Collage Diva

Secret 5: Commiting to Self Focus

My theme this week is about "me time." This week I read Secret #5 in The 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women by Gail McMeekin and chapter 1 in The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron - both have some similar themes. Gail writes,

"Self-focus is a critical skill for women who want to create. Without it, you cannot indulge in your inspirations and devote the time necessary for innovation."

Putting myself on top of my priority list and creating solitude is now on my daily list. The assignment in The Artist's Way (TAW) is to spend some time each morning writing three pages full of anything that comes to mind. I'm fortunate to be a morning person. I love mornings and this exercise seems so indulgent. I was a bit skeptical at first because I don't like to write - I find it tedious and boring. When I started my morning pages about two weeks ago, I went at it with an open mind. What I found was that I love this quiet time. I allow myself to write the good and bad - it is uncensored and ugly. I love not worrying about grammar or neat penmanship.

Part of my new morning routine is lighting a candle, putting on some light classical music, brewing a strong cup of coffee, and writing my morning pages. I found the process to be very cleansing. My writing isn't always venting or negative - quite often I find myself exploring ideas. If it starts in a negative tone by the end of the third page it turns positive. I think the three pages is really key. Any shorter and that shift won't happen. In the 12 Secrets book, I love the reference to being "creative vessels." The morning page exercise gives me the opportunity to clean out my creative vessel before the day begins and I've found I'm calm and relax and my creativity is super charged.

I think finding solitude daily is the key to happiness and essential for nurturing the creative spirit. One way to find solitude in the everyday is to be present. I found this week that at the end of the work day when I'm feeling tired and worn that I can capture the feelings of solitude by doing the dishes. I relax and focus on the process of washing the dishes and any tension is lifted. I call these moments of being very present as "retreat moments." I first thought of this term last fall when I was having a prolonged retreat moment while sitting in a park and journaling. My goal is to find retreat moments throughout the day. Today I found it at work. I cracked open my window to let in some cool air. I noticed the bright sunshine light up my little office. I turned on some fun music. It made the tedious task at hand seem lighter. I could focus on the task and in my solitude transcend any distractions or tensions.

Who is My Caregiver? Me!
I think as women we fall into the caregiver role and it is easy to get swept up in this role and forget to be caregivers to ourselves. As a single mom I'm now finding time for me every day. I'm getting creative in finding the little pockets of time like when my son is in his Kung Fu class - I go to a coffee shop with my book in hand. I still need to work at taking better care of me though. I'm taking the first steps and recognizing that I am my own caregiver.

Dream Big
Before I started TAW, I wanted to pick up a new "special" mug for my morning journaling. On a whim I dropped into a Hallmark store. On the door was a sign that read, "Christmas sale 70% off." I thought perhaps I might find a mug in the sale section but I didn't want something with a Christmas design. As I walked over to the picked over shelves I saw this bright blue mug with bold letters that read, "Dream Big." I picked it up for only $3! The funny thing is it was the only one there and it looked like it was ready to jump off the shelves and into my arms. "Pick me" it screamed from the shelf, "Pick me!"

I love starting my day with a morning retreat and finding other retreat moments throughout the day.

Related Links:
"12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women" by Gail McMeekin
The Next Chapter Blog Book Group with Jamie Ridler
"The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron
Blissfully Art Journaling Yahoo Group

Secret 4: Surrendering to Creative Cycles

Each Friday night I've been taking an hour for me. I go to a coffee house while my son takes in a Kung Fu class. I love this time for me. I pack the book, "12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women" by Gail McMeekin and a pen. I write in the book as though it was a workbook. I circle key words that jump out at me, I underline phrases, or double star in the margins. Later in the weekend I review what I've marked up and make some notes. This time I made my notes in my art journal and re-wrote many of them as affirmation statements. Here is what I noted:

I love the idea that I am a creative warrior. The timing of this chapter was uncanny. Each week I publish an art journaling prompt for my Soul Journal project. Last Sunday my theme was on Release and Receive. The connection was amazing. As creatives it is important to recognize that our creativity works in cycles and we need to be patient with ourselves when we need to rest. I loved hearing about this as I knew about the cycles but feel now that I will have more confidence when I feel the need to check out for a bit. Another important lesson is to recognize how burnout is a key enemy of innovation. As you can see from my notes my affirmations begin with "I." I see this as a way of taking ownership of the words and making it active in my voice.

