this time of year
As winter brings death,
a chance for re-birth
I spend my birthday
like a child
caressing the horses
of childhood dreams
alive
with the spirit
of age
Satisfied to be a creation
of my mother and father's
passion
and fantasy
connected by spiraling codes
that vibrate the universe
with every breath I
continue to take
(just like the song
only better)

Welcome to my world that someone else created.

E.Joy Johnson
12/18/2008

WHAT RUSS TAUGHT US...

Today I found out that my friend Russ passed away. I take this opportunity to honor him and the gift he left us.

I met Russ through my dear friend Shirley who married him some years ago. When I was going to meet him for the first time I felt very protective of Shirley because I wanted her to be treated with the love and respect that I felt she deserved. So I was ready to hammer this guy if he wasn’t up to the job.

To my pleasant surprise Russ was what we ladies would call, “a gem”. He was genuine with a great sense of humor and an incredible smile. As strong and as tenacious as he could be was only balanced by his sweetness and kindness to others. What I loved about Russ was his straightforward attitude that seemed to come less from the California coast and more from the NY east coast mentality of “telling it like it is”. I resonated with him in that way and often felt we intuitively connected on detecting that type of behavior.

His personality, in that regard, is what embellished his way of life. Russ thoroughly created his life. He jumped in head and heart first diving into the waters of his passion equally excited to bring them to the surface for us all to witness and share with him.

He did not hesitate.

He was a practical dreamer who didn’t wait for the genie to appear but crafted his dreams from the opportunities life presented to him.

Russ was a wealthy man in the game of life.

Russ died as a result of a mysterious motorcycle accident of which the outcome in my mind is still to be determined. I say that because Russ in his adventurous spirit was never careless and always a responsible person in everything. Just like his personality he was determined yet aware and I don’t believe that he would ever take unnecessary risks. To that end I am deeply saddened.

However, the risks that Russ did take, that we can all learn from, were to follow your passion and live life to its fullest at all times. This is a message we all need to hear and have drummed into our heads on a daily basis. Anyone who knows Russ understands that he left this planet with no regrets; he loved his family, friends, work, nature, hobbies, and himself; something we can all aspire to in our own lives.

For his 50th birthday in October his wife, Shirley, treated Russ by giving him the gift to swim with the dolphins and experience being a dolphin trainer for day. He found delight in challenging himself to new adventures and these brilliant, mystical creatures added a new dimension to his every day existence. I can’t help but think that Russ is riding a dolphin at top speeds somewhere in the great unknown smiling like a Cheshire cat spreading his joy for eternity.

That’s how I’d like to imagine it anyway.

Let us learn from Russ to create a passionate and abundant life in all ways.
Thanks for the lesson Russ…

We’ll miss you.

Russ Downie
1958 - 2008

Who Cares? .. I do

This election year it seemed to me that people really cared about voting. How interesting that it has taken such a long time to get such a high percentage of people out to vote. Could it be they finally started to care?

It seems obvious to me and probably to you too that we should all care about what happens to ourselves, our families, our country, and our world but often that is not the case. It sometimes feels like a struggle to care. That could be why you may not take time for your creative work as odd as that might sound. In order to put the energy into a task we simple have to care, be inspired, be enthusiastic or at the least concerned.

I believe there is a deadly dis-ease that has been going around called “I don’t matter”. I have to tell you that I did not really discover this myself until working under the tutelage of Eric Maisel who has been my teacher and coach in this new emerging field of Creativity Coaching. On one exercise he assigned I found myself writing this, “For as productive a person as I am and can be I have struggled with the idea that no one particularly cares about what I do or create. The realization of this thought came to me in the last year or so and I have been finding it surface to my conscious awareness not so much as a knee jerk reaction anymore but as a clear thought form.”

I was amazed to read this back the other day and discover that as a result of those feelings I found it hard for me to care about what I am doing at times. So I figured that other people might be going through this same kind of thought process and it would be good to shed some light on what it is all about.

