Choice

I saw the open door
But felt I should go,
Another way,
Continuing down the hallway
Until I came upon
An exit.
Through the door –
I wandered barefoot on
The grass,
Buoyed by the scent of water –
Wafting from an active
Stream
Like the impression
Of safety within a dream.

© Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Sweetwater Creek Millrace

Add Words, Meaning

There is no life in
Blank pages of notebooks, journals,
But every one waits
However much time it takes
Genuine pleasure to demonstrate.
Willing to become
The ground for thought come alive
Words creating characters, lives, worlds
Reaching the sources which hide,
Calling to each who survives.
What comes, part unknown
The flow of something of its own
To speed a heart, mind,
Make sadness flee, happiness
A sentence given, defined.
Reckoned disposable
Things said without contemplation
Wreck havoc, devastation
More care, kindness, love
Universal reconciliation.

Prompt: Define why you believe creativity is crucial, either in words or visually.

Gratitude:
Books newly begun.
Feeling better this evening.
A phone call last night.
Knowing joy can be experienced even when happiness is not possible.
Learning new things.

I appreciate your visit. You will find methods by which to follow Haphazard Creative in the sidebar. Your interaction is very important to me. Thank you for your interest.

May God richly bless you and yours. Be safe!

Gifts We Cannot Buy

The quiet of home when we
Return from wrestling lions all day.
The satisfaction of writing letters,
Poems, songs for loved ones.
The taste of a meal carefully
Prepared with helpings of love.
A comfortable chair, bright light,
Books we are longing to read.
Songs we never realized existed
But for which we find a soul hunger.
A dog, cat, lizard, goat, cow, whoever
Comes snuggles up, revealing devotion.
Stolen hours when hearts, souls
Are permitted freedom to dance art.
Picking up a crying child, watching
As eyes go wide, kissed by a smile.
The sweet hug of those treasured
Who we raised despite everything.
Traveling to a far-off wonderland,
Returning to a space of belonging.
Knowing, growing with screen friends,
Finally, meeting with hugs, face to face.
Sunshine after a bleak succession
Of wickedly dark, sad stormy days.
The alabaster moon coming from behind
Clouds, in time for a sweetheart kiss.
Setting aside specific times to find those
Moments to sincerely pray to the Lord.
Laying down, fed, safe, warm, beneath
Covers, falling into deep refreshing sleep.
Awaking to a day full of opportunity,
Possibility, without doubt, we are loved.
Living in a blessed place where each one
Can achieve hopes, dreams, and success.

Making It Happen

When writing or art comes straight through the Muse (Creativity), it is easy to create, but it becomes a more complicated process when the inspiration dries up. One has to reach deeper, think harder, be more persistent, and attempt coaxing imagination out to play.

This state is not ideal. There is not a full-blown block, but work becomes a challenge.

Writers may find helpful short forms like haiku or tanka. Different locations may inspire many. Meeting and socializing with a variety of people can inspire unique perspectives. All creatives could benefit from novel experiences that inform creation. Craft books are often useful. Reading, video, and music can enchant and educate us, bringing fresh material to mind.

For those who engage in daily practice, continuing is essential. As in all things, one’s mastery benefits from not giving up.

Habits of calm and quiet can also induce states conducive to the breaking of creativity into consciousness. To slow down, invoke peace, still the racing of body and mind facilitates copious production.

Taking leave from the busyness of screens makes room for thoughts unbiased by advertisement, frantic activity, and media to surface. Constant immersion in the digital world can sometimes drain away originality.

Conversation with family, friends, and others may also add filler to the well. Long walks with rapt attention to surroundings can awaken capacities often drown in routine.

Always remember, love and creativity, though perhaps muted, are present. Do not quit. Capture hope, ideas, joy, for those are available and plentiful when actively pursued.

© Jo Ann J. A. Jordan

Prompt: Pick something from the article above and immediately add it to your practice.

Gratitude:
Visiting Richard, conversation, food, moments.
Coming home allows less tension and stressful feelings.
Not physically disciplining the Wookie for destroying my cushion.
My command center.
Talking to Alex and Reba.

I appreciate your spending time here at Haphazard Creative. I hope you found things enjoyable and informative. Your comments, likes, shares, and suggestions are of immense help with this year-long endeavor. If you wish, you will find three methods in the sidebar to choose from for following the site. Alternatively, you may come back at your leisure.

All materials are © Jo Ann J. A. Jordan

The Well, Prepared

Situation Playcation – © Jo Ann J. A. Jordan

Writing is the thing that teaches us to understand the experience we cannot command or comprehend. Living is a riot, constant impressions, wild digressions, unbanished obsessions, mythic approximations, and passionate exhibitions.

Love is real, no poetic fairytale; it sometimes bites with destructive force. There are other times it breathes life back into a being near become a cold, bloodless corpse. Heedless, love carries headless need into ages where hearts aflame assuage the blame for falling again.

I.
When what you most want
Remains beyond ability
You become adept
Using CREATIVITY
To fulfill some hopes and dreams.

II.
I am not ideal
But being real is enough
For those loving me.

III.
I have discovered
The wild child passionate self
Does exist still.

IV.
I could sing you blue,
Golden, or bright rainbow hues;
I would disappear
In the arrangement of notes,
Unrecognized within you.

V.
Love plays, tackling us,
In fields where flowers obey
Injunctions to fade;
We are colors resisting
What makes delight history.

Prompt: Create something showing how writing or art rescue from the forgetfulness of greedy insanity.

Thankfulness:
No television to distract.
Productiveness.
Moleskine.
Love.
Creativity.

I am glad you found Haphazard Creative. In the sidebar, there are three methods to follow the site. Utilize one of those, or come back when your life allows. Any comments, likes, shares, suggestions, or thoughts are welcome. When you interact with creation, you impact lives.