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When I saw these Flower Pens, something in me lit up.

John Braheny and I participate in several songwriters’ events all through the year … and usually we have a “booth” where people can purchase his books, schedule consultations with him, etc.

I usually put a notebook on the table for people who want to sign up for his free online newsletter … and wouldn’t you know it, no matter how many pens are on the table, they just disappear.

Maybe if I use this little trick, tying imitation flowers to pens (using florist’s tape, or masking tape), they might stick around a bit longer … a creative (and practical) idea! And cheaper than the store-bought variety too.

Last night, my friend, Ruth Rivin, told me she had been cleaning out a storage closet and came across her collection of personal journals. This caused her to ask …

“What am I going to do with all these? Who’s going to want to read all this? Do I really want other people to see all this personal stuff?”

If you’re writing your journals for your children or grandchildren to read, that’s one thing … but what about those of us who don’t have kids?

Personally, I enjoy hearing/reading other people’s stories … where they came from, what they did “back then,” and what they’ve learned in their lives. But will my personal journals be meaningful to others? It’s something to consider as you write.

Last year, I lost a very dear friend (to cancer) in Atlanta. Her family kindly mailed back to me huge boxes of letters I had written to her during the past 25 years! Many contain details of where I worked, my adventures and travels, my engagement and subsequent wedding, being a ‘young bride,’ and what my life has been like here in Los Angeles. I’m so grateful that my friend saved my letters. They contain my personal history – as it happened.

[As for personal journal blogs, I can’t believe the unnecessary minute details people choose to include, i.e., where they parked, what time it was, how long it took to drive somewhere … boring to me, unless those are essential details to their story. But, this is just my opinion. At least, people are recording their experiences.]

If you’re in doubt about the value of keeping a personal journal (other than having a relatively private place to “vent” — not on the Internet), bear in mind there are researchers lurking out there. And who knows who might find your writings perfect for their project, especially in the far-away future.

For example, see this brief article:

Nosy for a Reason: Doctoral Student Researching History of Personal Journals in America

Here’s a brief excerpt from a book review of Jeffrey Yamaguchi’s book,
52 Projects: Random Acts of Everyday Creativity.

“The book is especially useful for people who want to start being creative, but don’t think of themselves as crafty or artistic people. These are projects anyone can do, and give you great ideas to get started….”

John Gabree referred this 12-question quiz from Economist.com to us. It’s slanted a bit toward authentic English, and is trickier than you think, so take your time. It’s well worth the few minutes just to sharpen up your writing skills. Oh, yes, and the answers explain everything.

Enjoy!

Hopefully, if your computer can handle it, you’ll be able to see and hear this new (quick) Honda commercial … featuring sounds provided by a choir … definitely fits my definition of “creative.”

Click: http://84.40.3.164/

There are so many wonderful articles about creativity on the web … This one, by Linda Naiman, was published a few years ago, but I think it still has some genuine nuggets. I especially like her Cycles of Creativity: Inertia, Imitation, Intuition, Imagination and Inspiration. For one thing, it’s not often you read about how hard it is just to get started on a project, even if it’s for something you love doing. This might take you a couple minutes to read … but you’ll like it.
From creativityatwork.com.

Sometimes all it takes to “goose my muse” is looking up at a beautifully designed building. I’m in awe of architecture…and love to explore new and different buildings whenever I get the chance. So, whether you agree with this list or not, I think you’ll find some pleasure in checking out the 12 Best New Buildings of 2005, from ArtInfo.com.

By C.C. Sullivan, writing in ArtInfo:
“Without much introduction or fanfare, submitted here for your consideration are a dozen great buildings that emerged over the course of 2005. None of these projects are, admittedly, found outside of the Western Hemisphere, and none are designed by Lord Norman Foster or Frank Gehry, the foremost architectural minds of our day….these buildings are quite varied, both typologically (noted for convenience) as well as stylistically and thematically (omitted to spare you)….Not all of these works actually had ribbon-cutting in 2005, but they all became completed, occupied, usable and publishable last year.”
— from the website.

Thanks to John Gabree for contributing this.

Need a little fun? You’ll love this … Box Doodle Tool.

You’re provided with a photo of a cardboard box, opened flat in various sizes and shapes, with flaps and all.

Use their online markers and pens of various widths, and a bright color palette.
Click and paint.
Colors can cover each other, so you can change your mind, if you like.
The trick is to utilize the shape that’s provided (they offer you a selection)…a fun challenge.

It only takes a few minutes to do and your Inner Child will thank you.

Here’s a great questionnaire to keep your creative flow going … with a reminder to take care of ourselves. It’s from Blast O’Joy.

Are You Taking Care of Your Soul?

by Suzanne Falter-Barnes
January 13, 2006

It’s all too easy in the mad swirl we live in to forget the obvious — that living, breathing heart that beats within us. It’s where important things dwell, like your larger purpose in life, your creativity, and your passion. And it single handedly determines whether you will live with joy or not.

Here is a questionnaire that will help you gage whether you’re giving that all-critical nerve center, your soul, the space and care it needs.

Answer the following as honestly as you can:

1. When throwing a dinner party, I tend to do all the work myself. I insist guests leave the dishes, and do not grumble when my spouse disappears at clean-up time. This happens:

a) every single time
b) some of the time
c) occasionally
d) never. (I accept all kinds of help quite happily!)

