Art a Little More Robust-Creative Play Archives

August 5, 2017August 5, 2017

Hollywood Celebrity

After knocking several things off of my realtor to do list this morning, I thoroughly indulged in rest and relaxation for the remainder of the day. I needed it. The last few weeks have been full. This cool and rainy day created the perfect environment for reading, watching the last few episodes of Amazon's Mozart in the Jungle, and catching up on social media.

On Facebook, one of the things that caught my attention was a quiz. My friend Mark posted his results from the What Profession Were You Born For? quiz, by wittybunny.com. He got Radio Host, which he found interesting. I was intrigued too. I know Mark used to do that very thing. He hosted his own radio program. It is something he's considered doing again.

The Facebook quizzes are intended to be fun. They are randomly generated, typically. However, I like playing with randomness. I like how seemingly random events can collide in meaningful ways. Those are called synchronicities. I decided to play. After I posted my results, I invited others to play along as well. I was interested in their professions…but more interested in what thoughts came up around the results.

My daughter Elissa got Disney Princess. Her response: The princess part feels right. 😊 She definitely has the royal bearing and the interesting personality! I can see my daughter as a Disney Princess…keeping kids in line and making them behave themselves! She's an excellent mom, who also doesn't take mouthiness from a kid.

My long time friend Becky received Lawyer as her profession. That's actually spot on. Although Becky doesn't currently work as an attorney, she is analytical and well organized, with great judgment skills. Her response: Funny, this has always been something at the back of my mind and I've said it many times throughout the years. Maybe it's still a possibility! Yes, Becky it is! I love your thinking.

And my friend Vicki got the interesting result, Love Doctor! I don't have a pic of her quiz post, but her response to such a tantalizing profession: Less than qualified??!? I don't know about that. Vicki is kind and joyful and full of love and good advice. Perhaps she's missed her calling!

Grandson Dayan got Rapper, because of his language skills! This soon to be political science major does indeed have the language skills. And I know he has always been drawn to performing, musically. Band has been his outlet. His response: A rapper, for my language skills 😂😂😂 Well, while I can't rap, I suppose it's a compliment? I would say so!

And my result?

I laughed, at first. And I struggle with being the center of attention. I like to be recognized for a job well done, but to have a spotlight on me, that's a different matter. However, thoughts began to rise, and inspiration appeared at my shoulder, inviting me to go deeper. Ah, I thought, I guess I won't be writing tonight about a movie.

Because I had intended to watch one. I love movies. I set aside a whole day each year to celebrate Oscar Day. Actors and actresses have my admiration and appreciation as they live out of their gifts and hearts, doing what they love. This year's theme was inspired by an actor's quote. I think of Alan Rickman every day, with love and gratitude, as I type the words Life a Little More Tender or Art a Little More Robust. Attending a movie premiere or a red carpet event is on my bucket list.

So what about being a Hollywood celebrity? As a child, I was in a couple of elementary school plays. I felt too shy, too awkward, to try out for any roles in a high school production. And yet, like Becky, it's been a desire I've carried with me throughout my life. Acting had been a very secret desire. Ironically, or not, just yesterday I was thinking about it, again.

So this fun quiz today raises a question for me. To be…or not to be? No, that's not really the question. The question is, has my long held desire of acting found expression in the much safer action of watching movies? Has my passion gone underground on this desire and surfaced in the form of a fan of film and theater and the amazing people who aren't afraid to be in the spotlight?

I'm still thinking about it. I know this. I am at a place in my journey where I am not backing down from challenges and where I am facing my fears head on. My heart is open and I love being in the flow of life. I trust the Divine and these nudges and invitations that reveal more about who I am and what I can do.

Who would have known that a playful, randomly generated Facebook quiz could be an open door to peek through? I am discovering that opportunities for soul exploration and growth are everywhere. Dare I walk through this door?

I am friends on Facebook with actor J. Eddie Peck. We've chatted a few times through messenger. He's a Joplin native and last December he offered an acting workshop, for children through adults, and presented a free seminar the night before, The Business of Acting. I shared the info. I was too shy to attend the seminar or the workshop.

I hope he will return to Joplin and offer again. It makes me blush to think about moving beyond my comfort zone in this area. But I think I am ready to test the limits and see what I can do. Perhaps I can even audition for a bit part in a Joplin Little Theater production. Those intentions scare me.

But I was born to be a Hollywood celebrity, right? I can take the next step.

