Unfamiliar Ground

Unfamiliar ground. 

“The friend  of creative work is alertness and nothing focuses your attention like stepping onto unfamiliar ground.”

Brian Eno

I heard a phrase the other day, “The winter doldrums,” and I must admit I’ve been in the thick of them. Thank goodness for spring, and daylight, and warmer weather. My soul feels like it needs to come up for air. 

The paradox of being me is the struggle between the known and the familiar, and the need for novelty. I am drawn to routine and comfort, but over time find myself completely bored. This is why I changed grade levels so often over my teaching career. 

Lately, I’ve found myself feeling kind of blah longing for the “interesting” days of apartment living. As I reflected on what made life so interesting to me during that time period I realized everything was new. Not just the apartment itself, but the whole lifestyle including the area. 

Two years later I’ve got the “area” down pat, and have found myself falling into the familiarity of routine. This always seems to be the kiss of death for me, and my creativity. As I struggle for inspiration and ideas for my blog I find myself coming up dry. 

Recently I picked up a book at the library so contrary to my natural tendency that I was surprised it caught my attention. Messy The Power of Disorder to Transform our Lives by Tim Hartford intrigued me in a world of tidying up and minimalism. Shouldn’t it make more sense to live a less distracted life?

In fact, later this month I will be attending an author talk by my favorite author, Gretchen Rubin as she discusses her latest book, Outer Order, Inner Calm. Truthfully, I’ve adopted her mantra over the last ten years finding it calming. 

Except, as I have begun to read Messy I’m beginning to wonder if my incessant need for order may be interfering with my incessant need to be creative. 

 Brian Eno the subject of the first chapter, and his Oblique Strategy Cards is known for forcing disorder in an ordered world pushing the envelope of creativity. A study cited in the book found that scientist who “keep changing the subject...stay productive.”

For me the key to keeping life interesting is “unfamiliar ground.” In order to remain creative I must like a shark, “keep moving.” I’m excited that Daylight Savings time has returned, and I’m ready to chart some uncharted territory. How about you?

“Not all who wander are lost.”

J.R.R. Tolkien

When Art Kept Me Off the Honor Roll

When art kept me off the honor roll. 

I’ve always been drawn to art, but I quickly associated art with being able to draw, something I wasn’t naturally good at.

However, throughout elementary school and junior high I loved each of my art classes. My ninth grade year I signed up for art as an elective. It was the first year that it was not a required part of the curriculum.

I enjoyed my class, and tried my best. As with all classes art required a grade. My grades usually were a B which overall was fine with me until the one time I almost made the A Honor Roll. 

I was thrilled to have made an A in all my classes, that is except art. My standard B stood out like a sore thumb among a row of A’s. It seemed crazy to me that art was what was keeping me off the honor roll. 

I felt helpless because art wasn’t as easy as studying for a test, and yet at the same time it was probably my favorite class. After that year I never took art again until it was required in college. By that time I had accepted the fact that because I couldn’t draw very well I was obviously not artistic.

As I think about it now, it makes me sad that for so long I believed the lies I told myself. In fact, my freshman year of college while taking a design class I seriously considered studying interior design. I found that I seemed to do quite well in a more abstract art form. The elements of design were all something that I could do. 

One day we viewed a movie about careers in art. As I watched intently I learned that interior design required sketching ability. My lie surfaced once again, and I never considered the career as a possibility for me. Isn’t it ironic that today so much of interior design is done using a computer?

To be honest, I don’t have a burning desire to start a new career at this point in my life, but in thinking about this it makes me wonder how often we buy into a lie or half-lie about ourselves? What I didn’t know then in my short fourteen years of life was that drawing is a skill that can be taught. 

I may never have been a Rembrandt, but that would not have been required. Today, I still find myself drawn to art, and I see the same desire in my three year old grandson. He doesn’t yet know to worry about whether something is “good” or “bad.” He just knows that he loves to draw tractors, and color each one using his Twistables.

Don’t let some misplaced lie hold you back from doing what your heart knows to be true. 

The Number Two Pencil

The number two pencil. 

My three year old grandson is showing a real affinity and talent for drawing. His fine motor skills constantly amaze me as he colors within the lines, and holds a pencil like a grown-up. 

He can often be found at the kitchen table drawing and coloring all the while with his tongue sticking out in concentration. After seeing some of his drawings, Chuck asked me to pick up a set of number two pencils and a pencil sharpener to take to him the next time we visited. 

On my trip to Walmart as I perused the pencil aisle I remember hearing that the quintessential pencil to have was the famous Ticonderoga brand. I was able to locate the presharpened beauties, but only in a thirty pack. 

Now I thought thirty pencils might be a little bit of overkill, but I figured I could use some at my house. Recently, it seemed every time I went looking for a pencil all I could find was a dull, stubbed-nose version.  The thought of actually having some good pencils around the house made me smile. 

Since I was breaking up the set I decided to see if I could find a pencil holder for the pencils and the sharpener. I happened upon the perfect pencil holder for a little boy. It was black, and resembled a creature of some sort with two wiggly eyes. But best of all when you unzipped it the zipper itself resembled a row of teeth. 

As expected the budding artist was thrilled with both the pencils and the case. The sharpener actually came with an eraser attached to the top so that too was a hit. Creatively the little guy spent quite a bit of time making shapes out of the pencils themselves as he arranged them into triangles and squares. The teacher in me couldn’t help but assist with his favorite shape-the hexagon. 

