Yes or No?

It is time again. 

Time to renew my subscription to a community of creatives I have participated in for the past several years. 

Honestly, I have been thinking about not renewing this time and saving the money. This thought causes me some angst, though. 

Time to get out my mental pan balance. 

Photo by Elena Mozhvilo on Unsplash

I weigh the cost against the benefits, the pros and the cons. 

The community is a part of my creative lifeline. Here is what I gain from being in this community:

• Friendship. I have made many friends in this community. Although I would likely remain connected to many of them outside of the community, I think that it would be less regular, and I like the weekly constancy the community provides.
• Inspiration. The brilliant, creative minds in this community inspire me. I am amazed by the things that they accomplish. Knowing people with such talent encourages and motivates me to explore my own creativity.
• Structure. It's so easy to allow life to intervene and find myself drifting away from the goals I have set for myself. The scheduled meeting times keep me accountable and on track. 
• Connection. These people get the struggle of creative work. They're in the midst of it, too. Also, they have a wealth of craft knowledge and the ins and outs of taking your craft out into the world. 

It is clear to me that the benefits far outweigh the cost. This community feeds my creative soul. 

I tuck away the mental pan balance. The answer is clear. With confidence and a couple of clicks on the computer, the renewal is complete and the confirmation email is in my inbox. My creative soul feels like all is right with the world.

Until next time,

Tracy

The (He)Art of Noticing

This past hot, sticky Sunday, my youngest granddaughter, my great niece (who is also my granddaughter's best friend), and my great nephew hung out at my house for a pool day. Towels and pool toys were gathered, sunscreen generously applied, and my husband ushered the three kiddos to the pool. I stayed behind a moment to clean up the strewn clothes, etc. when I noticed this on the window of the French doors leading out onto the patio:

Now honestly, my first thought was, "Ugh. That sunscreen is going to be a greasy mess to clean." But then I noticed the heart in the middle of the hand print, and I had to smile. 

My youngest granddaughter has a knack for unintentionally leaving behind hearts. For example, one day she dropped jelly on the floor while making a sandwich. I reached to clean it up and found this (It looks curiously like an elephant's head, too, don't you think?):

                                       

Another time when she was three, she was playing in potting soil as I repotted plants. When I finished my task, I started to sweep and found this:

She had no heart-shaped cookie cutters or stencils of any kind, and she was only three at the time, so her fine motor skills were not that sharp yet. She was just playing in the dirt and this happened. 

She has a knack for leaving behind heart-shaped messes. I find them a wonderful reminder of her visits and a source of awe. I am always left shaking my head and trying to figure out how she manages to leave behind so many hearts without any real awareness that she has done so. 

I also find these little heart-shaped mementos a great boost to my imagination. Ideas for fiction stories run rampant in my head for a while after finding them. 

By the way, in case you are wondering, the sunscreen handprint is still on my window. There will be time to wipe it away later. For now, it reminds me of the fun we had on Sunday and inspires creative thinking. Most of all, it encourages me to slow down and enjoy all of our moments together. Time speeds by much too quickly and my littles will only be small for a short while. 

There is plenty of time to clean. For now, I will enjoy the view.

Until next time,

Tracy

Reading and Writing Magic

I stare at the page. Nothing. No new words. Anxiety builds inside of me as I watch the clock. Time is short. My writing goal will be unmet on this particular morning. With a sigh, I consider my three choices: 

1. continue to stare at the screen a few minutes more and increase my frustration,
2. forget it and switch my thinking to work-related matters and live with my frustration, or
3. open the Libby app on my phone and listen to my latest fiction read as I begin my other work for the day. 

I decide to turn on the Libby app and let the magic of another time and place wash away my frustrations and provide a boost of inspiration.

Reading or listening to books (especially fiction) rejuvenates my creative thinking and writing in ways that nothing else does.  I notice craft moves, unique author voices, and how the words make me feel. I get lost in the story, for sure, but as a writer, I find myself thinking about why I am getting lost in the story. It's a delightful way to reset my brain and think about my writing in new ways. 

The next morning I face the blank page once again. Only this time, I see it through different eyes. The frustration is gone and the words begin to flow. 