July 21, 2017

Summer Scavenger Hunt

I spent this hot and muggy day with three of my grandchildren. I had a creative plan. I brought along paints and brushes and colored markers and a pile of river rocks. Our intention was to join the latest artistic craze by painting the rocks, and hiding them in the Joplin and Carthage areas.

It was a fun idea. However, the high temps and humidity made being outdoors for any length of time unpleasant. If I have learned one thing these past three and a half years, it is to let go of expectations and outcomes and go with the flow. If a planned activity doesn’t work out, something else always comes along.

That was the case today.

Inspiration came unexpectedly as the kids and I watched a humorous YouTube program. Three young adult men went on a city wide scavenger hunt. They gave themselves three hours to locate nine items they selected. Included in the mix was a selfie with a baby, an expensive sports car and a specific brand of shoes. It was a fun, well done show. And suddenly, a scavenger hunt seemed liked the ideal creative adventure for the day.

Joey, Oliver and Aubrey each came up with six items to include on our scavenger hunt list. I wrote down their suggestions on strips of paper, folded them up and dropped them into a bowl. The kids took turns selecting three items each, giving us a list of nine treasures to look for.

We drove to Joplin for lunch and visits to the library and the mall, our scavenger hunt list in hand. The rules were to locate each item, take a photo, and cross it off the list. We had an eclectic mix of easily found objects, such as a watch, very specific items, like a 1980s Ford Mustang, and more challenging quests like taking a selfie with someone we didn’t know.

Here’s how we did:

1. Lemur – This animal proved to be impossible to locate in Joplin! We could have looked up a photo of one in a book at the library. Instead, we visited a pet store and took a pic of a white ferret. We named him Lemur.

2. 1980s Ford Mustang – We saw so many Mustangs as we drove to Joplin, all newer models. And then, at the intersection of 7th Street and Range Line, we spotted the older red Mustang. Perfect!

3. Hover board – This fun looking mode of transportation was found at a remote control shop at the mall. $200 will get you one!

4. Selfie with a Random Person – Oliver came up with this comfort zone busting item. We had an awesome waitress when we ate lunch at Chili’s. Heidi was attentive and friendly and the kids adored her. She was happy to snap a selfie with each child. The kids encouraged me to leave her a big tip, something I was happy to do.

5. A person wearing flip flops – Oliver spotted this person at lunch. He took a discreet photo of her foot, shooting over Papa’s hairy arm and around the straw in his water. Good job Ollie!

6. A watch – The kids were so attentive and aware during our hunt. They saw this watch on the arm of the woman driving next to us. I kept pace with her truck so Joey could get a pic. Great shot Joey.

7. Pink hair on a person – I thought this one would be very difficult to find. Surprisingly, this gracious person showed up in my office…with pink hair. We stopped by the Keller Williams office so I could send out a contract and the kids were so excited to inform me that they had found a woman with pink hair. They asked permission to take her photo.

8. A bald person – This item on our list was much more challenging than I expected it to be. Aubrey added this one to the hunt and envisioned a man with a shaved head. We finally settled for partially bald. I laughed when I looked at the pic. It appears as if I was hiding behind a plant when I took the photo. I didn’t even notice the plant at the time.

9. Blue 4 door jeep – Aubrey was very specific about this item. And it was the first object spotted minutes after the hunt began. Good eye Aubrey! Unfortunately, we found this one so quickly that we didn’t have an iPhone camera ready. Thanks to teamwork and persistence, Joey saw another blue jeep in Joplin and caught it in a photo.

This was an incredibly fun way to spend the afternoon. The kids worked well together and stayed very present in the moment as they looked for items on the list. More than having fun though, the kids learned powerful lessons about how what we think about and dwell upon shows up in our lives. These were not all easy items to find. And yet, except for the lemur, they showed up rather quickly.

One of the most amazing finds was struck from the original list. Joey had added a painted rock to the list, when we thought we might go by one of Joplin’s parks. After deciding it was too hot, he scratched that idea, exchanging the rock for a different object.

Guess what Joey found inside the Joplin Public Library? Yes…a painted rock. What a great conversation starter that was. I failed to get a photo of the rock. However Joey still has it. We will re-hide it later with our rocks that we paint.

Summer heat and summer fun and an adventure that we won’t forget. I look forward to more scavenger hunts and manifesting what we are searching for.

June 27, 2017

Mr Toad’s House

This afternoon I seized an opportunity to get outside and into the garden. Thunderstorms last night meant mild temps today and a ground that was easily worked after a good soaking. I had weeding to do and a few plants to tuck into containers. And, I had a fun project I wanted to do while I was playing in the garden.