Clearly we live in society where there is not enough time to spend with our children and even when we have time we are preoccupied. Today there are zillions (a creative form of measurement) of pieces of art works, books, music, performances, and on and on. Even if you do manage to care enough to put your creative work “out there” most likely it will rarely get very much notice. So why should you care?

Once again, we have managed to put our worth in the hands of our society instead of knowing our own true worth. Years ago philosophers, poets, writers and even politicians reminded us about the importance of knowing who you are. In the 60’s it was called, “do your thing”. We all need to get back to doing our thing so we can matter in our lives. Doing your thing doesn’t mean ignoring the lives of others around you or feeling superior to someone else. It’s about allowing your spirit, your nature, your inner guidance (whatever that may be) to allow you to contribute to your life in your own way.

It’s possible by doing this you might become famous but it’s also possible you will just do it because it makes you feel good. Because you matter and so does your creativity. Only you can care about what you do in this world no one can ever make you care. In my opinion, many depressed people have lost the ability to care about themselves. They may even be able to care about another person or a cause but when it comes down to caring about themselves they are at a loss of how to connect to the world.

Sometimes the act of creating something really special or beautiful can inspire us to care. Yet we still have to make that first step of caring enough to get to the act of creating so you can see what a circle this can become if we don’t pay attention or have some kind of support in our lives.
It’s often the case that when people age and no longer work they die fairly soon. Maybe it’s because they don’t feel like they matter anymore. It would be great to find the creative urge throughout your life that helps you to reconnect with what makes you matter in life.
But more than that you have to decide to matter. You have to decide that what you do every day matters. And once you get to that place you have achieved success. Real success.

So I hope you care. I do.

CREATING A COUNTRY

The labor pains were intense on this baby but we delivered a new President, Barack Obama, and it was a better than expected delivery.

Whether you were on one side or the other of the election process, as a Creativity Coach, what I observed was the perfect circle of creation. A vision, the belief, a direction, the tools, the effort to make it happen, the constant attention to details, the intensive labor, the results, the celebration or bringing the creation to the public awareness.

Yes, we did create, collectively, a new work of art for our country. It sounds, looks, feels and moves like the spirit of freedom and unity. We had to imagine it could happen and believe in the ability for it to manifest, which is what many people did, together.

Let this be a reminder that the process of creation is within us all as individuals or as a group.
Let’s make sure we create what we want, need and what is best for all.

CREATIVE WORRIES AND NO WORRIES

“Worry is like a rocking chair--it gives you something to do but it doesn't get you anywhere.” Glen Turner

In our every day desire to create we often get caught in the current of worries. It’s easy today to fall prey to such thinking with the collapse of the financial markets, elections, health care, world issues, finding jobs, paying for school for you or your child, and the list goes on.
So where do we find the time to create with all that noise in our heads?

If we are rocking away in our worries, it’s true; we are doing something but going nowhere. Why not invest that thinking into something that gives you a pay off at the end?

That’s right. Start creating. If you are an artist already than you know what that means. Get to work on that painting. How about worrying about what you are going to paint today or what colors you would like to use.
If you are a writer how about working on building those characters and let them do the worrying for you. A dance choreographer can be thinking about how to create some new steps for the dancers.


Worry ducks when purpose flies overhead. ~C. Astrid Webe

The African slaves had a way of dealing with their troubles. They created music and stories. In those stories they sang about their troubles so that they could release the pain and feel happiness. Those songs we now call “the blues”. People think that the blues give you the blues but as a matter of fact they were meant to help you get rid of your pain. These courageous people understood the deepest secret of dealing with worries in life – do something creative and expressive. So start singing your own song or one that helps you to express your inner worries and you will find that you feel much better when you are done.

If you are a musician, singer, or songwriter than grasp the moment of worry and write about it so that your “purpose” is to relieve your troubled mind. In doing so you may relieve someone else’s troubled mind too.

