Creativity Tips: Simple Works

One of my favorite creative outlets is baking, so I'm typically asked to bring dessert to any special event. Fun! And I've now added a simple treat to my cake and cookie line-up. I bring fruit salad.

My recipe? Simple:
One fresh pineapple
One Granny Smith apple
One small carton of strawberries
A bunch of red grapes
One kiwi (Optional.)
One cutie -- those teeny oranges, when in season (Optional. And real oranges don't work.)

Wash it, dice it, stir it all up. You've got the perfect dessert. Or the perfect "chaser" for chocolate cake. Or the perfect base for vanilla yogurt and pecans and chia seeds -- my standard breakfast.

Simple? You bet. And people love it. Creativity -- in any area -- doesn't have to be complicated. Simple is simply refreshing. Give it a try. Simplify.

Fabulous Phrases: Grief

Trying to remember you
is like carrying water
in my hands a long distance
across sand.

From Grief by Stephen Dobyns.

Are We Having Fun Yet?

Of all the definitions of creativity I've seen, I like Einstein's the best:

"Creativity is intelligence having fun."

 

 

It's a new week. Be an Einstein. Go have fun!

 

Creativity Tips: Declare Your Independence!

Can you believe it's already July? The year is half over! Holy moly, how is that possible?

But, it is. And CI readers in America are getting ready for Fourth of July festivities. In honor of that, here's a creativity tip for all of us: Declare your independence! As you look forward to the rest of the year, free your heart and soul and brain from clutter and negativity. While you're at it, free up some space around you. That's right. Clean up the clutter. You'll feel lighter, free-er. I promise.

You know what happens when you clear up the psychic and physical space? Good stuff finds room to move in. (FYI, good stuff is a technical writing term.)

At this point in my life, midway through 2013, my life is filled with good stuff and I need all the room possible for more wonderful people, rewarding projects and restful, peaceful moments. I'm freeing up space -- inside and out -- for happy. Join me!

P.S. The Jewish momma warning: Be careful on Independence Day. Years as a radio reporter scarred me for life re: this holiday. Watch out for those fireworks. Don't drink and drive. Make sure your pups aren't outside and scared or hot. Got it? Good. My work here is done for the moment. Go outside and play!

Creativity Tips: Dreams Come True

Go to Amazon and do a search for my name. Go ahead. I'll wait. La-ti-da-ti-da-ti-da.

You're back? Fabulous! And you found it? Double fabulous!

Isn't it wonderful?!? I'm connected to a book that's for sale on Amazon, at Barnes & Noble and other places! It's a writer's dream come true.

OK, I will now get past myself, because I realize this isn't all about me. Hard to believe, because author Shanna Haun makes me feel like a star. And I'm not alone -- I've watched her in action. Shanna makes everyone feel acknowledged and appreciated. It's one of her many gifts.

With this post, I want to formally thank Shanna for giving me one of the greatest joys of my career -- instigating and editing her book. It was a completely unexpected and totally delightful experience. Thank you!

There are about 8 gazillion points I could make about this honest, well-written, life-changing book, but I like to keep these posts short and I don't like evangelists. Let me just say:

1. The launch party is at 6:30 p.m. June 30th at Lululemon in Leawood, Kan. If you're in town, come see us!
2. If you're not in town, Shanna will be talking with book clubs and other groups via Skype after the official launch, so let us know if you're interested.
3. It's really fun to see the great reviews coming in. This one from the Raspberry Prairie blog ran in the Kansas City Jewish Chronicle too. Very cool. It's like sending your baby out in the world and having other people realize she's both brilliant and gorgeous.
4. "I hope you believe in yourself. I hope you surprise yourself." Brilliant and gorgeous lines from the book.
5. Shanna is right. Life is ALL a practice and perfection is not the goal. Why would we practice yoga and do Zumba? Why not practice Zumba? Why not practice photography? Why not practice writing? 

Right now, practice making your favorite creative instigator happy. Buy the book. Read the book. And be a happy practicer!

P.S. I practiced using different times to post the blog. I'm back to 4:22 a.m. It works for me. And that wraps this post the way we started ... it's all about me ... ;-)

Creativity Tips: The Jew and the Easter Ham

Once upon a time, there was a family that always had a big ham dinner for Easter. Sally, one of the daughters, liked to watch as her mother prepared the meal. She noticed that, every year, her mom cut a large slice off both ends of the ham before putting it in a big pan to cook.

"Why do you do that, Momma?" Sally asked.

Her mom looked up, surprised. And then turned to her mother, who was preparing the side dishes.

"Mom, I cut the ends off because you always cut the ends off," she said. "Why did you do that?"

"Because," her mother said, as she continued snapping beans, "Dad always bought a ham that was too big for my pan."

This Jewish momma is having the Easter ham moment. For years, I've scheduled the CI blog to post at 4:22 a.m. Why? Because years and years ago, it amused me to use my birthdate as the time. That was the only reason. There was no logic at all. (It did ensure that the post was waiting for email subscribers when they got up, but that wasn't a big deciding factor for me.)

So, yesterday, I posted at 8:22 a.m. It felt too late. This post is scheduled for 6:18 a.m. I may stick with that for a bit. We'll see what feels right.

Am I using any creative logic this time? You betcha. At 6:18 a.m., the post should be waiting for email subscribers in the morning -- while automatically posting to Twitter and Facebook at a time when humans are awake and might see it.

Yeah. The ham in me does like the idea of more readers.

What are you doing just because you've always done it that way? What change could make it better? Give it a try!

Creativity Tips: Let the Sun Shine In

As a writer, these are the kind of world-altering questions that take up space in my brain:
Is it Let the Sun Shine In? or Let the Sunshine In?

In Hair,* I believe it's Let the Sunshine In. Here, it's Let the Sun Shine In. Why? Because that's my plan for you this week. I want you to look at your busy calendar, pull out that "to do" list and see where you can schedule 30 minutes to let the sun actively shine into your life.

The "rules" are pretty simple: Sit outside -- in your backyard, a park, a pool or somewhere near work that feels peaceful and safe. Don't read, don't text, don't think. Just be.

Remember when you were little and every picture
you colored had a sun in the corner, beaming down?
A sun the color of Mary's overalls?
That's what I want for you this week.
A summer sun, beaming down.

* If you click on this link, you will see what my friends in college looked like. I miss that look. It was probably incredibly conformist to be so non-conformist in the same way, but still ....