we wish to encounter. If we do not step up, there is a possibility that no one will.

Little things that may make a difference: Holding a door for someone with more than hands full; separating items for recycling; reading stories to calm children down; writing notes to people who receive insufficient recognition. Sharing inspirational articles or original thoughts; recommending suitable reading materials; singing to lift spirits. Speaking affirmative words to others and helping someone with onerous chores. Probably those are enough to get brains in gear.

We may sometimes feel insignificant, but our lives have purpose and meaning. God creates no junk, so each of us is precious. Little things, small words, gentleness can lead to change in the world. When we are kind, we are wearing our super-suits, because much in the world is hard and kindness makes life more bearable.

Everyone is important, everyone has something to contribute that no one else can provide. When we share love, we tear fissures in the vulgar meanness that permeates so many days. Sometimes we erase the shadows entirely and beauty unimaginable blooms.

Be a hero, you are, and now the world needs you. If you turn away, who will follow your example and live a less useful life going forward? Someone, you may never realize, is watching, you are their star. Be a positive world-changing influence; it is who you were meant to be.

Nobody, But You, Now!

2016-11-19 Unfolding Rose

Negative Emotion = Positive (Re)Action

Day Three – 2020 Creativity Project

Let’s unpack this, I am (tentatively) committing to do this every day for the year. I have done it before, but it has been a while, and it was on Chronicles.

Generally, our negative emotions are powerful, cause discomfort for us, and those who are within reach, but we can rechannel them as creative energy to fuel the work we wish to do.

Some things which may be done are taking anger and engaging in positive dialog with ourselves about what irritates us and reframing it as motivation. Instead of giving in to the destructive impulse to tear ourselves down, we can invest in building our self-esteem with affirmations and creations that validate our being.

Irritation does not have to continue into a foul mood; writing, drawing, cooking, making or listening to music, or other enjoyments, can redeem the time in such a way that it becomes constructive.

The power of NO can also be a tremendous positive force. When our lives are overextended, or we are dealing with issues beyond normal limits, it is okay to say, “NO.” It is okay to schedule some time for recreation, creation, and recharge. Even when we are swamped we can find a few moments to reset.

We must be best-friends with ourselves, whatever that requires. Self-care is not optional; if it is left undone, the significant adverse health effects it produces can shorten or make miserable our lives.

Gratitude is an optimal tool for elevating mood. Once we begin to see all the wonders in our lives, our discontent and unhappiness begin to lessen.

As this year kicks off, let us all demand it be one of the best ever. Our smiles, joy, confidence, kindness can impact the world around us in myriad ways. Let’s be who we wish everyone could be.

04-07-614-Cluster Of Boxes

Recognizing Ourselves

Sometimes there is a tendency to omit potions of who we are from our claim of ourselves. To become stronger people, fully identifying traits, characteristics, gifts, skills, propensities, adds multi-dimensional depth. It also allows us to become aware of areas we may wish to improve.

Noting those things at which we excel may increase our confidence and encourage us to make existential changes that better align with our heightened abilities and bring us to make moves that allow more success and happiness into our lives. Maybe an inventory might propel us from a job we hate to a career that expresses our passion.

If we deal with things we believe to be liabilities, after identifying them, we may find ways to reframe them more positively. We are all individuals, we are all different, society may see some of our differences as undesirable, but that value judgment may be invalid in reality. We determine who we are. No one else has the right to label us or box us. The box is in another dimension in an undiscovered universe. We are free to be who we wish, but sometimes exploration must be done to find our niche.

As we enter a new year and new decade, we have open horizons, various potentialities, exciting opportunities. We must know who we are, our hopes, our desires, how we deal with everything we encounter and believe we have worth. All of us are precious, all of us have abilities, talents, gifts, and skills to share.

May we respect ourselves and each other and nurture those things we can bless others through.

Happy New Year! Do you, be well, change as you must, and conquer your limitations, because there are no limitations just challenges to enlarge who you are.

Preset Style = Bold
Output Size = Medium
Lightness = Normal

Goals – 2020 – Read more, Write more, Smile more, Cry less, Pray often, Study more, Leash my temper, Be a better friend/kin, Go places, Tame the Wookie, Consume less, Conserve, Recycle, Finish Otherwise Entertained, Finish Creativity book, Cook, which I can well, but hate, Eliminate negativity, exhibit POSITIVITY, Learn to understand I am not broken, I am gifted with difference, Stay far from places that do not welcome me.

Write, Write, WRITE!

I am thankful for the rich lessons of 2019 and look forward to the opportunities of 2020.

I am secreting it away down here where no one will care or notice, but this begins my 2020 Creativity Project, I think, maybe.