I just sat down at my desk for a brief respite from creating new colors, or possibly to attempt to open a pomegranate with a letter opener (I have no knife) and checked my Twitter stream.
Twitter can be 5 things. 1) mundane (unless you're tweeting cupcakes or sushi) 2) agonizing (I am sick to death of Twitter give-aways) 3) cool (I follow @Nasa - of course I get to see tons of cool stuff) 4) a wonderful way to deliver info and keep in touch 5) inspiring!!!
#5. Inspiring. I just found an awesome new blog read to add to my feeder, thanks to the all-around fantastic Lili. She drew me this, but she's way cool for far more reasons!
white hot truth
I read one post and immediately signed up for feedburner, twitter and FB... because I was reading things that absolutely resonated for me.
This post especially, since I presently feel like my creative candle is a burnt-out firepit, and I keep putting the cereal in the refrigerator.
how to make the most of being toast: embracing burnout
Excerpt: "I admit it: I'm burned out. Fried. Toasted.
But this time, there's something satisfying and tasty about being...roasted by the life I've chosen. I'm reveling in it. Rather than the usual "How'd I let this happen?, or, I'm weak, or, I should take better care of myself..." admonishments (from myself and others,) I'm curling up to my tenderized being and I'm really very pleased with the state of me.
I'm devoted to tending the fire of knowledge, to blazing my own trail. Burn out is a natural part of shining. Naturally. I welcome it now.
Because I'm such a Typically Tough Cookie, admitting to burn out is not my first inclination. My response to the creeping psyche crispies has been to put on more mascara and tighten my bra straps. But the evidence has been surfacing:"
Or, this one... my muse so often visits me in the shower, when I have no paper! Perhaps I should start bringing a grease pencil into the shower so that I can jot her notes down on the glass door?
Excerpt: "The Muse of love, art, cash, strategy, worship, desire, wellness, beauty, business plans.
Don't you adore her? Do you...adore her? Actively? Adore.
Muses simply must be adored. They're as grandiose as they are generous. They like to be respected. If you meet them half way, they'll give you the moon, the breakthrough concept, the stroke of...genius. Dis' your muse and she's likely to stop dropping by. She's righteous. Genius is like that.
As Elizabeth Gilbert (Eat, Pray, Love) puts it in her freshly legendary TED Talk, we've made "a huge error in believing that creative genius comes from the Self," rather than a greater source outside of us. Can you hear the Muses saying, "Yeah baby. Got that right. You say it sister."
There are a zillion starry ideas floating in the milky way and they need you as much as you need them. Genius is looking for a vehicle. You gotta pimp your ride."
Or, this one. Danielle LaPorte and I both graduated in the class of '88 There is SO much I would say to my 20 year old self. But then, if we knew it all ahead of time, we'd never get anywhere. Anything worth striving for tends to be pretty damn painful.
Excerpt: "I'm turning 40 in a few weeks. Bizarre. Surreal. Cannot believe it. Just yesterday I was at ecstatically getting the hell out of high school, wearing shoulder pads and stilettos underneath my graduation gown; knowing full well that the world was my oyster and that extra-hold hair mousse would get me through almost any encounter. I can hardly believe that I can say, "twenty years ago..." about anything."
And another one... Change is one of the most powerful forces we can harness. Look what Mother Nature does with it...
Excerpt: "If you doubt that change happens, dig me in 1976 {see picture above!} Change is a marvelous thing to celebrate. Acknowledging growth helps us to keep on growing. Taking stock of the leagues you've traveled is especially useful for those of us who drive ourselves so hard to be...whatever we're craving to be.
: I used to have glasses. And then I had lazer eye surgery.
: I used to believe in soul mates, in "The One." And then I learned that "The One" is "The One" because you say he is.
: I used to be angry and didn't know why. Now I'm righteous but happy.
: In my twenties I WILLED it to happen. Now I allow it to happen.
: I used to need ritual. Now I just want the peace that lies beyond structure, even ritual.: I no longer care if you don't agree with me. My heart is softer. I have more room for more opinions than my own."
Well, I could go on and on, but I'm bookmarking "White Hot Truth" for future days when I need a kick in the pants and a dose of shut up and keep moving forward.
Good reading. Now get on over there and check it out...
