Brian Dettmer.. and how to view his brilliance and be kind to your creative soul.

Sometimes I’m wowed beyond wow… and the sculptured altered books of Brian Dettmer are in that category. A video link is below plus a link of ‘still’ images so you can take in the detail.

But before you sneak off there, know this:

If you are a creative being arriving here because maybe you searched altered books and have been considering taking up that fine craft… Breath.

When you get there and one part of you is in awe, but the other part- the inner critic -starts blabbering stuff like: “you’re not good enough”  “If you can’t do this perfectly, don’t even start”  “oh man, I suck big time” and you feel your enthusiasm and energy start to dwindle, DO THIS:

1. Know that you are normal for a creative person.

2. Showing up to your creativity IS the important part… you’re being called to show up. What evolves is your journey – nobody elses… because you are a unique creative being. (read number 4 on how to show up)

3. It’s okay if you don’t become a Brian Dettmer overnight. In fact, you don’t really want to become a Brian Dettmer.  Being you is your ideal. What that looks like in your creative expression might still be an unknown.  And that’s okay.

4. And if it’s altered books you want to experiment with, get out the razor knife and any old book and start cutting.  Give yourself permission to create something ‘small and crappy.’ (KMCC tool) This is an excellent way of thinking  for sneaking past all the fears, high expectations, overwhelm, and self-sabotaging talk.  Sounds ridiculous, right? It works. It works over and over and over again.  So go, chop up a book!

(If you are freaking out at the concept of chopping up a book, I get it. I personally will go to the used book store and get the books that are ready to go to the dump. It happens in book stores. Then, I feel like I’ve given the ‘dump-designated’ new life.)

Want to know what possessed me to write this? (Apparently, I’m going to tell you anyway  ~smile~) I found Brian Dettmer’s  work while looking up altered book techniques. I’ve dabbled in this art form, and am considering doing a creativity/ discovery course that would involve altered books.  I looked at Brian’s work and I, who helps others get past creative and life blocks, felt my energy drain. But I did notice and, as long as we notice, there’s ways to get past that.

THEN I wanted to share his amazing work, and you know, I hesistated. Because the people I work/play with  are ‘right brainers’ and we do tend to have inner critics to deal with AND SO, I created this long and meandering prelude to introduce you to the works of Brian Dettmer.

Phew. Now, you have the tools to go see Brian Dettmer’s works and  truly be inspired and in awe.

Youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQ5QGsiiUmc

(it refused to embed here.. sorry)

Still images:    http://centripetalnotion.com/2007/09/13/13:26:26/

What is Life Coaching? Your right brain will love the experience of this answer!

And now the answer that the right brain part of you will enjoy…

What is Personal Life Coaching and How Can It Help You?

Life Coaching is a process that gets you from where you are to where you want to be.

“But what does that mean???” you might be saying, perhaps having read that statement often enough in your research.

WHAT IF … we do this a little differently.

Let me take you on an imaginative journey, with YOU as the key character, to
help you get clearer on how coaching works:

1. Imagine an ocean. Off to the right is
“The Island Of Pure Potential and Possibility”

2. Imagine how amazing this island is. (I mean, really do imagine. You’ve found your way here, you might as well enjoy
an experience.) Imagine what it feels like living your purpose; feeling inspired, playful, significant, energized, motivated, soulful, balanced, healthy, safe, strong and supported.

3. Imagine there’s a whole treasure chest of wonders there.

4. Choose a name for your island.

Maybe it’s like one of these:

“The Island
of My Book is Published”

“My Business Rocks
Island”

“My Travel the World
Island”

“I AM an Artist After
All Island”

“I’m Making a
Difference Island”

“The Island of Knowing
I got Through my Loss.”

“Wow, I found
my voice Island”

If you don’t know exactly what you’d be ‘doing’ on that island, simply call it

“The Island of Dang, My Life feels Good.”

  Really..  just imagine.. even just a little bit.. the possibility of you truly living an inspired life and  that even when an occasional storm comes in, (because islands are islands and oceans are oceans, after all) you have what it takes to weather it well or even bask in the adventure of it.

