Monday Post ~ March 14, 2011
“The thing about creativity is, people are going to laugh at it. Get over it.”
—Twyla Tharp
What creative work would you like to accomplish this week? Given the specifics of your schedule, decide on a realistic task or a milestone to reach for. Share your goal(s) as a comment to this post, and let us know how things went with your creative plans for last week, if you posted to last week’s Monday Post.
Suggestion: When you’re deciding on your creative intentions, it’s a good idea to think about WHEN you’re going to write those 2,000 words or paint that canvas. Try to schedule the time slots in your calendar (if you keep one), understanding that flexibility may be required. If things don’t happen when you wanted them to, that’s OK. Give yourself a gentle push with one hand, but pat yourself kindly on the shoulder with the other if you don’t reach your goal for a given week. Sometimes it’s easier, sometimes it’s harder. Ride whatever you’ve got.
It’s also useful to have a sense of your minimum requirements (come hell or high water I’m going to write 100 words) while keeping a lookout for sudden opportunities to do more. You know, the day that the baby takes a monster nap or your partner takes the kids out to run errands and you find yourself with an unexpected “extra” half hour. Grab that time for yourself. You can catch up on the dishes and the laundry later. If you keep something creative in the back of your mind for those sudden opportunities, you’ll be more likely to use them to your advantage — rather than squandering your precious bonus moments on Facebook or vacuuming out the sofa cushions.
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Studio Mothers: Life & Art 
Spring has hit my soul up here in Maine. Saturday the outdoor temp hit 50! It was my first day in my studio without needing to turn the heat on. I noticed that I was breathing more expansively, and could feel the surges of new creativity in my blood. This is the week I will take on the mountain. I will produce those mugs I’ve been putting off. I will re photograph my work, as my fingers won’t be falling off from the cold. I will write a new post or maybe even two for my site. I will, I will, I will,, because, with spring, there is expectancy that all things are indeed possible.
Amen, Alexsondra! The reward of wintering in New England is the soul-stirring arrival of spring. It’s a gift that never loses its newness. (I actually heard birdsong when I let the dog out this morning. Wow!)
Last week’s goals: We have two birthdays in our house this week, family coming to visit, and my oldest son coming home for spring break — so I don’t want to be overly ambitious. Homework, coaching, Project Life, journaling, reading. Also start working on my “nest” project and do some artwork with the boys. We’ll see if I can get to anything more than that.
Outcome: Had a terrific week with out-of-town family and our birthday celebrations. Two meals out with all five of the kids — I’m like a preschooler on Christmas morning when I have all five kids together for a meal. Off the happiness chart. Did my homework and my coaching, read two short books, finished an art project with the boys (lets just say there are dried split-peas ALL over the art-room floor) but didn’t get to my nest projects or my weekly Project Life update. I’m confident that both of those will happen this week. Family just departed this morning. Feeling very high energy despite a head cold. I also have to say that Instagram really keeps my creative juices flowing and helps me stay attuned to the beauty of the everyday. I use it almost daily.
This week: Homework, coaching, Project Life, journaling, reading. Also start working on my “nest” projects. Working on my new website.
As a Mainer born and raised I can identify with Alexsondra’s joy. Not that winter has been less overwheming here in Mass.
This is the week I decided to focus on “spring cleaning.” Goals: get contacts entered in DB, secure last blurbs for book jacket (2 down, 2 to go), write 2 blog posts that I can use when I don’t have time to write, and FINALLY finish redesign of my tea website.
Ambitious, but achievable.
Boy, I’m glad I checked back. Blessings to Miranda, kids at a family dinner. I love your analogy. Yes, let’s each and every one of us take a deep breath of the early spring air and celebrate the ability, the choice and courage to CREATE.