Square-Peg People

The Trouble with Creative Play

 

 

As I mentioned in an earlier post, Jump, I signed up for The Great Discontent's #the100dayproject - committing myself to play with watercolors for, well…100 days.

I even set myself up with a playfull hashtag: #100daysofWCplay, using the initials WC because they are an abbreviation for water closet/toilet.

Well, here we are 50 days into the project (half way! half way!) - and I'm more than a little amazed at my consistency (flabbergasted, actually) because I've honored my commitment every day (night, to be truthful) - even when I've felt far from motivated.

The thing is, I committed myself to doing the #the100dayproject for self care reasons:

1) I needed more play in my life (play is vital for my Self, ab-soul-utely vital - but I often put it off, there's always something to get to first and then - ohmy, I'm too tired, how about tomorrow?),

and 2) I can always use more (ok, some - any) consistency in my life - and consistency is so much easier (for me, anyway) when there's some form of accountability involved. #the100dayproject was a perfect fit with my needs!

When I talked to myself about watercolor play, the word "play" sounded suggestive of ease (and easiness), but in reality (at least for me) it's tethered to trouble.

Some of the troubles that've troubled me while I've been playing with watercolors are:

Allowing myself to look like a pre-beginner -

or, as the voices in my head say: "a kindergarten flunk out" - is it obvious that I've still got problems with this?

Trying to keep from making this "the only thing" -

…which I am wont to do with new creative pursuits (anyone remember Toad, from The Wind in the Willows - for whom each new pursuit/hobby/interest became "the only thing", sucking up all his money and time?).

Being consistent -

soooo easy to say: "Today was a busy day, I'll catch up tomorrow" - which is a default for me, and makes it so easy to let things slide for a LONG time.

And mostly, trying to keep it FUN - just a joyful adventure while learning a thing or two.

It's so easy for me to get lost in all there is to learn - lost in excitement about all the possibilities, which can lead to overwhelm - or with the need to get an A++++ (ohgod, the eternal drain of good grades and being told "you can do anything") before I've even begun. Sigh.

What are the troubles that trouble YOU when you're playing - or doing your favorite self care?

Remembering, and actually doing the things that constitute self care (which isn't a one-size-fits-all proposition - we all need different things) isn't always easy, there are so many other things to do - but WOW, so worth it! I'll tell you about some of the benefits that I received in a future post.

The photos above are from my watercolor play time (they're my favorites - the "good" ones; there are plenty of awful ones - that's how play is). If you'd like to see all of my watercolor play photos (hey, it might give you a giggle - or inspiration to create without worrying about results), visit me on Instagram (or on Facebook, if we're friends there - and if not, you can send me a friend request).

P.S. I don't usually (or ever) put the #whatsright hashtag thingy on the photos for the #the100dayproject, but the whole thing has been so right!

P.P.S. If you want some ideas for self care (I've stored up plenty because I'm always needing them!), check out Community is an Inside Job in the Square-Peg Shop - it's all about Self Care, and filled with good!

I've included one of the recordings, Building a Self-care (Love Thyself) Toolbox (as a gift) right on the page linked above - go have a listen!

 

What To Do Instead of Writing

 

 

I said I would "do writing" this morning - even got up early for that very purpose. What did I actually do?

Gathered some laundry and threw it in the washer (it was needed - can't go without underdrawers! Well, I can - and have - but it's a good drying day for laundry).

Spent a decent amount of time perusing the sales page of a vibrant writing class (even while knowing that my funds are limited at the moment) because - words! (and, you know - inspiration). I cooked myself breakfast (a rare treat) and wrote up a list of to-dos for next week (it's a damn busy week - no way I could keep track of it without some kind of list),

and checked out the price on a pair of much-needed shoes (my feet have been killing me; I need particular shoes to keep the pain at a minimum <-truth!),

did yoga - haven't done yoga in weeks; I really needed to get back to it because when I don't do yoga it affects my sleep - and contributes to my foot pain.