Even though pulling weeds is more work than play, I enjoyed cleaning up the borders and containers. Vigilance is necessary to stay ahead of weeds that pop up everywhere. These pesky plants are thriving as well, with the abundant rain that we’ve had followed by days of sunshine. There is satisfaction gained, at least, by completing that chore.

More fun is planting flowers. I’ve had a remnant of plants, left over after planting containers. My goal this afternoon was to get them all into pots or into the ground. I moved several stumps, left over from the downed maple tree, into the front yard, placing them near the swing. I have deep appreciation for the garden gifts this old tree provided. Flowers were slipped into the hollowed out sections, after I filled those spaces with potting soil.

Rilynn is sure this new arrangement is for her.

Finally, it was playtime in the garden! I have an assortment of insects and small critters that make my garden their home. Not all of them are desirable. Japanese Beetles are a problem right now. However, I encourage bees, ladybugs, praying mantises and spiders to share my backyard paradise. They help to keep the “bad” bugs under control.

Another helper that is welcome in my garden is the toad. I’ve seen several the last few seasons. I want to encourage them to linger. My grandsons, Joey and Oliver, are expert toad house builders. They build the houses and the toads find them. My creative play today was to create a couple of toad houses in my backyard garden.

Remembering what my grandsons taught me about building a toad house, I dug out a shallow hole, and scattered a bit of mulch in the bottom. I have plenty of bricks and thin slabs of concrete that I can use. These materials were repurposed into the walls and roofs of two toad houses.

As I was cleaning up after an afternoon of working in the garden, I noticed a bin of small river rocks. I felt inspiration’s tap. I had an idea and those rocks were perfect.

Using colored markers, I created “vacancy” signs for my little toad houses. My realtor side was amused by those mini advertisements! And since I am confident toads will find the houses, I drew a frog and a toad on the other sides of the rocks, for when the houses are no longer vacant.

I think my grandsons will be pleased with my toad houses! I had fun playing, and creating, and the project will encourage more visitors to come to the garden. I am looking foward to meeting my new little neighbors.

February 18, 2017February 18, 2017

Collaborative Doodle

French artist Henri Matisse said, “Creative people are curious, flexible, persistent and independent with a tremendous spirit of adventure and a love of play.” I appreciate all of those characteristics and desire to foster them in my creative life. I am especially mindful of being curious and following where curiosity leads, and of indulging a love of play.

Play has been foundational to my journey this year, as I seek to make life a little more tender and art a little more robust. Playing is crucial in a child’s development. Through play children learn in a relaxed environment, discovering truths about life while new information or habits are acquired.

And play is just as important in an adult’s life, we just tend to forget that or feel playing is a waste of time. Far from being a childish activity, play develops the imagination, allows for exploration of new ideas, frees emotions, moves energy, develops self confidence, allows for social interaction and opens up new ways of thinking creatively.

I am finding that it also helps me to continually move beyond my comfort zone! My grandson Dayan and I are playing a card game called Sneaky Cards. (Read more about this innovative and interactive game HERE). Each week, we each draw a new card, with the objective of playing the card forward before we get back together the next week.

Last week, Dayan placed his chosen card in a favorite book at the library. I added my card to a Valentine’s Day display. This week Dayan will come up with a new recipe, and then pass his card on. And I drew a create card with the mission to start a collaborative doodle and pass it on.

My sister Linda and I went to dinner tonight, at Chick Fil A. We craved some sister time. It was the perfect place to carry out my mission. I started a doodle and slipped the card into my hoodie pocket.

This is the interesting part of the unique card game. I tend to hesitate when it is time to pass the card on. When I feel that reluctance to complete the mission, I know I’ve run smack into the border of my comfort zone. Playing this game is not only engaging my creativity, it is pushing me to go farther, play more, be braver.

Every week, when Dayan and I draw new cards, we hold our breaths. We know what kinds of activities lie in wait in that innocent looking deck of cards! Some of them will definitely challenge us and push us way WAY beyond what feels comfortable. Sooner or later, we will come face to face with one of those border expanding cards and also face our discomfort. We will play on through, when that time comes, and learn and grow.

Tonight’s mission was simple, compared to what I could have drawn. And yet when Linda and I stood to leave, I reached into my pocket, felt the card…and considered waiting for another time to play. Just then, buses arrived at Chick Fil A, unloading dozens of high school students fresh from a basketball game in town. One of them would surely add to my doodle.

I played. I left the card.

You can play Sneaky Cards too!

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