Got that island pictured?

5. Okay, now off to the left of the ocean, imagine an Island of Where You Are Now.

6. Give it a name. People have named their island things like..

“Island of
Chaos, Yearning, Stuckedness, Overwhelm, Trying and Trying to Get to Where I Want to Be but Not Getting There”

“The Island of Unexpected Loss and Sudden Transition”

“The Island of
the Inner Critic and Procrastinator and
Never Getting to My Creative Stuff.”

“I want Out of
the Cubicle and into my Life Island”

“Good Island,
but I really want to take it up a notch or ten.”

 7.  Okay. Two Islands. Many ways to get from one to the other. 

a. You could swim, but don’t start because you’re not confident of your swimming skills or you’re afraid of sharks. Or you don’t start because if you can’t do it perfectly, you’re not going to do it at all.

b. You could start swimming, but it seems a long ways and you might feel safer going back than going the distance.

c. You could wear a life jacket and bob along, but the path might go strangely off course, what with currents and storms and such, and who knows what island you’ll end up on.

OR

d. You could get a ship.
Not just any ship. A well-equipped solid ship that can handle any weather and
take you on the truest  course to your Island of Pure Potential.  You are the captain. Your ship is the means of getting there.

~ And that ship? As your coach, I get to be that ship – dedicated to your success, a partner and  support on your journey from here to where you want to be.

8 Let’s imagine more.. now in the case of Musings and Mud Ships, imagine your ship is enchanted and particularly attuned to understanding its creative, soulful and adventurous captains.

We know they captain their ships differently than 80% of the population might.

a. When you spot a pretty island off to the side that you insist you must explore “because it’s pretty!” .. the ship gets that you are ‘multi-passionate’ and collaborates with you to determine if that island happened by as an opportunity or new idea, or a necessary place to pause and percolate ideas, or if that island might merely be a distraction or a place to procrastinate.

b. The Musings and Mud Ships wisely know that ‘straight course’, ‘straightforward’, ‘linear timelines’, ‘strategies’ and ‘traditional goal setting’ might not just be boring for you, they might bring out the rebel in you.. you might abandon
the ship!

Musings and Mud Ships are particularly attuned to the individual unique ways of empowerment for their extraordinary captains.  They know that compassion and laughter and chocolate and imagination and
creative thinking  are key to inspiring the best in their captains.

 Musings and Mud Ships
are no ordinary ships,

because YOU are no
ordinary captain.

www.musingsandmud.com

The Traditional Answer to “What is coaching?” (next up, the right brain answer)

Just updating my website (www.musingsandmud.com)

This is the left brain answer for “What is coaching and how can it help you?” This answer is ideal when you wish to explain coaching to your left-brain spouse or manager, and when your own left brain is doubting if you know what you’re doing because it’s the one that’s “been giving you the same old answers forever and why on earth would you want to access that genius in the right brain? Something might change!”

And the truth is, the left brain is the one that’s going to support the new ideas and choices.. so it’s a good thing to give it an understanding it can appreciate.  Having said all that, this is an excellent explanation of coaching.  (credit for part of it to the coaches console – a support site for my business and my clients)

Coaching is
a new technology of personal and professional development based on concepts from
sports, business, spirituality, psychology and organizational development. It’s
for passionate people who want more from their personal and business lives. A
coach helps them to:

• create a vision that aligns with their values and passions
• gain clarity on how this vision will be achieved
• set rewarding goals
• develop a plan, and the tools and resources, to achieve these
  goals

A coach provides support throughout the process. It’s not unlike having a personal
trainer or an athletic coach… transformational, but in a personal and business
sense. The achievement of goals and dreams is something that comes more quickly
as a result of the coaching partnership.

Why does coaching work?

Coaching works when there are two factors present:

1) The client is willing to grow, and
2) There is a gap between where they are now and where they want to be.

Coaching works because of three unique
features:

• SYNERGY:
  Client and coach become a team, focusing on the client’s goals and needs and
  accomplishing more than the client would alone.
• PROCESS:
  With a coach, the client takes more actions, thinks bigger and gets the job
  done, thanks to the accountability the coach provides.
• EXPERTISE:
  The coach knows how to help people make better decisions, set the best goals,
  develop new skills for communicating and restructure their professional and
  personal lives for maximum productivity.

