Inspired

I've been reading a lot of blog posts lately that have really fueled my desire to be creative. Not just in a crafty way (though clearly, I've been doing more of that too...see pillow cases below) but in all ways. I've been thinking about my writing and how I've let it slide. I've been thinking about my other skills and talents that I haven't given much attention to in a while, and I miss the thrill of playing a piano piece flawlessly and the satisfaction of finding the right word to express myself.

One of the posts in particular talked about creation as a part of healing: "Creativity and its power to heal resides in each of us--we each have different time, talent and financial constraints, but with a bit of soul searching, everyone can find a healing art."

The more I've thought about that, the more it has resonated with me. Creativity, or rather, the power of creation, can be a constant in both tough times and good times. Creativity is our innermost expression of beauty and love and order and emotion, and to find a way of expressing ourselves when emotions are at their deepest is infinitely valuable.

Lately I've just been inspired by everything. Not just blog posts and submissions at work, but also the way the sun and clouds shape the mountains when I drive to work every morning, and the memory of first falling in love with my husband. Strangely, or perhaps not so strangely, I've been itching to redecorate or rearrange my house. I have never before considered it "creative," but I think that homemaking, however outdated that term may be, can be a form of creativity. I think it might be one of my own creative outlets, my way of creating daily beauty. And what I've noticed is that I am a better, happier, more giving person when I have created something, whether it is a clean kitchen or a row of quilt squares or a blog post. In giving part of myself, I am fulfilled.

One more quote to end with:

"I am reminded in a world of force and power that some of the greatest power lies in the simple beautiful acts of creation. There is something in the visual buzz of colors on canvas, the exalting crescendos of music, the rhythmic word cadence of a poem, the captivating narrative of a book, the embodiment of an experience in a play or a film that seems to dance in our consciousness. Art is personal if it touches our spirit in a unique way. It lifts us, exalts, makes us feel the depth and measure of our experience. I believe in God because of the testaments of great art created by man....The arts have a way of stilling or enlivening our souls, in resonating with our humanity and divinity. They serve as companions through the experiences of our lives."

Amen and amen.

What I'm learning in school these days

The school year has gone better for me since Christmas break, at least for the most part. Yes, at least one day has started with a sobbing child and more than one day has ended with small children running in circles and screaming while I asked/begged/pleaded/threatened for them to stop (without effect, I might add). But overall, I haven't completely lost my patience, and that was my main goal. I'm getting better at handling the "problem" children and I have even been able to laugh at their silly antics once or twice.

I've been thinking a lot in the last week about what I'm learning from this experience, and while I still feel like I'm primarily learning to have patience and love small children, I'm started to learn something else too.

I have several good friends who are having babies in the next few months (all due in March, strangely enough) and I'm watching the babies that were born last year grow up. My best friend Natalie's daughter just celebrated her 2nd birthday and my nieces will be eight months old and six months old in February. I'm surrounded by babies and toddlers, but only in the last week has it dawned on me that one day, my own babies and toddlers will become children. And I will have no control over them.

I used to think it was a parent's responsibility to keep his or her child in line, especially in public places, or to deal with the behavioral problems that crop up at school. But I'm realizing that even the best parents who do everything right still have crazy, out-of-control kids: boys who just can't sit still, girls who just can't stop talking, children who for whatever reason, won't listen or follow directions. And when I'm a parent, there's not a whole lot I can do if slash when I have those kids.

Maybe being a teacher has overemphasized the helplessness of adults against children in my mind, but to some extent it's true. When they are as young as two years old, kids assert their own opinions, and as a parent, it will be my job to try to help them choose the right things without becoming the enemy. What if I am? What do I do then? I have no idea, and frankly, the prospect of having to parent a child who won't listen is terrifying. I have a feeling I won't be quite so pessimistic next week, but I am glad that the shock of realizing that babies grow up hit me now and not when my own babies are running in circles and telling me no.

