creativity

Poem for Today ~ Pirate Story

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Pirate Story

Robert Louis Stevenson

Three of us afloat in the meadow by the swing,   
  Three of us aboard in the basket on the lea.   
Winds are in the air, they are blowing in the spring,   
  And waves are on the meadow like the waves there are at sea.   
   
Where shall we adventure, to-day that we’re afloat,
  Wary of the weather and steering by a star?   
Shall it be to Africa, a-steering of the boat,   
  To Providence, or Babylon, or off to Malabar?   
   
Hi! but here’s a squadron a-rowing on the sea—   
  Cattle on the meadow a-charging with a roar!
Quick, and we’ll escape them, they’re as mad as they can be,   
  The wicket is the harbour and the garden is the shore.

Source

Thinking Out Loud ~ Are You Following the Herd?

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In his work, Self Reliance, Ralph Waldo Emerson writes, “Is it so bad, then, to be misunderstood? Pythagoras was misunderstood, and Socrates, and Jesus, and Luther, and Copernicus, and Galileo, and Newton, and every pure and wise spirit that ever took flesh. To be great is to be misunderstood.” Pps. 122-123

NOTE: The great herd tries its best to conform and make sure what it says conforms to what the herd wants it to say. Researchers point out that the greatest ideas and innovations come from the edges. They come from people who do not conform to the herd but intuitively listen to a different voice. If you’re feeling an internal conflict, it may be time to think about leaving the herd mentality and walking to edge.

Thinking Out Loud ~ It Takes Practice, Practice, Practice

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Joseph Campbell speaks of the creative act in Reflections on the Art of Living. He says, “The creative act is not hanging on, but yielding to new creative movements. Think, for instance, if someone is studying the piano. There is nothing worse than having somebody in the neighborhood, studying the piano, practicing their exercises. There is nothing at all beautiful about them. Their function is to give you facility, and presently there comes a point when you have the facility, It happens automatically, and you do not have to think this is true for everything. The one who attempts to be an artist and has not learned the craft is never going to be an artist. P. 262

Note: I read a book where the author says it takes 10,000 hours of practice to master a skill. That’s why there are so few great ones. There is the joke where a reporter asks a virtuoso how they got to Carnegie Hall. The virtuoso replies, “practice, practice, practice.” It’s true in all areas of life. Do you want to be a good friend, parent, husband, or wife? Practice, practice, practice. And, one day it will happen, and you will not even realize it is happening,

Positive Thought of the Day ~ What Will You Create Today?

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Yesterday is gone, it’s history. Tomorrow will come with  the dawn. Today is where we’re at. We have a choice of being the creator of our present moment, or, dallying in the fantasy of yesterday or tomorrow. What we do today shapes what we will find tomorrow. It’s up to us to create the kind of day we desire. C’mon show your creative chops. 

Inspiring Quote for today ~ Unleash Your Creative Spirit

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“There is a creative spirit in you desiring to be free, and you may as well get out of its way for it will give you no peace until you do.”

Mary Caroline Richards

Optimism Works ~ Want to Solve Problems?

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By believing that bad situations can improve, optimism motivates people to change those bad situations (e.g., to stick to health regimens and to seek health advice, and also to address life problems problems early on before they spiral out of control). By nipping problems in the bud before they become entrenched, optimists end up (on average) having to solve fewer difficult life problems than do pessimists.

Optimistic people look for solutions knowing they will find creative ways to approach problems. It’s a far better approach than pointing fingers and assigning blame. Choose to look at life’s challenges through an optimistic lens. You’ll discover more open doors and pathways to solutions.

Today’s Power Thought ~ It Takes Continuous Effort

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I like going to the gym. I like the feel of sweat and tired muscles after a workout. I know if I stop exercising my muscles will begin to atrophy. It’s the same way with our minds. If we stop using them, our minds lose their capacity to problem solve, engage in meaningful dialogues, or seek creative outlets. Everything worthwhile takes continuous effort. It all starts with a first step and followed by another step.

Something to Think About

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If you’re a poker player, you know you have to play the hand you’re dealt. You can discard a few cards and hope you catch a bit of luck with their replacements. We still have to play the cards in our hand. It’s that way with life. We have to play the hand we’re dealt. How we play the hand we’re dealt determines the direction of our lives. If the hand you’ve been dealt isn’t a good one, hang in there, the very next hand may be the big winner. 

Something to Think About

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There is much more that unites us than that which divides us. When we change our focus from that which divides to that which unites, our relationships are changed. We begin to see the deep connections between ourselves and others. We may believe differently, hold differing political perspectives, and have cultural differences, yet, these differences are minor compared to what unites us as human beings. Perhaps it is time to reject divisive calls that seek to divide us and demand calls that unite us. 

Something to Think About

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What is time to you? is it something that goes too fast? Is it something that drags? How do you use your time? Once a second goes by it is lost, it cannot be retrieved. Nor can we add time to what already exists. Time is equally distributed to all living beings. We each have 24 hours in a day. How we use our time is up to us. Use time wisely, what you do with your time is your legacy. 

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