20 Minute Brain Dump

Brain dumps are as random
as this photo!

I didn't blog yesterday. Instead, I spent my writing time with my 89-year-old Auntie who is a joy to be around. She's the most positive person I know!

Today, during my blogging time, I decided to join my husband and walk our little man to school.

It doesn't mean, however, that I haven't had a bazillion creative ideas bashing about in my head!

Each day, my goal is to encourage others to think creatively, explore their creativity and unleash that creativity on the world.

So today I'm doing something that is part "Morning Pages" and part "talk to the wall" exercise. Basically it comes down to the same thing, dump out what's in your brain -either verbally or on paper or on computer- and see what "sticks". See what creative ideas might work. What might stick and then just letting go of the rest. Quantity NOT quality is the goal of this exercise.

As an example, here's my dump:

Tried to write a post on "rules" yesterday in the afternoon. I hated it so I dumped it. But, I did love the Pee Wee clip I added, so I'll put it here. 

I wonder what would happen if no one shopped on Thanksgiving or black Friday? Wouldn't the stores just have to make those sales on a different day? I worked 7 Thanksgivings (and Christmases) in a row when I performed at DisneyWorld and it was weird at first, I enjoyed being a special part of other people's holiday celebrations. Stores aren't creating special family moments. Stores are just trying to get us to spend money on stuff we probably don't need. I am closing my Macy's card account. I won't be shopping at Kohl's, JCP, Wal-mart or Target. After I made that decision, I went to my locally run drugstore and bought all the stuff I needed like TP, etc for less than I would've paid at Target. Kind of a lovely little, "it'll be okay" reminder. I lived without those stores before and I can live without them now. AND I saved money on gas. I'll have to get creative but I think that cutting those stores out of my life might actually be fun and freeing.

Maybe the key to getting rid of "sexy" costumes for females is to teach our sons to NOT react or give attention to women dressed that way.  On a separate note, the husband is planning a backlash on the sexy trend. He's going as a beer keg and plans to wear short-shorts with it. To be a sexy beer keg. I love my husband.

Debra Trappen of d11 consulting was right (and I knew she would be). She challenged me to get more involved with LinkedIn groups. I did. I started a conversation and some lovely people responded with some great things. It all happened faster than I expected. I love community. I love people who are smarter than I am and share their wisdom.

Times up. The little man is home from his 1/2 day at school. Yesterday, he built a car out of a cardboard box. He's been driving around the house from room to room. Kids are the best creative idea generators out there.

Now, you try! Do a brain dump. No filter. Just write what's on your mind. Doesn't even have to make sense!

You're the Inspiration

Last week, I wrote about getting physical and moving to PRODUCE something creative. But what about getting that first SPARK?

That first INSPIRATION??

That takes something different. In my world, that takes purposeful seeking.

Chicago (the band, not the city) once sang:  . . . you're the meaning in my life/ you're the inspiration/ you bring feeling to my life/ you're the inspiration

It must be GREAT to have a muse in your life that inspires everything but, just like a lot of other rock n' roll lies . . . YOU have to inspire YOURSELF! I find that the act of inspiration is just being OPEN to what is all around me.

On days when I feel like I need to jump-start my inspiration I find it by:

1. listening to a new radio station;
2. reading the newspaper, magazine or a favorite blog;
3. taking a walk;
4. doing my morning pages; 
5. playing with my kids;
6. watching a TV show I've never seen;
7. scanning through Twitter, Pinterest or Facebook;
8. grabbing my camera and going around the house or outside and taking photos;
9. looking through my old photo albums;
10. browsing the stacks at the local library.

Where do you find inspiration?

If you are waiting for it to come to YOU,  you'll never find it. You have to go out and LOOK for it!! 

How do you FIND inspiration?

THIS grad student might inspire you to do something amazing like his take-off on Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody . . .

I Read the News Today

Most days, I rise, do my morning pages -then I read the newspaper. I live in the Pacific NW. In addition to the national news of the most recent shooting spree by a mentally ill man there were local stories of:

• A mentally ill man who randomly stabbed and killed a man and injured the man's girlfriend;
• A mentally ill, high on drugs, man who stole a boat and rammed it into other boats, causing damage and nearly injuring a couple on their live-aboard boat (luckily he was stopped in time);
• A mentally ill, high on drugs, "bored" man who -after fighting with his wife, got into HER car and caused a fiery crash that killed a 22-year old.

On days like this, it is hard for me to let go of that sadness and step out into CREATIVITY.

But, I know that I cannot give in to the sadness. I cannot let sadness and evil (yes, I said evil) take over. 

I need to keep CREATIVE. I need to ENCOURAGE others to be creative. I need to make a POSITIVE difference in the world. So, I keep going. I keep on MY path and do what I do BEST which is CREATE and ENCOURAGE others to create as well. 

So, my friends, today, I choose to walk in CREATIVE altruism . . . I urge you to continue doing what YOU do best.

What do YOU choose? How do you COPE?