Where do you start with a coach?

The initial session allows you to learn more about coaching and experience the coaching process. Contact Janet for a complimentary trial session.

How do the coaching sessions work?

Coaching is done in person, over the phone or via email.

By phone is a preferred method for many because it makes it easy to stay in the “coaching relationship”, since the client can call from their office, home, car or
hotel.

The person coached completes a coaching ‘session intent’ form prior to each session,
describing the current challenges and the progress they’ve made since the last
session.
The focus of the call is determined by the client. The coach helps
them to solve the problems and make the most of the opportunities. When they are
missing a principle or distinction, the coach draws one so they can see a whole
lot better. When they are taking on a large goal, a coach helps them design and
project and provide the support and structure needed to make sure it gets done.
The coach brings out the clients best by helping them find their best answers
and their most empowering and motivating ways to move forward. Celebrating and
acknowledging the ‘wins’ is a key component of coaching
sessions.

The client is always left ‘in action’ with “fieldwork” or “homeplay”. These are actions
determined by the client and coach to keep moving the client forward. These
actions are always unique to the individual client’s needs.

What happens when you begin a contract with a coach?

• You take yourself and what you want more seriously.
• You take more effective and focused actions immediately.
• You stop putting up with stuff that gets in your way.
• You create momentum to achieve more, be more balanced and develop more powerful management skills.
• You set personal goals that are clear and meet your needs.
• You identify and eliminate the barriers that get in the way of the achievement of goals.
• You communicate about what you need and want from others in a more responsible and effective way.

How can a Manager/Executive use a coach?

Coaching creates an environment where there is freedom from judgment and freedom from expectations that executive behave according to typical corporate mandates. In
this environment it is safe to question, to appear vulnerable, to observe, to explore, experiment, to learn and change.

In Summary:

Coaching with Musings and Mud Coaching Studio gets you past overwhelm, barriers, shoulds, lack of clarity and fears to move forward and achieve goals purposefully, passionately and soulfully… and in your own very unique way.

The International Coaching Federation defines coaching as partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential.

Musings and Mud Coaching Studio uses original coaching techniques, strength-based and creative tools, compassion and access to a private online support site, to help their clients think creatively to set their goals, overcome barriers and obstacles,
discover their best ways to achieve life balance and become empowered to take the actions to living their dream.

What Coaching is not:

Coaching is not counselling, advising or mentoring.
Coaching is for those ready to move forward by finding their personal best way
to achieve their goals and vision.

Debunking the Perfect Family Myth, aka…

School Yard Survival Tips for Parents:

Schoolyard Stickmoms

You’ve gotten your children to the schoolyard, more or less fed, dressed with a touch of ketchup, slightly rumpled hair, and one child that you’ve brib… I mean,… encouraged to attend school with a promise of a bowlful of gummy bears for after school snack.

You’d be feeling okay about this but then you spot THE family dancing, laughing, holding hands and hugging their mom cheerfully as they enter the building. The littlest THE child stops for what appears to be consoling.
“Phew,” you think, “all is not perfect.”

But then Ms. THE of THE Family spots you and heads your way.  She glistens – hair done beautifully, make up brilliantly natural, her clothes pressed and coordinated, in contrast to the haphazard pony in your hair and the debate in your head about whether anyone at work will notice you haven’t showered or that your outfit is the same one as two days ago.
Cheerfully Ms. THE says, “Little Billy.. he was so concerned that they hadn’t made a lunch for me today!  My children have such fun making lunches each morning. They take turns cutting fruit, cleaning vegetables, wrapping sandwiches. Usually they make my lunch too.  The older children forgot to tell Billy that I’d be having lunch with the president today, so the poor little guy felt bad. He had a great time last night, though, helping us all to make homemade yogurt and granola from all natural organic products and juicing the wheat grass we grow in our year round garden.  Little Billy.. he even loves to be like the older kids and make his bed and lay out everything he needs for their after school classes of soccer and dance.  Aren’t children wonderful how they can be so joyful and bright all the time?”

