Creativity and discovery
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What will you be for Halloween?
“I knew who I was this morning, but I’ve changed my mind a few times since then.” ~Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland Even before October rolls around, some of us are already plotting our Halloween costumes. Ever since I was a kid, the idea of “dressing in disguise” has always intrigued me. Some psychotherapists suggest that the masks or costumes you choose — no matter how old you are — might offer clues to your personality, goals, and dreams. In any event, they’re also a wonderful way to express your creativity. To read a short newspaper essay I wrote on this topic, please click here.
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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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The keys to discovery
“When one door closes, another door opens; but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us.” ~Alexander Graham Bell Have you ever been so stuck on a frustrating problem or project that you missed a few good opportunities in the meantime? Sometimes we have to accept the fact that something isn’t working — whether it’s a product that isn’t right for us, a career we’ve outgrown, or a dead-end relationship. Giving up on something after you’ve given it your best effort doesn’t always mean you’ve failed. As today’s quote reminds us, great inventors like…
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Do clothes matter?
“Fashion is the armor to survive the reality of everyday life.” —Bill Cunningham, American fashion photographer Writing about Greta Gerwig’s Barbie last week,* I jokingly credited Mattel’s Barbie dolls for fueling my interest in clothing and accessories. But that wasn’t far from my truth. I’ve learned over the years that it takes as much effort to throw on an old T-shirt as it does to throw on a beautiful top. I believe the whole idea of “dressing down” — to appear as if you’re not trying too hard — can make as much of a statement as dressing to impress. Consider the fact that some people are willing to pay…
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Throwback Thursday: “Make music of what you can”
Good morning, friends! Today I’m re-posting an old favorite for new subscribers… I always knew I wanted to be a writer. When I was a kid, I perched in the gnarly apple tree in my backyard and scribbled stories in a notebook with lined pages. In college I majored in English and journalism, but it took a few more years to find the courage (and the income) I needed to begin a real writing career. The zig-zag path that led me here was marked with detours and littered with excuses. After graduation, I worked at other jobs where I learned some valuable lessons — including what I didn’t…