At the end of the chapter a challenge is to create an ongoing excitement list. This list will be helpful to look back on when feeling those dark, quiet times. I think it may just help bring back that spark. I decided I wanted to keep my excitement list with me so I created a tab in my day timer towards the end of the book. I look forward to seeing how the items on this list changes over time. Looking at it I think I'll go back and date my entries.

Jamie Ridler who is hosting the blog book group asks, "How do you manage the bright spots in your creativity cycle?" I love to share and connect with others. For me the highlights are no fun without sharing the journey. I do fear though that in my desire to share and connect that I will appear to others as showing off. If I've been seen as a shining star my hope is that my light doesn't blind others but help to illuminate the gifts and talents in others. My hope is that my light inspires the light in others to burn brighter.

Related Links:
"12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women" by Gail McMeekin
The Next Chapter Blog Book Group with Jamie Ridler
Soul Journal Project - Release & Receive

Secret 3: Following Your Inspirations

The Next Chapter book club continues this week with the book, "The 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women" by Gail McMeekin. Secret #3, "Following Your Fascinations" starts with the following:

"It takes courage to follow your fascinations, wherever they may lead. Yet, creativity demands that you trust and stay on the path despite obstacles. The good news is that it's possible."

Challenge: Bolstering Your Staying Power
Identify and celebrate your strengths as a creative woman and positive risk taker, and post them in your sanctuary.

I moved my favorite bulletin board into my creative room and hung it above my work table. I love this board - it is from Germany and is made of plastic. It has spirals cut into it where I can tuck the items I want to post. Oh how I love those spirals!

I found a number of words and phrases that really speak to me in this chapter. I typed up my strengths as affirmation statements. After printing them, I had so much fun coloring and doodling. Scroll down for a closer look at them.

I get so energized and inspired from reading the book, planning my reflections, and visiting and connecting with the other participants. I really feel like I'm opening up to my best creative self!

I believe these affirmations will help to bolster my staying power!

Related Links
The BOOK: 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women by Gail McMeekin
The BOOK CLUB: The Next Chapter with Jamie Ridler
Creative Every Day

Secret 2: Honoring Your Inspirations

Jamie Ridler is hosting a wonderful online book club. The book we are reading and blogging about is "The 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women." This week the topic is *Honoring Your Inspirations* and the pages are filled with so many good observations, challenges, and questions.

One take away from this chapter that I'd like to share is how important it is to create the space to make room for creativity. Just before reading the chapter I had de-Christmased my treehouse (the name we call our small apartment). When the decorations went up the place felt cozy but when it came time to putting everything away, our place felt more like a Christmas cave. It felt refreshing to clear everything and to clean. I took this opportunity to rearrange some of our things. A new space has been made with an altar and room for meditation, yoga, tai chi. Little candles are lit each night to keep the energy around this place flowing. In my creative room, I transformed it from a walk-in closet look to a room I want to go in to and play. It isn't quite at the point of where I'd call it a sanctuary but the first steps have been taken. I took one suggestion from the book and cleared my work table of all the supplies and tools that I had collected. Now my work table is so ready for more creating.

In Jamie's post she asks us to reflect on the things that we love. This is an interesting question because after my separation 5 years ago I found myself discovering just this - the things that I love. In the course of the 14 year relationship I had lost so much of me and had forgotten what I loved.  I moved from Colorado to New Hampshire and reconnected with some dear friends who knew me before I had lost my *SELF*. One friend said, "Kath, you were the one who opened my eyes to the beauty of art. It was you who introduced me to the world of fine art and took me to the art museum where I discovered it as if for the first time. You were always cooking and what you cooked was so amazing. Since I've seen you all of these years I would try out new dishes and think of you and your wonderful cooking."

