Creativity

Today's thought from Hazelden is:

What we lack are not scientists but poets and people to reveal to the heart what the heart is ready to receive.
--Joseph Campbell


A short time ago, a friend handed me the following credo. It read:

This is the artist's dream:
To receive the inspiration to create,
To share that creation with others,
And to be totally supported in the process.

I asked him to explain further. "It all begins with inspiration," he said, "an inspiration that calls us to create. Once the inspiration is received, then we can bring that vision into the world as a song, painting, book, invention, new business - or any other tangible form.

"After the creation is born, it needs to be shared with others. No one creates in a vacuum. It is only when the vision is successfully communicated to its intended audience that it truly comes alive.

"Finally, the artist needs to be supported for what he does. If he has made a positive connection with his audience, the support will come - financially and emotionally. And while it may not always be there immediately, it will ultimately arrive. This is where the artist needs to trust and be patient."

This dream is not just the artist's dream. It is our dream as well. Through work or play, job or family, vocation or avocation, you can experience the joy of creating, sharing, and being acknowledged. Experience this creative process and you will never grow old in spirit. Have you ever known an artist or dreamer who "retired"?
From: Listening to Your Inner Voice by Douglas Bloch


There's a lot of truth in this.

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The electricty went off around 3:00 this morning. Want to know how I know? My bi-pap machine cut off and suddenly I had no air. Talk about a rude awakening!

I tried to go back to sleep with out the machine but couldn't. I wound up taking a luke warm bath about 4:00 and around 5:00 I got in the truck to see what the damage was. All around me lights were on. There were just a few homes that were without power. I drove across town to McDonald's for breakfast and when I got back my lights were on. The local radio station is off the air. I was hoping to hear that school was cancelled for today. So far Giles County is not on the list of closings.

When I got back I had to take the side panel off of the computer to turn it on. You might remember that the "on" button fell into the tower a few months back. Well, I was able to fish it out this morning but I have no idea how to put it back in. Oh, well, a screwdriver through the side works. I also never turn the computer off. I just restart.


Twelve hours later...

The snow came down and for a while it stuck to the roads. We thought we'd be sent home from school for sure but we weren't.

It was just another day of swimming amid isms for me today. Sometimes I get tired of trying to talk to the assistants in my classroom. It's frustrating. None of them had experience in a Special Education classroom until this year and, yet, they think they know more than I do. Now I may be wrong, and I often am, but I think that I might have some experience for them to learn from. I've only been teaching since January 1988 and I've taught every age group except infants. I also grew up with an autistic brother. But who am I to tell them anything?

I don't go off on them like I'm tempted to although one day I came very close to really giving it to Kim. I figure if they get enough rope they will eventually hang themselves.

A fellow Al-Anon member sends me these "just for fun" questionnaires from time to time. They're designed to get to know people better. I sent out the most recent one to a few people but only the paradox bothered to reply. Here are his smart ass answers. He got a few things right.


1. Where did we meet? Harbor House I think. (wrong- we actually met at the Betterway House after a speaker meeting.

2. Take a stab at my middle name: Anne (wrong again- my middle name is Fawn)

3. Do I smoke? No (correct!)

4. Color of my eyes: Hazel (wrong- they are baby blue)

5. Do I have any siblings? yes brother (correct!)

6. What's one of my favorite things to do? obsess (told you he was a smart ass)

7. What's my favorite type of music? popular (I will agree with that but I really lean toward 80's music)

8. Am I shy or outgoing? Both (correct, more or less)

9. Am I a rebel or do I follow the rules? Follow rules until rebellion (correct!)

10. Any special talents: scrapbooking (I will accept that one, although I was not aware that scrapbooking was a talent)

11. What am I most adamant about? Who is and isn't insane (another smart ass answer)

12. How many children do I have? None that I know of. (correct!)

13. Thought or memory when hearing my name: Fun trouble (shocking! I thought he'd say judgmental or crazy)

14. If you and I were stranded on a desert island, what is one thing that I would bring? typewriter (Now, really, if I were on a deserted island with the paradox I would not bring a typewriter. What would be the use with out paper to go with it? LOL)

The ironic thing is that he sent a blank one for me to fill out. Ha! I filled it out before I received his answers. Gotta love the smart ass!