Crafty-ness

Confession: I'm not a crafty person. I work for a publishing company that produces six scrapbooking/card/jewelry/crafting magazines, I write the text for five of them, and yet, I do not consider myself a crafty person. Part of it is the lack of resources; even if I wanted to scrapbook my photos, I don't have the tools I need to make it look nice. But I admit that the larger part of it is that most of the time, I lack the patience. I like to get things done, and if I don't know what I'm doing, my creative energy tires out fairly quickly.

That being said, I do like projects. I really do. I like having something to work on over a longish period of time, goals to mark off, a sense of creative accomplishment. So, with that introduction, I have pictures of my first (successful) crafty project, made with my new sewing machine from Christmas!

Exhibit A: One of the ugly throw pillow that came with our couch


Exhibit B: One of the pretty pillowcases I made (it took me only three tries to get it perfect)


Exhibit C: My couch with my pretty pillows


Ta-da! It's so silly, but I am proud of my pillowcases. This is the first thing I've made with my sewing machine and it turned out pretty darn good. Next challenge: finding something to do with all the leftover material...

Word(s) of the Day, Part 3

I'm not even kidding, these are the words that showed up in my email from the last seven days:

mansuetude \MAN-swi-tood\, noun:
Mildness; gentleness.

autoschediastical \aw-toh-SKEE-dee-az-tik-uhl\, adjective:
Something improvised or extemporized.

lickerish \LIK-er-ish\, adjective:
1. Fond of and eager for choice food.
2. Greedy; longing.
3. Lustful; lecherous.
So now when people say they like licorice, you can be all smart (aleck) and ask if they are referring to the candy or if they enjoy being greedy and/or lecherous. I bet it wins you points...maybe not.

byzantine \BIZ-uhn-teen\, adjective:
1. Complex or intricate.
2. Characterized by elaborate scheming and intrigue, esp. for the gaining of political power or favor.
3. Of or pertaining to the Byzantine Empire.

sockdolager \sok-DOL-uh-jer\, noun:
1. A decisive reply, argument.
2. Something unusually large, heavy, etc.
3. A heavy, finishing blow.

katzenjammer \KAT-suhn-jam-er\, noun:
1. The discomfort and illness experienced as the aftereffects of excessive drinking; hangover.
2. Uneasiness; anguish; distress.
3. Uproar; clamor.
The next time you are offered an alcoholic beverage, just tell them you're trying to avoid having a katzenjammer. They will be so confused they won't press the point.

chatoyant \shuh-TOI-uhnt\, adjective:
1. Having changeable lustre; twinkling.
2. (Of a gem, esp a cabochon) displaying a band of light reflected off inclusions of other minerals.

Between those six words, we are only missing six letters of the alphabet. That's impressive. And slightly ridiculous.

Here are some similarly impressive (and unpronouncable) words (and yes, I picked them for their unpronounceableness):

Hogmanay \hog-muh-NEY\, noun:
1. a gift given on New Year's Eve.
2. (proper noun) New Year's Eve in Scotland.
If I'd known about this word, I would have given lots of hogmanays (hogmanaies?) this year. As it is, I shall just have to expect some next year now that you all know there is a word for it.

gambrinus \gam-BRAHY-nuhs\, noun:
A mythical Flemish king, the reputed inventor of beer.
And consequently very widely worshipped.

eschatological \es-kuh-tl-OJ-i-kuhl\, adjective:
1. Regarding last, or final, matters, often of a theological nature.
2. Regarding any system of doctrines concerning theological endings, such as death, the Judgment, the future state, etc.
Why don't we hear this word more often in church? That's what I want to know.

eleemosynary \el-uh-MOS-uh-ner-ee\, adjective:
1. Of or for charity; charitable; as, "an eleemosynary institution."
2. Given in charity; having the nature of alms; as, "eleemosynary assistance."
3. Supported by or dependent on charity; as, "the eleemosynary poor."

lagniappe \LAN-yap\, noun:
1. A small gift given with a purchase to a customer, for good measure.
2. A gratuity or tip.
3. An unexpected or indirect benefit.
I would like a lagniappe, please.

horripilate \haw-RIP-uh-leyt\, verb:
To produce a bristling of the hair on the skin from cold, fear, etc.; goose flesh.
Doesn't this word make you horripilate? Wow, that just sounds wrong...

consanguineous \kon-san(g)-GWIN-ee-us\, adjective:
Of the same blood; related by birth; descended from the same parent or ancestor.