I got dressed and put on my eyebrows

(I have none - and folks without eyebrows have a scary kind of look that I didn't want to have today. Fact: I have eyebrows, they're just not where they're meant to be. I have a lot of them between my eyelashes and eye crease, in that space known as my eyelid, also some in approximately the middle of my forehead - just don't have any on my brow line; unless you count the few white ones that grow long and stick straight out)

because I have an errand to do later today and I didn't want to head out naked and eyebrowless.

I checked the weather - and rechecked it because I forgot what I read the first time (that's how I found out that it's good clothes drying weather).

And now it's getting close to time to head out for that errand, so instead of getting started with writing knowing I'll have to stop soon (probably right when I get into the groove) I think I'll practice my language skills (on Duolingo - do you know about Duolingo? It's a fantastic, free, language learning program).

And other stuff - I did other, less important, stuff too - plenty of it.

If writing brings you clarity, heals you, connects you to yourself, others, ALL (as it does for me), I'd love to know what you do instead of writing. Care to share?

Photo: mine (Karen); filter: Moku Hanga App
It took the rose pictured above about 8 years to finally bloom - and it had to shoot out a 6 ft. long, thorny branch to bloom on (past the tall grasses, planted after it - that went wild and kept it from enough sun). May we have that kind of steadfastness, grit, endurance, fortitude, COURAGE to bring our writing(s) to bloom (thank you, Thesaurus)!

Want to hear (and/or read) stories that bring you awareness, allowing, acceptance and appreciation (i.e. celebration!) - of yourSELF! As you are. Now!

Yeah? Good! Then check out Square-Peg Celebration: Stories of Acceptance and Grace.

There's a gorgeous 47-page pdf including the essays, Slightly-British Daughter's gorgeous photography, and inspiring quotes - plus a recording of each essay! (see: hear and/or read!)

What are you waiting for? Go on over and listen (there's a free mp3 sample!).

 

Jump

 

 

I'm ready to jump in!

Well, it's a bit cold to jump into Lake Luxembourg (pictured above), plus you're not actually allowed to swim there, so I probably wouldn't jump in even if the temps were higher, but I'm ready to jump

into Spring,

into fun,

into some consistent online socializing.

And look what I found to help me jump -> TWO super cool Instagram-centric gatherings:

Starting April 1st there's Susannah Conway's April LOVE photo challenge.

During the ass-freezing Winter (just now passing), when I was seeing the same four walls seemingly ALL THE TIME, I grew weary of attempting to find fresh things to photograph ("That wall? Again??"); I am so looking forward to having prompts that help me focus/find things to photograph and share on Instagram - and super excited about checking out other people's photos.

There are also a whole bunch of folks connected with this gathering who'll visit my email box (yours too, if you sign up) through the month of April with self-love stories and inspiration - YES!

Then there's Elle Luna & The Great Discontent's 100 Day Project - which is described as: "...a celebration of process that encourages everyone to participate in 100 days of making."

Starting April 6th I'm going to play with watercolors for 100 days. I've always been drawn to watercolors, yet it's rare for me (three/four times in the past 10 years) to get my set out and experiment. That is about to change! P.S. I'm on the hunt for watercolor tutorials for newbies, so if you know of any please share in the comments!

Spring is shaping up as FUN!

Want to join me? The water's warm (metaphorically speaking) and these gatherings are no cost, plus (imho) I think that participating in them is guaranteed to establish some new online friendships (cool, right?).

Want to hear (and/or read) stories that bring you awareness, allowing, acceptance and appreciation (i.e. celebration!) - of yourSELF! As you are. Now!

Yeah? Good! Then check out Square-Peg Celebration: Stories of Acceptance and Grace.

There's a gorgeous 47-page pdf including the essays, Slightly-British Daughter's gorgeous photography, and inspiring quotes - plus a recording of each essay! (see: hear and/or read!)

What are you waiting for? Go on over and listen (there's a free mp3 sample!).