It was like hearing about a distant self. I hadn't been to an art museum in years, I hadn't created for me in years, I wasn't cooking very much - not creatively. I had even stopped listening to music. Here is a list of things that I've discovered and rediscovered that I love:

• beautiful things
• art, art museums, galleries
• candles - I'm now lighting them daily to add a little magic to my every day life.
• art journaling - See my Soul Journal project. I love designing and publishing a new prompt each week. The connections with others on this project is so rewarding.
• cooking and experimenting with new recipes
• photography - looking at pictures, taking pictures, playing with my pictures digitally
• cutting and gluing paper - collage
• design elements: swirls and spirals, trees, crowns, typography, calligraphy, color
• printmaking and mixed media painting
• music - I listen to music everyday and use it for transitions such as easing into my evening after a busy day at work.
• learning new things, the sense of wonder, discovery
• having a space for myself - This is the first time in my life since I was a kid that I have my own room. I actually have more than my own bedroom, I also have a creative room. My son is a fantastic roommate and we live very well together in the rest of the rooms in the tree house.
• I love peace - My tree house is very peaceful and restful and feels safe.
• magical moments - I'm hoping to capture more of these and to find them in my everyday life every day.
• travel - Seeing new places and meeting new people.
• blogging - What a wonderful community I have discovered!

I could keep writing but this is a sampling. I have reclaimed my life and I'm having fun discovering what I love and having these things be a part of my every day life. Please don't get me wrong, I had many great experiences and learned many wonderful things during my marriage. I had many joys along with many sorrows. I'm delighted to say, that my life is only getting better and I'm excited at what is yet to come.

Thank you for joining me on this journey!

Related Links:
The BOOK: 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women by Gail McMeekin
The BOOK CLUB: The Next Chapter with Jamie Ridler
Creative Every Day

Secret # 1: Acknowledging My Creative Self

Today is the first day of an amazing 12-week journey. Jamie Ridler is leading us on a ride to discovering more about our creative selves in an online book club. Each week for twelve weeks we will read and reflect on another chapter in the 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women by Gail McMeekin.

In this first week we acknowledge our creative selves. There has never been any doubt that I'm a creative person. All of my life people have told me that I am very creative. I hear it almost daily and I can confidently say, "I am creative." For me this journey is more about harnessing my creativity and acknowledging it in my daily life. I want to effectively put it to use to design the life of my dreams.

Funny thing is creativity hasn't always felt like a good word for me. Sometimes when people call me creative they seem to say it dismissively. As I write this I'm realizing that their comments have more to do with how they feel about their own creativity and not in my worthiness because I'm creative. I know my creativity is a huge asset. I see it at work daily. I'm not only artistic but I approach problem solving creatively. If you need someone to brainstorm ~ look to me. I'm great at it!

Each week my blog entry will include a work of my art. For this week I pulled out this art journal page from May 30, 2007. I'm so glad that I dated the page. I can't believe that it is January 2009 and I'm looking back on this page. I wrote, "Let the journey begin!" I was writing about my creative journey. Today I write, "Let the journey continue!"

Related Links:
The BOOK: 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women by Gail McMeekin
The BOOK CLUB: The Next Chapter with Jamie Ridler
Creative Every Day

The 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women

Last night my energy was zapped which seemed disappointing since my day started with feeling refreshed and energized. By the time I came home it was all I could do to make dinner. Rather than creating something new, I curled up on the couch with some light classical music playing and cracked open this book that just arrived, "12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women" by Gail McMeekin.

In January I will be participating in "The Next Chapter" book blogging group.

About The 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women by Gail McMeekin

The first paragraph: "Your creative self is alive and waiting for your invitation to evolve! Dare to embrace your creative self and manifest your dreams. Recognizing your creativity leads you into a life of self-expression, fulfillment and contribution."

From Gail's website: "The 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women: A Portable Mentor (Conari Press, 2000) is an inspirational guidebook that offers twelve practices that will increase your creative success and help you to achieve your goals, complete with interviews of Sarah Ban Breathnach, Barbara Sher, Shakti Gawain, Chris Madden, Sigrid Olsen, and 40 other highly creative women. "

When I saw Shakti Gawain's name listed on the roster of highly creative women I knew I wanted to pick up that book. I first discovered Shakti Gawain over 20 years ago with her book, "Creative Visualization." I've ordered a copy and I can't wait to revisit it after all of these years.

If you are interested in learning more about this book blogging group visit: Jamie Ridler's blog.

Here's to living a creative life!

Creative Day #12

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