(The Scenario for Dads to picture might be this: Mr. THE drives the truck of your dreams, and you notice the very large decal that reads “sponsored by Pilsner Beer.”)

And you?  You just took about 53 hits to your confidence as a parent.  Ms. THE only triggered a few; you added a whole domino of others.

Okay, readers, which parent do you most resemble? It is likely that of all the readers, not one will claim to be like Ms. THE. A rather high percentage, though, will relate very well to the parent with the ketchup covered kids.

You see, THE family does not exist.  In the parenting realm of unrealistic expectations, it’s almost like we fail to notice the other parent’s hair out of place, the ketchup and spilled milk on their kids, or that she didn’t say ‘president’, she said ‘resident.’   Perhaps that’s all she mumbled as she walked by you… the rest of the conversation might be what you imagined her life to be like.
And that parent who does happen to be immaculately dressed?  She, too, may relate to the ketchup covered kids parent.  Perhaps she’s thinking there’s nothing perfect about getting up at 4:30 a.m. to create her image because she’s terrified of leaving home unkempt.  The Ms. THEs of the world may well be looking at you wishing that she had the confidence to be as gorgeously natural and relaxed as you.
As a parent in the school yard, it’s so easy to compare yourself to the beautifully dressed, the always laughing, the social butterfly, the creative artist, the wealthy professional, the skinny and the environmentally perfect.

Here’s tips to get over it:

1.  Let go the fantasy that has you thinking other parents are perfect with perfect families.  They don’t exist.

2.  Imagination is a powerful tool. You know you have one because you’ve used it to imagine the perfect family. Instead imagine you have a ‘thought guard.‘  This is like a bodyguard but one that fends off energy draining thoughts.  Your imagined ‘thoughtguard’ could be a magnificent genie, a powerful lion or even Arnold Schwarzenegger – just imagine anything you consider to be a strong being.  Start to notice when you have ‘hard on self’ thoughts and playfully imagine your thoughtguard fending off the comparisons and unkind thoughts with their magic wand, loud roar, or overpowering stance.

3. Leave the schoolyard uplifted instead of defeated:  Give a smile and a compliment.  Acknowledge the artist by asking about their artwork. Tell Ms. Always Laughing that her laughter brightens the school yard. And Ms. THE in the immaculate outfit? Tell her how nice she looks.  (Dads, acknowledge the guy with the nice truck.  You know where that could lead.)

Now go confidently, young parent, into that schoolyard armed with a thoughtguard and a repertoire of kind words for others.  You will survive!

Article originally published by Janet L. Whitehead in Kamloops Momma Magazine August 2010

There is nothing wrong with you. Nothing. Isn’t that a relief?

I hear ya. Don’t think that those thoughts  the title triggered are going unnoticed:

“She doesn’t know me very well, does she?”
“I can’t complete a single thing I set out to, that’s what’s wrong with me.”
“I need to lose weight/ gain weight, get fit, get a haircut, and my shoes are ugly.”
“I hate my job.”
“I ‘m terrible at finances. I never shop around for best prices.”
“I’m faking my way through life. I’m not nearly as good at my job/parenting/relationship as I pretend to be. I can’t believe I’ve gotten away with it this long.”
“I can’t read well/ write well/ dance well/ cook well… that’s what’s wrong with me.”
“I’ m stuck. I’m in a rut.”
“No matter what I do I cannot meet the expectations of others.”
“I can’t meet my own expectations, let alone others.”

Will this one article convince you that there’s nothing wrong with you?  Perhaps not… A  lifetime of beating ourselves up isn’t shifted instantly.  But we can get you started….

What stops you is not what’s ‘wrong’ with you.  The ‘what’s wrong with you’ thoughts are keeping you so busy you’ve hardly ever given a moment’s thought or an ounce of credit to ‘what’s right’.  That, my friends, is what stops you: Not giving credit to what’s right.