 

Hop, Skip, and Jump, Baby!

A Square-Peg People Book Review

Hop, Skip, Jump

by Marney Makridakis

I hopped, skipped, and jumped through Marney Makridakis's new book, Hop, Skip, Jump: 75 Ways to Playfully Manifest a Meaningful Life. I did!

When I went back and read through it again, with an eye to what I wanted to tell you, I was amused me to read this exhortation in the Introduction:

"If you generally don't like to read a book cover to cover, you can relax. This is, above all, an idea book, here to help you access more play and productivity in your life, and to help you do it in your own way. You don't need to read this book in sequential order and should feel free to -- you guessed it -- hop, skip, and jump around the book."

Ha! I did, I did!! And you might too - even if your normal reading style is more conservative (mine is).

Hop, Skip, Jump feels like a visit to a magician's workshop - where all the doors in your mind are thrown open to possibilities. So many possibilities! And Magician Marney (who says, in the Introduction, that she has "an imagination broader than Disneyland") doesn't seem to judge when we're fearful or lagging behind - she just offers more (and more!) ways to join in.

Marney describes Hop, Skip, and Jump (the book and the concept) thusly:

"Hop, Skip, and Jump represent three distinct energies that can work together harmoniously. This book is about playfully activating the energies of all three phases so that your manifestation process becomes a lot more robust and, especially, a lot more fun."

Here's a brief description of the phases:

Hopping refers to having an idea or impulse and exploring it in your imagination.
Skipping refers to experimenting and trying new things.
Jumping refers to quickly moving into action.

In an earlier post Hey, I'm an Irish Setter I mentioned that I'm heavily into Hop - though there's a lot of Skip in me as well. Jump I lack - but the book has loads of ways to playfully integrate the styles that we're not so strong in into our lives - because all three are important!

Which one are YOU? You can take a quiz (in the book or online) to determine what Marney calls your "core inclination".

The book describes/explains the 3 phases in different ways - from a table that "lists the goals, advantages, and potential risks of each phase" to a very interesting section (The Language of the Body) discussing "ways each phase contributes to physical development", to "Sample Scenarios", introducing us to a hopper, a skipper, and a jumper (somewhat day-in-the-life style).

Each chapter starts off with a FUN FACT and a question/prompt connected to the FUN FACT. Here's one:

"The original Kenner Easy-Bake Oven was heated by two one-hundred-watt lightbulbs, a design inspired by the roasted chestnuts sold by street vendors in New York City." And the question/prompt:

"How will you know when your idea or project is fully baked? Can you test it for doneness, like sticking a toothpick in a cake?"

There are also a number of Top Ten lists included. Some are a little on the schmaltzy side (not snarky like the David Letterman lists), but more than one had me literally laughing out loud. Real loud.

My favorite is "TOP TEN SIGNS YOU NEED TO TAKE A BREAK AND GROUND YOUR ENERGY", which includes:

10. You're trying to send a text message using the TV remote control. (Ha!), 9. Adding an appointment to your calendar reminds you of playing Tetris. (Ha! Ha!), 8. You find yourself ordering a sandwich from the bank teller. (Ha! Haaaaa!). You'll have to check out the book to see the other 7; I don't want to spoil all the fun!

Each chapter ends with an AcroWhim and a Haikoodle. Ok, ok - I have to say it: these are my least favorite parts of the book. I rarely enjoy haikus, and acronyms (with the exception of SNAFU) kinda make my stomach hurt. They feel forced - they are forced.

But I'll forgive the author (grin) because you can feel the sense of fun (play!) she had coming up with them. I'm not sharing AcroWhims or Haikoodles though; gotta hunt down a book for those (and who knows, YOU might love them!).

In between the extras described above there are ideas, suggestions, exercises and prompts to help us strengthen (and enjoy!) each of the three phases (hop, skip, and jump - in case they slipped your mind).