A few weeks later he was visiting our house with his parents when he noticed a Ticonderoga pencil sitting on my nightstand. Immediately he picked it up, and announced to his Mom that, “Mimi has one of my pencils!” Now not to be remembered as a thief, I quickly reassured him that I had bought a big pack of pencils to share between the two of us. 

I must admit that kid sure keeps me laughing and I have to remember that very little gets past his watchful eye. 

Fresh Start

Fresh start. 

“Every morning is a fresh start. Wake up with a thankful heart.”

Kristen Butler

I love this! Sometimes it’s challenging to keep an attitude of gratitude. I sometimes need a reminder to be content with the blessings that are hidden in the ordinary. 

Each morning I awake I am blessed to have another day. How I choose to face that day is totally up to me. If I’m feeling discouraged I want to remember that some days are like that, but not allow the feeling to linger too long.  

If I’m needing motivation I pray I come across something like Kristen Butler’s words to encouage and inspire me to cultivate an attitude of thankfulness. It is easy to get caught up in all that is missing in life, rather than focusing on the many blessings. 

I am blessed in every way and I don’t ever want to lose sight of that. I’m hoping that this post might be a reminder to you as well to not lose sight of gratefulness.

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.”

1 Chronicles 16:34

What’s That?

What’s that?

The littlest grandson doesn’t often get written about on this blog. He’s just now walking and beginning to really interact with his world so I anticipate that will be changing quickly. 

Although he is a man of few words at this point, it has become apparent that he is curious by nature. In fact, his curiosity often gets him in trouble as he attempts to literally scale anything in his way. 

My daughter has resorted to laying the kitchen chairs down just to keep him from climbing atop the kitchen table. Wall anchors have been utilized to keep furniture and the television securely in place. What is interesting about all this is that his older brother seemed to be more content unscrewing a child sized screw from his toy toolbox rather than climbing out of his crib at the same age. 

This past weekend we got to babysit the youngest while his older brother attended a rodeo with his parents, and aunt and uncle. It was almost bedtime when they left so Chuck and I did not have long to entertain the littlest one. 

What I found most endearing was the way he would toddle around the house pointing his finger, and asking clearly, “What’s that?” I would provide the information requested, and he would move on to the next thing. He seemed quite fascinated with the coffee maker, and asked several times specifically about its name. 

He is such a quiet, sweet natured boy who loves to be held, and sports a dimple when he smiles. I’m excited to see that his curious nature is promoting him to ask more about his world. Although, I have to wonder how many just turned one year olds’ first words are questions?

Sprinkle Donuts

Sprinkle donuts. 

Kids and adults view food completely differently. 

Adults may have acquired a taste for broccoli over the years, but kids know the truth. When given the chance choose the sprinkle donut. 

Yesterday Chuck made a quick run to the local donut shop to pick up breakfast for everyone. My oldest grandson put in his order for a chocolate sprinkle donut. No regrets, no shame. 

Now I reluctantly allowed myself a small, dry cake donut. Perhaps somewhere in my imagination I thought it might be a little healthier for me. This is out of habit after years of judging food as good or bad. 

When Chuck got home, and opened the box of donuts the little one did something remarkable. He literally jumped for joy into Chuck’s arms all the while squealing with delight. After all, his sprinkle donut had arrived. 

He then hugged his Papa, and thanked him for the donut. Of course, the whole thing was sweeter than a sprinkle donut ever hoped to be. 

A few minutes later when I sat down to eat my breakfast I noticed that my grandson had basically sucked the top off the donut. Not a sprinkle or a trace of chocolate was left behind. Basically a dry, plain donut, you know kind of like what I had ordered.

Time and time again I am amazed at the lessons this little one has to teach me. His pure joy in the moment made me realize that there is a place for sprinkle donuts in my life. 

The H Word

The H word. 

Hate is a word that you hear frequently these days. In fact, you hear it so much that after a while it almost loses its meaning. 

Often when I’m trying to better understand something I go back to the dictionary definition just to remind myself. 

Interestingly as I looked up the word hate I came across these two versions of the definition:

“ Feel intense or passionate dislike.”

Now I may say I hate liver, but in reality that pales in comparison to hating cruelty toward the weak. This definition to me seems quite relative depending on what you consider intense or passionate. In fact, the connotation of the word passionate is not always viewed in a negative light. 

“Intense hostility and aversion usually deriving from fear or anger; extreme dislike or disgust.”

Now this definition to me seems to better describe hate. Hate to me is a very extreme emotion. In fact, I would think that it would take a lot to get someone to the point of hate. Of course, there are some people who just seem to revel in hatefulness, which is very sad. 

However, today I’m not really talking about that kind of hate. What I’m discovering as I read comments made about political and religious differences is that when someone disagrees with another often times they are quick to throw out the word hate. 

Now this just doesn’t seem logical to me. If you and I have a difference of opinion it’s probably not because I hate you. Our personal beliefs are based on many different things, and true hate is probably not one of them. 

Growing up, prior to social media, the rule of thumb was not to discuss religion and politics. I wonder why that was? Perhaps, because these two areas of conversation can incite strong feelings, and decorum might just insist that respect for others feeling and beliefs may be more important than what you feel the need to say at the moment. 

To be honest it makes me sad to see how much vitriol there seems to be in the world today. I wish we felt more comfortable sharing our beliefs with each other without being so mean. We can learn more about each other, and perhaps find a way to bridge our differences if we reach out with respect. 

Now truthfully I’ve not always followed my own advice, but I’d rather be an ambassador of civil discourse whenever I can.