2. My spouse is dependent on me to help him/her manage day-to-day affairs like remembering names, writing business letters, running errands, making wardrobe choices, and figuring out how to handle certain situations.

This is true:
a) all of the time; it occupies much of my day
b) some of the time; it happens frequently during the week
c) it happens from time to time during the week
d) it happens a few times per month, rarely, or never

3. Exercise in my life occurs

a) whenever I can squeeze it in … which is rarely or never
b) when I make time for it, but somehow that’s never quite enough
c) pretty frequently. I have less guilt about this than other things
d) as often as I need it

4. Exercise seems

a) Less important than finishing my work (I know I work too hard)
b) Like a basic luxury I can’t quite afford
c) A little painful, but usually worth it when I can make myself go
d) Critical to my well being, so I make time for it

5. My children

a) Are simply the number one, most important thing in my life (I’ll get to my dreams later, when they grow up)
b) Are very important to me, but they are also the source of a lot of frustration and angst
c) Have prodded me to at least begin my dream — but then they keep distracting me from it
d) Make me balance the work of my dreams with home/family time, so we all get what we need

6. The idea of taking a Saturday or a Sunday just for me seems

a) wildly selfish
b) wonderful, but totally unrealistic
c) Great … but where would I begin? There is just so much I need at this time
d) Something I actually do for myself and love

7. If I were to take an entire vacation entirely by and for myself, I would

a) not. Period.
b) Have to talk my spouse or child(ren) into supporting this, which would probably kill it right there
c) Have too many responsibilities to take care of in advance — but when I think about it … it’s actually sort of/maybe possible
d) Know just where I’d go and what I’d do … in fact, it sounds like a plan

8. I make some time for myself

a) only when I’m sick. Then I get to lounge around in bed.
b) When there is a rare, unexpected hole in my busy schedule
c) When I see my therapist twice a month, and the occasional lunch or dinner date with a friend
d) Pretty much every day

9. When I make time for myself, I

a) sleep
b) veg out in front of old movies with something fattening and delicious
c) try to get outside, or exercise, or call a friend, or whatever I think of first and can grab enough time for
d) rely on old, tested rituals I love like the candlelit baths, meditation, soothing reading, or journaling

10. The idea of scheduling in some nurturing time for myself seems

a) impossible
b) a little unrealistic, given all my responsibilities
c) possible — but I’d have to hire help and I’m not sure how or if I could do that
d) doable… I’m doing it now!

SCORING

To determine just how much you do or don’t nurture your soul, tally up. (Keep in mind this is a questionnaire for general use; it’s obviously unable to account for individual circumstances. So judge your own situation and score accordingly.)
Give yourself 4 points for every a); 6 points for every b); 8 points for every c); and 10 points for every d).

If your score falls between:

40-60: You need to seriously reevaluate your relationship with yourself. Something’s gotta give here or you’re looking at a mega burn-out situation and all the nastiness that brings with it. While this quiz is only a rough indicator of how much nurturing you need to create, it seems like you need a lot. Consider making that a priority for the year, and consider working with a therapist or life coach to provide support.

60-80: Your self nurture index is still set pretty low; how about upping it some? Seems like some downloading of responsibilities is in order, whether that’s through simply saying ‘no’ or finding reliable help of some kind.

80-100: You’re in pretty good shape when it comes to self-nurturing. You’ve gotten the message that you need to make time for it AND you actually do it! Furthermore, you understand the inherent value in being a little selfish with your time and energy once in a while.

SUZANNE FALTER-BARNS is a pioneer in her field of understanding the creative process, and nationally known expert on creativity. She is the author of Living Your Joy: A Practical Guide to Happiness and How Much Joy Can You Stand? (Ballantine Books). Hailed as a creativity classic, her first book has sold more than 60,000 copies, was a Publisher’s Weekly Hot Pick, and a Main Selection of the One Spirit Book Club. More…

Enjoy!

I am the type of person who has been writing ever since I was a young kid. Letters, poems, stories… all came easily to me. And yes, I kept it all. I find it extremely useful, from time to time, to go back and see where I’ve been (physically, mentally, emotionally). It also provides me a grand overview of how I’ve grown.

Recently, I found this article, 10 Principles for Keeping an On-Going Journal by Ruth Folit. I’m not too sure I agree with every point, but it’s still a good guideline.

I’m adding: Don’t be too hard on yourself if you don’t write every day. In fact, I realize that I don’t write at the same time (or place) every day, as she suggests.

Sometimes, it suffices to just jot a note or two (or a sketch, if you want), as a reminder of what’s going on in your life. You don’t have to write full paragraphs or diatribes.

And you don’t really need any particular software … I still like to use legal pads (all different colors) and different colored inkpens for different moods. Stationery stores and book stores have the most fabulous variety of blank journals from which to choose. You can have different journals for different topics, if you want.

I like journals with spiral binders that lie flat on my table or lap. If you later want to add pages to a ring binder, find pages that are already hole-punched. Don’t let the paper/binder/ink choices get in your way, however. You can stall out just on making those choices alone! (Some people just keep a small note pad in their backpack or purse, for portability.)

Last but not least: you don’t have to share your thoughts with anyone, if you don’t want to. Writing on the computer can work as well, particularly if you save your intimate thoughts in a folder that one else will see. Being assured you have privacy can be a freeing force. (Otherwise, start a blog!)

Most importantly, tell the truth. After all, where else do you get the opportunity to let it all out in such an unvarnished manner?

Enjoy!