There's my personal favorite, Design Your Plan-it-arium (really rocking the star stuff prompts!) in the Hop section (plus 24 more); What Butterflies Know About Manifesting in the Skip section (plus, you know - 24 more); and Turn Your Doubt into a Dare in the Jump section (ahem - more, too).

This is a fun book, and feels personal - like you're sitting down with Marney. I'm going to keep Hop, Skip, Jump handy to jumpstart creativity and play often! You can't get enough play (it's vital)!!

Consider picking up a copy of Hop, Skip, Jump using this link - you'll be helping to support Square-Peg People without paying a penny more (we're Amazon Affiliates). Thanks!

Disclaimer: I am reviewing this book as part of the Hop, Skip, Jump Blog Celebration. I received a copy of the book from the publisher and am listed on Artella Land’s roster of 75 featured blogs. My opinions are my own.

Hey, have your read our Square-Peg Interview of Marney Makridakis? Check it out!

NaNoWriMo and Me

 

The first time I heard the term NaNoWriMo spoken (I'd seen it online a zillion and six times - but I'm talking heard) it sounded like: Na No Rhyme Oh,

and judging by the discussion the term came up in I assumed it was some kind of writing thing. Adding 2 + 2 and getting 7, I figured it was a twist on the NaNoWriMo I'd seen written about online (a zillion and six times) - and probably involved poetry, because -> Rhyme Oh.

Seeing the bewildered look on my face (when I was working through the math), someone asked: "Do you know what NaNoWriMo is?"

Well, I knew what NaNoWriMo was, but I didn't know anything about this Rhyme Oh thing, so I said (excitedly, hoping to learn about a poetry-writer's gathering): "No, never heard of it - do tell?"

And they did - with gusto! I instantly realized that they were talking about the same NaNoWriMo I'd seen written about online (a zillion and six times), but there was no chance to explain.

First there was a lot of enthusiastic describing and showing ("look, they gave me this! And this - and this - and I wrote ____ words, and I can't wait for next November because I've got some great ideas, and…") - way cool! I love enthusiasm,

but then I was peppered with questions and given no time to answer them (Introvert Hell).

The person asking the questions answered them for me, based (I'm guessing) on her own 2 + 2 equals 7 (which was helped along by my bewildered/deer-in-the-headlights expression):

"Do you write? No, if you did you'd know what NaNoWriMo is."

"Well, do you read?" (I croaked out a quick "yeah" on that one) "You do? Then what's your favorite genre?" Oh shit, I read a lot - on a lot of topics and in a lot of genres - how to answer that one (continued bewildered/deer-in-the-headlights expression)?

"So you don't really read."

And then I nailed my own coffin shut (so to speak). There was a radio playing in the background, something positive (rare!) was said about a Philadelphia Phillies baseball game; another gal and I gave little cheers and I was discovered (in a 2 + 2 = 7 sense):

"Oh, you're into sports (voice dripping with disapproval). I see!"

I think I was smarter when I was a kid. Back then I'd nod assent or mumble "yeah" when asked "Do you know what ___ is?" - because half the time (ok, more like 99.8% of the time) I'd be in my own little world and wasn't following the conversation - and the rest of the time I was covering my butt against eventualities like the NaNoWriMo embarrassment.

Sigh.

~ ~ ~

Hey, if you're taking part in NaNoWriMo this year you might want to check out my friend Charlotte Rains Dixon's post: NaNoWriMo Support and Encouragement - it's full of, well - support and encouragement!

You might also want to check out a teleclass Charlotte and I put together, called Authenticity + Creativity, where we explore the intersection of (your) authenticity + (your) creativity, discuss how Fear gets in the way, AND learn how to work around it!

Hey, I'm an Irish Setter

 

Nah, not really - and neither is the guy whose picture you see above (he's just a cool mule who stands outside the Michener Museum), but I do want to point to something (POINT, get it? Irish Setters are one of the pointer breeds). Ok, I'll get to it.