Mary comes for coaching and announces that she’s terrible at finances.
“How so?” coach asks.
“Others I know shop around, finding the best prices on groceries, and I only shop at my favourite store. I could save us money if I collected coupons.”
“Would you enjoy doing that?” asks coach.
“I’d hate it!  It would take so much time!”
“And what do you do with your time currently?”
This question leads Mary to an “aha”.  Mary works in a demanding career that she loves.  She also loves her family and is conscientious about creating quality time for them.  She ensures the family eats well.  And within this series of acknowledging what is right, Mary also notes that her time is worth money, and in fact, she is far more financially ahead by not spending her time collecting coupons and shopping around.

That’s what’s right about Mary.

What’s right about you?
Hey, you know.. you could explore that a little….Title a page “What’s right about me” and make a list of 50 things right about you.  Do not stop when it gets hard.  Be silly, get mad at me for asking as one item (or more!) on the list,   but keeping going and going and going.  A minimum of 50.  Okay, give it a good shot.. you do want to get past the part where it’s easy.  Your logical left brain will give up, and your intuitive right might start sharing. Be playful. Be silly.  When you are finished, notice especially what emerges in the last 10 or so items.  Any surprising messages there from the right side of the brain?

By the way, I hear the other thoughts: “I don’t have time to do this!!!”  “I can never find 50 things!”

All you need is a lunch break and a pen and paper; or replace 20 minutes of facebook time with quickly typing up this list; or scratch out the list on napkins you find in the car while you are waiting to pick up your kids.

One list and you will feel at the very least, much better about you.  And then, give yourself permission to notice what’s right about you on a daily basis. Or at least twice a week for starters.

Anyone willing to share their discoveries?

In my “shouldness,” did I hurt my daughter’s feet?

In the days when my daughters were little, the right thing to do was buy your children ‘proper’ walking shoes. They were expensive.. amazingly so, really… and they were considered an absolute necessity for your child’s developing feet.

So when my first daughter turned out to be surely one of the tiniest ‘walkers’ of all times and they didn’t make walking shoes to fit her, I felt bad. I felt guilty. I searched the world over, as much as one could without the internet, to find her ‘proper’ walking shoes. I even inquired about having them made, but that wasn’t an option.

I found her these little black shoes… amazed to find anything in her size that had a sole. I didn’t admit it openly, because after all I was always ‘apologizing’ when people wondered where her proper shoes were, but I thought the shoes rocked. In my gut I knew they made sense. Those little flexible soles moved with her feet, and the cotton tops seemed very comfortable. And this petite little child, who awed people by the fact that she was walking ‘so young,’ (really, not so young, just sooo tiny) walked, ran and jumped wildly in her little shoes.

When my second daughter, who was more usual in size, started walking.. hallelujah! There were proper shoes to fit her! Deep down as I looked at the shoes I thought, ‘seriously?”, but I celebrated that at least for her I could pay the big bucks and give her proper walking shoes.

Okay, who concocted the theory that flat bottom, inflexible soled, hard leather shoes were good for a baby’s feet? No cushioning for the bottom of the feet, no soft leather, just hard little shoes that made them walk like they were walking with boards on their feet. Imagine that. How was that good for the jumping, balancing, climbing, or even simply walking?

I was conflicted.. as many parents are on many things they think they ‘should’ do: Delighted to do the right thing, concerned that the right thing wasn’t actually right. I think she ended up wearing the ‘proper’ shoes out… they were cute! And I think she ran barefoot the rest of the time.

But guess which child has had problems with her feet ever since? Yes, of course, the one with the expensive ‘proper’ walking shoes.

I share this story so you can reconsider the ‘shoulds’ in your life. Anything happening that you can say, “Hey, I don’t need that ‘should’.. I’m going with my gut instinct instead.” Remember to jump for joy as you add, “And I’m not going to feel guilty about it either!”

And darling second daughter? I’m really sorry about your feet.

By Janet L.Whitehead

Left, right or whole? a learning style inventory…

Left: "must work" Right:"must play!"

A learning style inventory I’ve uncovered in my collection of resources:  I wouldn’t stake my um.. let’s see.. my next meal? my next painting?… on it being entirely scientific or accurate. However, I like it because it does give you the opportunity to think about how you think and how your brain functions.

