ellenoutloud's Blog: creativity

No one’s ever mistaken me for an artist – my kindergarten teacher never did like how I finger-painted, but I am creative and I can cut and paste with the best of them.

When I graduated from high school I made some of my chums “memory boards” – nine by twelve, two-dimensional collages of photos, ticket stubs, captions, and cut-outs of some of our favorite people, places and things.

While I’ve never been an accomplished scrapbooker (I was always concerned I wasn’t doing it “right”), I am an avid journal keeper, and I do like to decorate those with captions and photos and an occasional stub.

Now I’m starting to create future boards – previews of coming attractions. Collages of what might be. As I browse through magazines or surf the Internet, I’ll see a photo of somewhere I’d like to go or an event I want to see or a house or room that appeals to me and I'll cut it out.

As I’m gathering those pieces and bits of dreams and fancy I'm starting to mount them on poster board for my own amusement and subconscious imprint.

I’ve given myself permission to create these wish works anyway I want. No rules. My writing and life coach, author and inspirator Mary Anne Radmacher, likes to say: “you can’t do art wrong” and I think she’s on to something big. I know for certain you can never dream wrong.

Dream, imagine, envision and Soldier on!

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I grew up in a family where the parent people fought all the time. All the time. It was habitual. It was constant. It was distressing, disturbing, and annoying. Nothing was ever resolved; no conclusions were ever drawn. The current debt-ceiling debate is giving me flashbacks.

Maybe it’s because I was raised around it, but I am not a big fan of bickering. I loathe name-calling. I abhor baseless rhetoric.

I do, however, adore a good debate. I sure wish we could have one.

Between the finger-pointing, blaming, and pouting I just wish the Great Playground Monitor would call a big recess to recess and send all the squabbling brats and bullies to time-out or home, it makes me no difference

I never had the power to get my arguing progenitors to stop. I do remember asking them to. Yesterday I asked my representatives in Washington to do the same. I used to tell my parents that they had to stop behaving so stupidly; they were supposed to be taking care of me. I reminded my Senators and Congress people of that too.

Yes, all the juvenile posturing and gesturing does remind me of a time when I never had a say in things, but now that I do? Oh, I intend to make my voice heard. Out loud.

Speak up, and Soldier on!

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It wasn’t until Rex and I were well into our morning walk that I realized what a vital, integral role I play in the ecosystem. You know, it's so easy in the day-to-day-to-day to forget that we were especially crafted for a host of unique and special purposes.

As a MMFU, literally dozens of lives depend on me for their strength, vitality and well-being. It is an awesome responsibility and one I don’t take lightly.

A mobile mosquito feeding unit must be ready at a moment’s notice to play host to hosts of life forms sharing our planet and blood supply. There’s no telling how many dozens of times one might be called upon in one morning’s walk to provide vital life-sustaining nourishment. It’s humbling to be part of the greater plan.

Which is just a simple reminder that we may not be aware of it when we get up and start our day, but we matter – to some folks that depend on us, a great deal.

And the magic part is? We may never know what a dramatic role we play in the lives of others or how many people and other molecular structures are counting on us – for the nod of greeting, the kind word, the ready smile, the voice of assurance, the gentle touch, lifeblood.

Somewhere, someone is just waiting for you to make their day.

C’mon, up and at ‘em and Soldier on!

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For a couple of years in High School and College I worked at the Hallmark Store near my house. I could walk to it if I had to, although it was probably an entire m-i- i -i- i –le. (Cue snow.)

But even before I was an employee, I was a patron. My sister and I used to spend a lot of time in Helene’s store when we were about 10 and 12. The lions’ share of our weekly allowances were deposited right there.

Ever since, we've been, hmm, how shall I put it, greeting card fiends. If there’s a holiday we send a card and if there’s not, well, we send a card. Promoted? Demoted? Demented? You’re getting one. Hoarse, divorced, in court? (I could go on.)

Giving an employee discount to me was a license to kill folks with kindness. 009, that’s me!

If you’re waiting for the part where I write, “and then, in time, I got over it,” you’ll have to wait. I’m as bad as I ever was, but I’ve never succumbed to e-carding. When you are personally responsible for keeping the US postal rates down you can’t be taking shortcuts.

To this day I trade cards most with my sister. We’ve always been competitive, especially in trying to outdo each other in the “perfect card” department.

She told me yesterday, “I love them so much. If I had my way I’d have them up all over the place.”

And that’s when I reminded her, now that she and I are no longer ten and twelve. “It IS your way.” Whenever you want, however you want. The time is now -- Life is a big old Burger King. Whenever you’re ready.

Have it your way, and Soldier on!

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Growing up the shortest kid in class every year, I got pretty used to everything being a little over my head. Monkey bars, badminton nets, basketball hoops, algebra. Maybe that’s why setting sky-high goals comes kind of naturally to me.

