Art & Creativity
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The right note
“If you hit a wrong note, it’s the next note that you play that determines if it’s good or bad.” ~Miles Davis The arts have so many lessons to teach us, which is why I’ve always been grateful for my liberal arts education. Whether you study literature, philosophy, or art history, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of human nature that will serve you in countless ways throughout your life. Along these lines, if you’ve ever taken art or music lessons, you know that practicing the craft is the only way to master it. As Miles Davis reminds us in today’s quote, a wrong note — or a misstep — is…
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Different gifts
“We all have different gifts, so we all have different ways of saying to the world who we are.” ~Fred Rogers Some people enjoy standing out in a crowd. Others are more comfortable blending into the background. Some people express their love through cooking and serving meals, while others declare their feelings in heartfelt letters. Still others express themselves through photographs, fashion, pottery, needlework, or watercolor paintings. As Mister Rogers reminds us, everyone has “different gifts” that show who they are. Just for fun, make a list of your own gifts and those of the people in your life. ~CL
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Keep moving
“If you can’t do what you long to do, go do something else. You might think it’s procrastination, but it isn’t; it’s motion. And any motion whatsoever beats inertia, because inspiration will always be drawn to motion.” ~Elizabeth Gilbert Sometimes I take breaks from my writing projects — when I don’t have the energy, or I simply have nothing to say. If I have a work deadline, that’s another story: I push myself and get it done. But after all these years, I’ve learned not to panic when inspiration packs up and leaves my home office. As author Elizabeth Gilbert reminds us today, motion fuels creativity and productivity. When you’re…
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Just do it
“Don’t think about making art, just get it done. Let everyone else decide if it’s good or bad, whether they love it or hate it. While they are deciding, make even more art.” ~Andy Warhol I’ve always believed that artists are truly courageous people. When it comes to expressing creativity, fear is usually what stops other people in their tracks — not lack of talent. Fear of failure … Fear of looking foolish … Fear of being misjudged. Everyone who is reading this post has a creative gift to share or express. If you can quiet the fearful inner voices that discourage you, you’ll start to paint, write, play music,…
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Germinating
“During the times we think we’re being ‘unproductive,’ the seeds of new worlds are germinating within us, and they need peace to grow.” ~Martha Beck Somewhere along the line, I bought into the notion that I need to be working on something 24/7. I feel like a slacker if I’m not writing an article, teaching classes, organizing my home, digging in the yard, or otherwise being productive. You too? We live in a culture that celebrates busyness — so it’s not surprising that most of us are ashamed to admit that we need some time off. We’re afraid to be still. Or maybe we’re afraid that we’ll lose momentum. Today,…