After the survey, I’ve posted a bit about my personal results/thoughts, because there’s more to cutting out clothing labels than a right brain, I think.  I’d love to hear you thoughts on this survey.

Answer yes or no to
the following questions.

Are you better at remembering faces than names?

When you’re presented with a toy or piece of furniture to assemble, are you
likely to discard the printed directions and figure out how to build it yourself?

Are you better at thinking of ideas if you’re left to concentrate rather than
working with a group?

Do you rely mostly on pictures to remember things, as opposed to names
and words?

Do you have especially acute hearing?

Do you cut labels out of clothes? Do you favour garments that are especially
soft and well-worn, finding most clothing too rough or scratchy?

Do you tend to put yourself down a lot?

When you’re asked to spell a word, do you ‘see’ it in your head rather than
sound it out phonetically?

When you’re studying a subject, do you prefer to get the ‘big picture’ as
opposed to learning a lot of facts?

Are you good with puzzles and mazes?

Can you imagine things well in three dimensions? In other words, can you
visualise a cube in your mind, rotate it, and view it from every angle without
difficulty?

Were you considered a late bloomer?

Did you need to like your teacher to do well in his or her class?

Are you easily distracted to the point that you find yourself daydreaming a
lot?

Are you a perfectionist to the point that it gets in the way of trying new
things?

Are you ultra-competitive, hating to lose more than most people do?

Are you good at figuring people out? Do others tell you that you’re good at
‘reading’ people?

Is your handwriting below average or poor?

Were you a late walker or did you have other delayed motor skills as a child?

When you’re in a new place do you tend to find your way around easily?

The more yes responses you have the more right brained you will be. In general,
0-4 yes answers indicate you’re very left brained, 5-8 somewhat left brained, 9-
12 whole brained, 13-16, somewhat right brained, and 17-20 very right brained.
From the creator of this: This is not a scientific test but it will give you a general understanding of your brain development.

~~~~~~

And here’s a few of my answers that I’ve included in the hopes that they share insights that you might relate to.  Overall, I turned out to be ‘whole brainish.”

Are you better at remembering faces than names?  Yes! And go with this one, folks… instead of beating yourself up for not remembering names and for having all the sure cure techniques for remembering names fail you.. NOW you can say, “I’ll always remember your face, but as a highly creative right brain being, attaching names isn’t my forte.”

When you’re presented with a toy or piece of furniture to assemble, are you
likely to discard the printed directions and figure out how to build it yourself?

No. I insist on reading the instructions having had to dismantle any number of items I’ve messed up.  Like repairing the dryer because I thought that would be fun. The real repairman thought that was funny… and lucrative for him, I might add.

Do you have especially acute hearing?  Nope, can’t say that I do.  Readers, do you? But wait, that’s not true! I can only listen to music on a great stereo, am extremely annoyed by background noise like a TV, and would blow up every fluorescent light in existence if that kind of fun were acceptible.  (okay, that’s also due to the fact that I get sick in fluorescent lighting)

Do you cut labels out of clothes? Do you favour garments that are especially
soft and well-worn, finding most clothing too rough or scratchy?  YES!!  A curious thing is that I am especially sensitive if at the same time I am forced to be in fluorescent lights.  So, in my corporate work days, as soon as I got to the office, I’d suddenly have to have a co-workers quickly cut the tag out of my shirt.  Back then, I thought I was just a bit of a freak. BUT further research  led me to “Irlen’s Syndrome” – well worth exploring if you or your child has trouble with lights/ reading/ or has autism/diagnosed A.D.D.  Not just info, they offer products that help.   Google it for a variety of research options including self-testing, etc.

Do you tend to put yourself down a lot?  Me? Maybe back when I thought I was a ‘freak’ cuz of itchy labels.. but I am a life coach. And I’ve been life coached… My put downs are very limited, but I know that it is true that many creatives are very hard on themselves.

Are you easily distracted to the point that you find yourself daydreaming a

Left: “Focus!” Right:”Oh,..imagine..”

lot? Yes! and loving it! (okay,the coach thing helps me recognize 1. the value of daydreaming. 2. the tools to get focussed again and even better 3. take those daydreams to a new level.)

Are you a perfectionist to the point that it gets in the way of trying new
things?  Absolutely have been… now practise and teach the art of imperfection. It is true that perfectionism can be huge barrier to success for right-brainers.

Are you ultra-competitive, hating to lose more than most people do?  Ultra-competitive.. but always with myself in individual sport or games. 

Is your handwriting below average or poor?  Okay this IS the reason I posted my answers so I can share this story:

Once upon a time I was a very organized, linear, efficient recreation and events coordinator with the most beautiful handwriting.

Then I took up pottery, and creative writing, and flung into a glorious sideline of soulful discovery. I literally watched my handwriting become horrific. 

I thought it was that I was just ‘too busy,’ until later when I learned that rightbrainers often have bad handwriting. (THIS IS NOT ALWAYS TRUE! I have a highly creative client with the most extraordinarily beautiful handwriting.. but I think that happens in an artistic way for her.)

Oh do tell, dear reader.. how’s your handwriting?  How ‘accurate’ were your results? Do clothing labels make you crazy and do you prefer soft and cozy? (and now you know why one of my online course groups is called ‘Muses in Jammies’!)  Anybody annoyed by lights or very picky about noise?  Anybody feel a little more compassion towards themselves knowing that right brainers tend to be hard on themselves and perfectionists? (Heck, you can let go some of the hard on yourself talk just knowing this!)

Depressed Poets Society

As the coach and facilitator of the Creative Muse Course, I planned the “Depressed Poets Society” which was held at a funky little art cafe. All of the participant muses  dressed in black, and sighed and ‘woes me’d” and had a most gloriously funny time.

Of course, I felt somewhat obligated to write poetry for this event, since I’d planned it and all… poetry is not my forte.   But by poem 4, I’ve reconsidered that.

Sick
Plummets the optimism
There’s no man in my fridge handing out drinks
KFC on TV
Cuz sick attracts the sick. Did it make me sick?
The world is a trick
I have rules that don’t include puke
And do include rhymes.
The rules are broken.