I remember sharing my biggest dreams with my Dad through the years, and his cautionary words in response each time: “Well, just don’t get your hopes up.” I always thought that was funny. Where else should I get them? Down?

“I’ve got my fingers crossed, hope they don’t elect me to Student Council.”

“Boy, I sure hope I’m not the best speaker in the competition.”

“Gee, I hope I don’t get that promotion I’ve worked so hard for.”

Huh?

Maybe it’s because I’ve got this crazy, vivid, technicolor imagination, but I have always been able to visualize precisely what I was hoping for. I could always imagine myself winning/achieving/succeeding at exactly what I set my mind to. Oh, that doesn’t mean I have always won/achieved/succeeded, not by a long shot, but I could always picture myself doing so.

And surprisingly? I’ve never once been disappointed by “getting my hopes up.”

The only serious disappointments I’ve ever had were when I didn’t pursue the things I really wanted.

If you’ve been holding back for fear of having your hopes dashed? I encourage you to hope away. Hopes are pretty durable. Regrets, on the other hand, will break your heart.

Just remember, when you’re hoping big, the world is full of parade-rainers. Sometimes it’s best that we don’t tell them when and where we’re having one!

Hope and Soldier on!

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I know a sure-fire system to positively change your life you can implement immediately, doesn’t cost a thing, and won’t make you fat.

(You love me now, don’t you?!)

Put your pencils down, you should be able to remember this without props. Ready?

Every day do:

1)Something New
2)Something Nice
3)Something No

This recipe absolutely changed my life. I’m just crazy enough to suggest if you follow it you can change yours too.

I’ve been incorporating these three simple ingredients into the recipe of my days for almost 25 years. When I do, I am a very happy woman. I have seen the results when I do not. Let’s take a closer look –

Something New: If you’ve ever purchased a new dress or pair of shoes you know the childlike glee that comes with your receipt. That same modicum of glee happens whenever we do something new – whether it’s acquiring something new, doing something new or behaving in a new way. NEW is what gives life the kick, the flavor, the “Wow, what IS that?”

Something Nice. If you will add some nice to your day you’ll be happier. It’s not complicated. It is delicious if you do something really nice for yourself but it tastes even better when you do something nice for someone else. Go out of your way and do something unexpectedly generous for a perfect stranger and tell me you don’t feel better. You cannot be nice and grumpy at the very same time.

Something No. Most of the time when I’m low and feeling sorry for myself it is because I’ve allowed my life to get out of balance, I’ve taken on too much, or I’ve said “Yes” when my gut said no. When I line up my “nos” with my “don’t want tos” I am a much happier chick. Try it -- “No, I can’t help with the garage sale.” “No, I’m not lending you the money.” “No, I can’t attend.” “No thank you, I hate Brussell sprouts.”

Three N’s every day. All the ingredients you need to add to turn a perfectly ordinary, pound cake of a life into the mouth-watering three-layer chocolate fudge frosted kind.

Yummmmmm!

Stir some in and Soldier On!

Ellen Lambert is a motivational speaker and writer helping folks discover, uncover and recover their own, authentic voice. On Facebook - A New Way: Radmacher Focus Phrase

Just in case anyone missed the memo, I am not a domestic goddess. If anything, I’m the Maven of Messy, not the Diva of Dusting. If one’s character were judged by the size of the dust bunnies under the bed, I am a mountain of a woman.

It’s not that I enjoy a messy environment, it’s that I do not enjoy the work involved with keeping my home orderly, uncluttered, and debris-free. There are precisely 11,672 things I would rather do at any one time besides cleaning the house. Unless we’re talking Congress, then I’m ready when you are.

So it behooves me to find ways to make my tasks more enjoyable; playing music, playing games, trying to convince myself I’m preparing for company.

For some reason, as I was unearthing ancient artifacts in preparation of sweeping-so-I-could-vacumn-so-I-could-f reakin’-mop, my mind went back to the beautiful resort I got to stay in a few weeks ago. Sigh.

The conference I was attending had negotiated fabulous room rates; otherwise you’d never see this curly head in their 5-Star Lobby without a name badge reading “Marriott Staff”.

My point is – this hotel really had guest catering part down! They had all these nice touches in the room like chocolates on the pillow, gourmet coffees, and a spotless bathroom. Even the end of the toilet paper roll was folded into some kind of origami bird! I didn’t want to use it because I’d wreck the 2-ply crane or phoenix!

No! I didn’t spend the weekend folding my toilet paper into little animals, get real, my husband would have me taken away. No, no objet d’art for me, but I was inspired to make my surroundings more appealing for this guest.

After all, we are the company we keep. Sometimes we need to roll out our own red carpet, and while you're at it? Put a chocolate or two on the pillows!

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