What better way to start the year than with a list of words no one has ever heard of and which you probably won't be able to pronounce? Gotta love the English language.

2011 in Anticipation

It's a week into the new year and my "resolutions" have not completely fallen apart. Success! I'm taking things week by week, and I've got a written list on the wall in my bedroom to help me remember what it is I've committed myself to doing this year. In a similar vein, I'm writing some of them here so I have some kind of accountability to myself, if nothing else.

Resolutions (or "Lifestyle Changes", as I prefer to call them):
1. Stick to a schedule for going to bed. We had one once, but it got discarded a while ago. No more! Early bedtime from now on!

2. Exercise. I know, every person on the planet makes some kind of exercise resolution in January, but mine is easy. Three times a week, some kind of exercise for 30 minutes. No big deal. I can totally do that.

3. No sugar. Okay, not entirely. I am allowing myself one dessert a week, but no candy/ice cream/sugary treats in the middle.

4. Read one book a month. I decided only one because I haven't actually read anything for several months, and I didn't want to overwhelm myself with a book a week because that's the quickest way to break a resolution.

5. Post on this blog at least 6 times a month and post on my creative writing blog once a week. I need to jump start my creative writing skills, because they are fading and that is tragic. And pathetic.

6. Get published! And the only way to do that is to start getting rejected, so I'm resetting my goal of getting 100 rejections this year. (I only got two last year...but I got one acceptance too, so maybe that's okay?)

7. End the school year with some patience left. That's really the only realistic goal I have for that.

In summary, I just want to stop doing the things that make me unhealthy (not sleeping, not exercising, eating sugar) and do more of the things that make me a spiritually/intellectually/creatively happier person. It seems like a good plan. And I've discovered that having goals, however small, really motivates me to do more each day. Let's hope I can keep it up!

P.S. I also made a goal to stay in touch with people more, so if you get a phone call from me, don't be alarmed, I just want to chat. :)

2010 in Review

10 things that happened in 2010:

1. Tim and I were together every single day. We met halfway through 2008 and spent half of 2009 miles apart, so this is extremely noteworthy.

2. My cousin Nigel was killed in March while fighting in Afghanistan. His sacrifice has changed so much for me and my family since then.

3. I finished my thesis and I graduated! In May, I got to go to Pittsburgh with my husband and parents, show them around, see old friends, watch the LOST finale, and proudly receive my diploma.

4. Tim and I went to California twice, once for Valentine's Day, and once for the 4th of July and my niece's baby blessing.

5. I became an aunt twice over! Addison was born in June, and Gracie was born on my birthday in August.

6. Hotel Herrick had quite a bit of business, particularly in August, when we had ten adults and three babies living here for two weeks. We probably won't ever have that much business again (cross your fingers).

7. My sister went to Nepal, had some amazing experiences, and had her appendix taken out. She came home and got married three months later.

8. My brother worked as a wildland firefighter all summer to earn money for his mission. He got his mission call, went on his mission, and came home again for medical reasons. Very busy year for him.

9. Tim passed his math class!!! Best day ever!!!

10. Tim and I both took a leap of faith and quit our not-so-good jobs in June and July. Two months later, we were both incredibly blessed to find not only good jobs, but jobs where we feel valued and appreciated, and where we get to work with people we like and respect. Our quality of life has increased dramatically since then.

2010 was a crazy year. There were babies being born, important life events taking place, unemployment, classes, more treatments and illnesses, missions, weddings, time spent in the temple, and lots of growth and learning. I almost hope that 2011 is more calm, but I have a feeling that it is going to challenge me in new and unexpected ways. I say, bring it on. Today, at least, I'm ready.