Marney Makridakis has a new book coming out November 11th, it's called Hop, Skip, Jump: 75 Ways to Playfully Manifest a Meaningful Life.

 

Here's a picture of it. I've got a copy in my hot little hands right now - and I can tell you that this is a fun book!

{Aside: Years ago I took the majority of Marney's classes - and attended her first two in-person retreats. Her influence, classes and retreats are the reason that I got into blogging - and met so many lovely Square-Peg folk. I'm so grateful!}

I'll do a review of Hop, Skip, Jump very soon - but what I want to point you to now is a cute quiz that's related to the book. It helps you figure out whether you're a hopper, skipper, or jumper when it comes to play and productivity. Here's a link to the Hop, Skip, Jump Quiz.

FYI: I'm heavily into Hop - though there's a lot of Skip in me as well. Jump I lack - but the book has loads of ways to playfully integrate the styles that we're not so strong in into our lives - because all three are important!

Have your read our Square-Peg Interview of Marney Makridakis? Check it out!

~ ~ ~ ~

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher - with the understanding that I would only review it if I liked it (I did!).

Also, we're affiliates of Amazon.com - so when you buy from the links above you don't pay a penny more, but you help support Square-Peg People. Thanks!

What's Spookier than Halloween?

 

Words! At least these particular words: "If something's worth doing, it's worth doing right."

While Halloween spookiness can be fun, trying to live up to that crap is NOT!

Those words were repeated a lot in my growing up years, and there were decades when I believed it - which, at times, made my creative life miserable.

They can still conjure up scary Halloween-like feelings (clenched jaw, stomach muscles tight, breath held…), like walking into a trail of cobwebs (the enormous sticky kind) as you step down into a dark, dank basement, while hearing an eerie: "awooooooooohooooohohhhhohhhohhh" sound. Creepy!

But now I know, down to my bones, that if something's worth doing it's worth doing - no qualifiers! Do it badly, make a shitty first draft, screw around with paint, fuck up your first attempt at anything (or your 2nd or 3rd or 400th) - have fun, enjoy the experience, learn something, try again - or try something else. And it's ALL worth doing because YOU did it (not because of how it turned out!).

I also know, down to my bones, that thinking you need to do all things right (i.e. perfectly, up to some elusive measure of ok-ness) is one of the foundation layers of perfectionism (ew, ick, phooey).

How do you learn or have fun or explore/experiment if you've got to do it right?

Let's just do it - whatever it is for each of us - for the pure joy of doing it!

In a long-ago post, called Living Imperfectly (see mermaid photo above), I wrote about my struggle getting past doing things right (working on a mermaid costume for a four-year old). Time flies - Little Princess turned 11 last month!

*Thanks to PicFrame and rhonna designs apps (and my belief in playing - without regard to outcome) for the graphic. Blurry mermaid photo = mine. I rock imperfection!

Creating Like Crazy

 

I may have mentioned knitting like crazy (or knitting to keep craziness away?) - well, here are a few of the things I've made recently:

There's the doll to befriend the first knitted doll I made my granddaughter a few months ago (both were adaptations of dolls in a Fiona McDonald book called Knitted Fairies: To Cherish and Charm* - awesome fun!), a wrap top and leg-warmers (plus the tutu - not knitted, but still Gram-made) plus wild-colored poncho for my grand's American Girl doll, and a wee clown type doll from a pattern called Knubbelchen that I found on Ravelry.

That's a lot of knitting - and there's been a lot more! Maybe don't sit down next to me for too long, I might start knitting your hair into a doll sweater - grin.

What form does YOUR creativity take when it goes crazy wild?

Want to hear stories that bring you awareness, allowing, acceptance and appreciation (i.e. celebration!) - of yourSELF! As you are. Now!

Yeah? Good! Then check out Square-Peg Celebration: Stories of Acceptance and Grace.

It comes with a gorgeous 47-page pdf including the essays, Slightly-British Daughter's gorgeous photography, and inspiring quotes!