Reading is so much more than a functional skill. It's pure magic.

Until next time,

Tracy

A 17-Year Wonder

The screeching noises that had surrounded the yard all day began to quiet. The sun sank low in the west and beautiful pinks, oranges, and mauves repainted the light blue sky. My husband and I knew we would need to look quickly to find what we sought before darkness made it impossible. 

We didn't need to look far. They became immediately visible on nearly every surface. Empty cicada shells. They were on fence posts, the swimming pool, iris leaves, the sides of the house and garage, and most of all, the trees. The trees were loaded. We had to walk with care as there were many in clusters on the ground. 

A walk out to the maple tree on the southeast corner of our property revealed even greater wonders. Cicadas walked up the tree to shed their shells and some waited patiently to harden off so they can fly, mate, and set the stage for the next emergence in 2038. We watched in fascination until nightfall made it impossible to continue. 

We left them in peace to continue their mission.

Nature inspires such curiosity and imagination.

If you want to know more about the 17-year cicadas, you can learn about them here.

Until next time,

Tracy

Inspired Reflection

In an instant

-worlds turn upside down

-priorities change

-some things become more important

-some things no longer matter at all

-vision sharpens

-clouds part

-truth is revealed

Love.

Love is what matters. All else falls away.

In the past few weeks, many things have changed in the lives of some of my relatives and friends. Some received life changing medical diagnoses while others decided to close long-running chapters in their lives and begin new stories. The pebbles that dropped into their lives are creating ripples that touch all of the lives close to them. 

Like a river, realities change course. It may be by force or by choice. It can be bittersweet or completely heart wrenching. Change inspires an examination of life: priorities, goals, what has been, and what can be. It is a reflective experience.

I send much love and good thoughts to all of the relatives and friends going through life changes right now. Your strength and courage inspire those around you and give all of us a reason to pause and put things in order in our own lives. You are strong, you are brave, you are loved. 

Until next time,

Tracy

Students as Teachers

Artful risktakers, joyful creators, confident collaborators...These are all words that describe the students I teach.

When I feel inspiration waning, I step back and watch my students tackle their own projects. They impress me with their ability to let go of the worries and concerns that often plague me. 

They simply create and enjoy the process. 

The act of creating empowers them and grows their confidence.  

My fifth graders are currently designing ceiling tiles as part of a legacy project for the school. They know that these tiles will be on display for everyone to see. 

If I were creating a design for a tile, I would feel incredibly anxious. I would worry over every little detail and try to make sure it is all perfect. I would think about how others would judge it. By the time it was all finished, I would be absolutely exhausted and glad it was over. 

Not my awesome students. They create their designs with confidence. After all, they know everyone will love it.

They proudly show me their drafts and go to work transferring their designs to the tiles. Then they choose their paints and brushes and set to work creating.  

The energy in my classroom is exhilarating. With awe, I watch them work their magic.

Their projects are not finished. Each day they add a little more detail to them, and each day I am amazed and inspired by their creativity and the way they freely share it.

On days like these, I think that I am the student and they are the teachers. How lucky am I to have such great teachers?

May all adults be inspired to create with the freedom and joy of children.

Until next time,

Tracy

Lilac Memories

Lilac conjures such fond memories for me. My grandmother used to wear a lilac-scented perfume. She would dab some behind her ears every time we prepared to go somewhere. I loved that scent. Before she put the cap back on, she would dab a teeny bit behind each of my ears, too. I felt so grown up!

She also had a beautiful lilac bush in her backyard. It was beside the walkway leading into the back door. You couldn't go into the house in the spring without inhaling its delightful fragrance.

No matter where I have lived as an adult, I always have had at least one lilac growing nearby.

The annual memories evoked by this fleeting fragrance usually inspire a notebook entry about my grandmother. Sometimes that entry takes the shape of a specific memory, the summary of a future storyline in which the character is like my grandmother, or a letter to my grandmother. 

Currently, I am learning more about the generations of women who shaped my grandmother. It is a fascinating study. A story about these strong, amazing women is starting to take shape inside of me. It's time to record their voices, even if it is only for me.

What scents inspire you to create?

Until next time,

Tracy