Worry is interest paid on trouble before it comes due. ~William Ralph Inge

So what about those of you who are worrying about your creativity or success in your creative career? How do you cope with those worries? Perhaps by becoming more interested in what you are creating than the outcome of your creation. Find the joy in doing the craft, taking the journey, and expressing who you are on the way. A reminder of why you have chosen this creative life is always a good place to start when you begin to feel the pressures of commerce and recognition in your work. Let things progress instead of pushing and take time to imagine the life you want to lead through your art. An important thing to remember is that life changes and changes you. So stay tuned in to how you feel each day so that you are not living out fears of the past or future.

My mom always says to me, “if you wait one more day something might change”. I always think about that when I start to feel worried. Every day does hold the promise of a new beginning, a new opportunity and a new direction.


I leave you with this thought:


I keep the telephone of my mind open to peace, harmony, health, love and abundance. Then, whenever doubt, anxiety or fears try to call me, they keep getting a busy signal - and soon they'll forget my number. ~Edith Armstrong

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO IMAGINATION?

Einstein was quoted as saying “Imagination is more important than knowledge” but could it be that imagination IS knowledge? It is always the inventor, the idea person, the entrepreneur, and the artist on the edge that seems to carry us into the future. Without the imaginative spirit we cannot progress or evolve and it is quite possibly that lack of spirit that is challenging us as Americans to re-imagine ourselves. This could be one of the most exciting times for creativity because we have so much to create!

I’ve listened to the negativity predicted by the pundits and fear mongers and I say we should all start painting, singing, dancing, writing, playing and imagining a better future on this planet. Yes, I am an idealist at heart because when I see the amazing and beautiful things that people create I am encouraged to believe that we can accomplish great things together.

But these things can never happen without a healthy dose of imagination and the ability to allow ourselves to embrace our creative passions. Don’t think for a minute that your desire to take that photograph of the sunset isn’t as important as doing your job. Allowing yourself to take that photograph helps you to do your job and to contribute to your role in society with a genuine connection to your world. If we deny our need to use our imagination we deny our life. Imagination can be as simple as cooking a meal and thinking “now I wonder what that would taste like if I added….” and then having the courage to try it, even if it doesn’t work out. You never know where it might lead you. Just as it took Edison many, many tries to invent the light bulb we should never give up on our imaginative ideas. It’s not about it working the first time; it’s about it working the last time.

So allow yourself to imagine doing something creative, living the life you want, sailing on the ocean, writing a book, singing for an audience, creating a new financial plan or whatever moves you. We need to access our imaginations on a daily basis so that we can be and stay inspired to live a life that is rich with meaning.

Find ways to use your own imagination instead of the visual bombardment you receive on a daily basis from TV, YouTube, games, DVD’s, etc. Try listening to some instrumental music and visualize what’s going on, listen to a recorded story and see if you can see the surroundings or characters, walk in nature and hear the birds and invent a new world, or just sit in silence and envision your own environment. When we know we can access our imagination it gives us a sense of confidence in helping us to create our universe and add our own unique vision to our world. Find your imagination and use it every day.

Creating Change

With the elections quickly moving closer there has been much talk about change. Changing the way we do business in Washington, changing the way we approach our energy dependence, changing the way we handle our finances, and changing the patterns of the past that no longer serve our voyage into the 21st century.
Artists (musicians, painters, dancers, writers, actors, etc) have always had a reputation for being at the forefront of change. In fact they often have been accused of being catalysts for changes in our society. With that in mind, it occurred to me how important our creativity is in times of change. Whether we have inspired, caused or encouraged change in one way or another we continue that creative mindset as we move into transforming times.
So if you are feeling overwhelmed during these “uncertain times” then you might find comfort in the idea that your contributions through your creative works might be part of the solution to our global problems. “What?” you are probably saying to yourself, “my painting, my poem, my song is a solution? How can that be?”
Well, by each of us continuing to allow our imaginations and instincts to create new concepts we may be lighting a match to create the fire of inspiration beneath a new generation of leaders, business and community workers. When we allow ourselves to stay on purpose with our creative endeavors with a sincere interest in the process we are connecting in a most profound way with the world in a spirit of change.