~~~~~~~
Please know I am this kind of poet: “-a-crappy-poet-by-choice” and having spent the day sick helped me to write this. It is certainly in fun and in farce…and that lifted my sick little spirit.  These do represent a perspective that many might take. Life. It really is about perspective. 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Miserable

Channel 6 lands at 24
Waiting waiting past 120 to see what’s on the only stations I have
The lower ones… lowly non-prestigious ones.
Waiting to see what crap is on at 8.

Les Miserables… miserable. That works.
Why are they all lined up in front of a stand of mics?
Why is there 3 giant TV screens as backdrops?
Why are they disappointing me with this shamble of a setting?
Why aren’t they moving?
Is this some twisted genre of musical theatre meant to make me miserable?

Voices that I can’t do even 1 % at my best in the shower.
Costumes that I can’t touch but for a gown I get to soon wear and it is not mine.
A solo that could rock the world.. but with 40 abandoned mics cluttering her space.

A friend brings camomile, yogurt and ginger beer,
But she cannot be bothered to stay
And watch TV with me.

~~~~~~~~~
But then… I took pieces from a novel in progress and turned it into poetry of sorts. (below)  What an exercise in ‘trimming’ words!   And after that, I really did write a powerful piece that resulted in a great release for me. And it is so darn personal, I couldn’t publish it here!

Shattered

The end of a day not long after he died.
I saw me.
a mere breakable thin shell
barely able to hold its form.
a billion pieces of broken glass and bits of mirrors at my feet.
An empty shell, a void.
So many miniscule pieces of glass they might just as well be swept away.
impossible to reassemble every shattered belief, every wiped out hope.
No way to reconnect the shards of mirrors that were once joy.
I am shattered. I am broken.

(and just so you know… this tragic event led to some pretty amazing magic.. and that is what the novel really is about)

Go ahead, write some crappy depressed poetry as if you ‘have to’ get it done for an event… you might be surprised by what your shadow muse will  inspire and /or help you release!