What are you waiting for? Go on over and listen (there's a free mp3 sample!).

 

~ ~ ~ ~

*Full Disclosure: we're affiliates of Amazon.com - so when you buy from the links above you don't pay a penny more, but you help support Square-Peg People. Thanks!

 

Creativity and Rebellion

 

“Creativity is the greatest rebellion in existence.” Osho

What Osho said! And here's a story about Creativity and Rebellion partying together at my house awhile back.

A bit of backstory first: Before my daughters and I started unschooling they both attended parochial school  - the same Missouri-Synod Lutheran elementary school that I went to as a kid. Manchild, who is a lot younger than his sibs, was born into a full-on unschooling environment

Once upon a time, prior to Halloween festivities, an edict concerning costumes was sent home from the girls' school. It was decreed that, for their classroom Halloween parties, the children were only permitted to wear costumes representing Bible characters.

I don't know whose idea it was, or what prompted them to come up with new rules - but I remember thinking that someone seemed upset by ghouls, floozies and costumes encouraging violence.

From childhood on I've had a perverse reaction to being told what to do and/or how to do it.

Even when I agree with rules they get on my nerves. Hell, I even have trouble following rules I make for myself. The rebel spirit jumped up and bit me on the ass when I read that costume commandment note.

I knew I'd figure something out. We'd comply with the letter of the law, but...

Aside: You know, if the person(s) who came up with the costume rule had done their research, they'd have realized they were leaving the door wide open on ghouls, floozies and costumes encouraging violence when they mandated Bible-only costumes.

Jeez, we could've gone with the John-the-Baptist's-head-on-a-silver-platter theme, or represented any number of harlots - or demons (knocking people around or just being flung into pigs) - or terribly violent folk. I'm telling you - the door was wide open!

I'm pretty sure the rule maker(s) was/were thinking of fluffy lambs, meek and mild Mary's, shepherds and the like. But they weren't specific!

Enter Square-Peg creativity! I used to sew costumes for competitive skaters, baton twirlers and such - so I had a decent amount of flesh-colored stretch fabric around. What if...

someone went as Eve? With strategically-placed felt leaves. Gloria, my middle child, liked the idea (see picture below).

Ah, creativity and rebellion - always puts a smile on my face!

 

 

What was your favorite Halloween costume? Or might you have a Square-Peg following-the-letter-of-the-law-but-maybe-not-the-spirit-of-the-law story you'd like to share? Do tell!

 

This is a highly edited version of a post originally shared in 2010.
Photo ©Karen Caterson, 1988 (from back in the day when you wouldn't know until you got the photos developed whether your kid was blinking/making a face when you took the shot - sigh).

I don't want to court regret

 

I don't want to court regret,

but I just noticed a fleck of Colonial Blue paint that survived the Great Kitchen Redo of 8 - 10 years ago

(it was there on the window screen frame - how did I miss it all this time?).

Colonial Blue, peeking through the energizing yellow and white color scheme, the just-for-us cabinetry,

to say:

"Remember? Remember how you rolled Colonial Blue over the oddly arranged pink (metal!) cabinets - and even the old stove; switched out the plain, 50's style handles for the old-fashioned pewter ones?

Remember the wallpaper you hung and those matching drapes? And weekly family nights, playing games like Sorry or Monopoly Junior? And how we thought we'd beat the ugly family legacies (the future hung before us like sparkle lights)?"

I don't want to go back - I love my yellow and white kitchen, it's energy and flow - and I don't want to court regret,

but I just noticed a fleck of Colonial Blue paint peeking through the yellow and white

and I can't un-notice it.

*Photo of sculpture by Peter Cimino taken at sculpture garden of Tyler Park Center for the Arts fair, October 2012

 

The poem (above) is my contribution to OctPoWriMo 2014 (sure hope I can keep up!). Click on the badge below to read about OctPoWriMo 2014 - 31 poems in 31 days.