Yesterday I read that the brilliant actor, activist, and humanitarian Paul Newman passed away at the age of 83. His donations and services to many charities were applauded by the world. Through his ability to dig deep inside and use his creative gifts as an actor he left us with a catalog of memorable films. These were the same creative gifts he used to develop his food products that allowed him to give millions to charities and to even create his own special charities including the Hole In The Wall Gang Camp that helps children with severe illness. Please check out this link to read about his legacy: http://www4.holeinthewallgang.org/tribute5.asp.
We must never forget the tremendous value our creativity serves not only to ourselves but also to others. Whenever you doubt whether you should finish that painting, publish that book, record that song, dance in that concert, or read your poem at a local café please keep in mind that you never know how your creativity will effect others or help to create some needed change in our lives.
I honor our fellow creative beings, like Paul Newman, who instinctively understood the depth of their creativity.

Creating In Uncertain Times

Earlier this week I was walking late at night and was left quite breathless by the site of a stunning moon, huge in size and shining like a beacon on everything in its site. How could something so amazing and beautiful be happening at such a tumultuous time in my life?

Just last weekend another devastating hurricane, an election year (that seems like the contemporary version of the civil war) and then the sudden collapse of significant financial institutions. These are important situations that require our attention and some serious soul searching about our lives.

So how does one create during such “uncertain times”?

I believe this is the time for all of us to become more creative than ever. As our old creations destruct we are required to replace them with new and better models for the future. The cycle of creativity involves destruction as we cannot create something new until we have finished the old creation in some capacity; sold the painting, deleted the recording to write a new song, tore up the pages or simply filed them away, cut the old fabric to make a new outfit, tore down the old house to build our dream house and on and on.

Maybe our environmental crisis is here to teach us something about our creativity… create and then destroy or recycle. How many times have you found an old chapter of a book you started and wrote a new one, lines of old poems to create new ones, part of a melody and wrote the song you really wanted.

I believe we have an incredible opportunity to be creative during these difficult times and to find deeper purpose in our lives.

And we can be creative in so many ways, not just our “art” work. Try a creative financial plan, a business that supports the changing environment, inventive ways to deal with people in your life or a unique perspective on the world. We needn’t get caught up in the old quagmire of thinking when we can direct our thoughts to the possibilities of what we can NOW create.

And yes, it might feel uncomfortable, unfamiliar for sure and we might even have to work together to make this happen. We may have to learn new communication skills and ways of dealing with a new set of problems. So what? (As if the human beings before us never coped with these challenges). We are up for the task and we must look to our imagination, intuition, and a strong sense of courage to help us with our own personal and collective mission.

As for the “artists’ in our society it seems to me some of the best art work: music, dance, theater, poetry, paintings, sculpture. books, etc. came out of the struggles of man. Art has always signified the pulse of truth, struggles of mankind, and the heart of our culture. We couldn’t have a better time to be digging deep beneath the surface to find the precious metals of our existence.

This is the time to create, be creative or explore your creativity. Participate in your community and the society at large by offering your creative ideas and solutions. Let’s all act like that beautiful and amazing moon that keeps shinning in the dark.

There is no better time than now.

You Are Creative

Creativity is our birth rite. 

  

The first step of our journey started with the ultimate creative and sacred act and we are the result.   

Everyday you see creation in motion through nature or the choices we make in our lives.   Children play by using their imaginations to create something fun while we create our careers, opportunities and countless other "creations".  

There seems to be a hidden or visible passion in each of us to find purpose and expression in our lives.  Part of that expression comes in a variety of forms; a book, a song, a dance, a poem, a painting, a great meal, home made crafts, fixing up a car, a business idea, planning a party, and numerous other ways.   

More than ever in this lifetime we are searching for creative solutions and ways to make our lives more meaningful.   

This blog is to remind all of us that "we are creative" and we need to allow ourselves to dig deep inside ourselves to discover who we are and what our lives mean to us.   In that journey we find truth, beauty, and the peace of mind that comes from what I call a healthy dose of inner struggle.    

The act of creation has it's fair share of discomfort before the birth of a miracle. 

  

Learning to relax in the process is the mastery of the art and sometimes the best part of the journey.   

Think about what you want to create in your life today and make one step in that direction, for yourself and for the world.