I’m hoping to make a big dent in grandson Cody’s quilt today. I’m pretty excited about how it’s taking shape, these are the middle blocks:
What we have here are sixteen different dogs. The big rectangles have the nose on them, you can see the body below and the ear in the air. I’m happy to be able to create something like this, even though it’s a pattern created by someone else. This is still a creative endeavor because all of these fabrics are mine, from my stash. I find myself feeling a lot of happiness while stitching the rows, pressing the seams, arranging the blocks. It’s mesmerizing and magical, all at once.
I feel the same way after writing something I feel good about. My kid book will be short(er) and sweet. Teaching children about grief and loss is hard, but so necessary. If we don’t learn to cope with both of these, we will not have a balanced life. It isn’t all good and happy. Sometimes, it’s bad and sad to cope with. But it’s part of all of our realities. The sooner we learn this, the better.
How about you? Do you remember how old you were when you experienced loss to your family? Do you remember how your family handled it? Let’s compare notes. It will help me construct a better story. I want to tell the truth. It will help children learn. And how to learn to deal with life.
Tell me what you think. Do you need help sharing life’s hard realities with children? Kids are stronger than we think. The truth is better than no information. Thank you for reading today. Have a wonderful Friday and see you tomorrow.
Life repeats itself. Since Gavin was born, nearly nine years ago, his sister Addison has competed in dance competitions across the region. This weekend is no exception. Gavin asked if he could hang out with us instead of driving in the van with Addison and her team to Tulsa this weekend. I thought this was fitting.
LEFT: Grandpa giving Gavin his bottle. Note the Baseball! RIGHT: Gavin having his second bowl of Frosted Flakes. Double header today.
So, eight years later, on the same weekend, we’re hanging out with Gavin. I may work a little around the house, then join the boys after the first game begins. It’ll be a perfect day for it. I get little done when he’s here. I don’t care; what I’m supposed to get done when he’s here is spend the time with him. What a job, I’m lucky to get to do it. Blessings all around.
Last night, he asked me if he could do Word Search on my phone. He’s such a smart kid, it impressed him I was on Level 633. He commented it was harder than it looked. I told him he was solving the grown-up Word Search, not the kid one. He brightened up immediately. I think this game is just as good as reading sometimes. It helps him learn and keeps my brain working. Win/Win for Grandson and Grandma!
I’m a little puzzled by the way I’ve been feeling lately. It appears when I’m in a creative and learning mode, I can have a lot of understanding and enlightenment about my writing, my business, all the marketing involved, and I’m full of energy. I feel like I could slay dragons after those sessions. And then, I may go sit where the heating pad can comfort my twisted muscles and spine. Within twenty minutes or so, I’m exhausted and get nothing done the rest of the day. Do other creatives experience this? If you do, help a girl out and drop me a message or comment here. I’m perplexed why this happens and wonder if it’s from creating?
There is so much talk (and I believe it) creativity is like giving birth. I know that was very tiring and rewarding. I expect publishing my kids’ books will be, too. Right now, I have some house projects that need to be finished. Other things do, too. And yet, I need to have a day or two for a quilt I’m itching to work with. It’ll all work out. It always does.
As I continue along reading the book by musician Ben Folds, “A Dream About Lightning Bugs,” I marvel at the way his creative mind works. He tells of creative visualization and how it resonated with him. Eureka! Maybe that’s what I’m doing. As he says, “results fueled by temporary delusion.” That makes me laugh, but it’s true. He describes visualizing what isn’t currently happening as making you a little crazy. And being crazy zaps energy. Eureka! Could that be why I’m so drained after writing and learning every morning? Working towards what you visualize “scratches the itch.” Makes perfect sense to me. With my birthday in a few weeks, it couldn’t be from age, could it? Hmmmm. Be careful how you answer that!
If you’d like to read Ben Folds’ book, it’s “A Dream About Lightening Bugs,” and is available on Amazon, etc.
As we trek to the ball field again this Saturday, I’m grateful for much warmer weather today. Way better than last week was; no coats today. Shade and sunscreen are the order of the day. Thanks for reading, I hope you have a fabulous day. We will. Be Kind. Be Safe. Be Thoughtful. Let’s pay things forward or backward. Do something for someone. You’ll feel great. See you tomorrow.
In the week-long free training I’m taking from Julia Roberts (no, not the actress), we are supposed to be decoding our own creativity. This is about the psychology of creativity. Apparently, we are supposed to fit into one of two kinds of creative thinker. Either divergent (lots of ideas, thinks giant big picture, has unique associations; OR convergent thinker (selects idea, perfects it, communicates it creatively).
Trouble is, it depends on what I’m doing. I can do either. Not bragging. Kind of like realizing I am probably a whole brained person. Logic prevails in some situations, creativity in others. I can honestly say I do both.
We were also to choose what kind of thinker we are; Fast Paced, or Slow Paced. Again, it depends on the situation. It depends on what I’m doing.
On Day Two, we learned how creative thinking works:
Clarify – Focus on right problem.
Ideate – Wants BIG Ideas
Develop – Gets the idea perfect
Implement – Just wants to get it done.
Day Three, yesterday, we were to claim our creative strengths and struggles. Still confused as to what I am, I posed the question if our strengths depended on what we were doing? Ms. Roberts said no, what we are doesn’t change. We’re either one or the other. I truly struggle with this. I still can’t pick. What’s a creative to do? It’s not that I’m wishy-washy.
Later in the presentation, before I had to cut it short to go get our Addison from school, the term “Integrator” was introduced. I thought, “This must be what I am! I don’t have to pick. I know I can do all these things at the proper time.” I wonder what we’ll learn today? More on that tomorrow.
Next week will be so busy! I have a Women in Publishing Conference (via Zoom), and I’m looking forward to it. It’s amazing we have the technology to participate in these things, isn’t it? I’m eager to get started. If you’re interested, I believe you can still register until Friday.
Life is so much fun with things to look forward to, isn’t it? I like to learn, especially about things I know nothing about. It makes things a little more familiar along this road we’re on. I appreciate you keeping me company along the way. Thanks for reading today, I’ll see you all tomorrow. Be Safe! Be Kind. Be Courteous. The weather is finally above freezing, we should all be in a great mood!
Kathy Raabe 