In The Next 30 Days

A 30-Day Challenge Closer to Brighter, Shinier, & Happier.

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February 28th, 2013 by Anna Hartman

Find Creativity Day 28 | What I Learned

I sit here wishing February had 31 days.

I’ve enjoyed searching for my creativity, mostly because I’ve found some of it, and that feels good. But I wish had more days to continue my quest. I’ve learned some important things this month. See:

You can find creativity. I really believe that everyone is creative. And because you are creative, it’s just a matter of finding out how to encourage that aspect of your personality, of your life. It could be something as simple as a strong cup of coffee or as elaborately planned as a trip to Paris. Whatever it is, find your methods and then live them. Your creativity will follow.
Rules are good things. Whether it’s establishing a routine for your creativity or setting guidelines to get your work started, rules help to support your creativity and encourage it.
It’s not all about art. My brain is swimming these days, but it’s swimming with some unconventional creative ideas. For example, I want to mod podge the cover of my cell phone with aluminum foil. I’ve written some and drawn some this month, but even more than what might be considered fine art, I’m seeing creativity pop up in more day-to-day happenings. And that’s a wonderful thing.

I didn’t meet all of my creativity goals this month. I certainly didn’t finish a story, and I didn’t share anything with you guys. But I am still working on it. And I think that’s one of the most important aspects of creativity. It doesn’t just stop. You can’t use it up. So I’m going to keep working on my goals, and I will keep sharing with you all. Promise.

Tags: creativity, lessons, what i've learned
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February 27th, 2013 by Anna Hartman

Find Creativity Day 27 | Things to Try When You’re Stuck (‘Cause I’m Stuck)

I’ve had a hell of a week. I went to Arkansas for a funeral. I loved on my extended family, chewed a lot of bubble gum (it’s what my Mimi wanted), laughed, cried, and came home to my sweet kiddos and a broken heater. I’ve got a bit of a cold, and I’m missing my yoga. I’m a bit desperate to get caught up with the Downtown Abbey I’ve missed. (No spoilers, please.) Creativity is kind of elusive for me, right now. I’m not afraid to say it out loud.

Sometimes, when I get stuck, sometimes if find myself staring randomly at a search engine, feeding it search terms that are overly specific and not terribly helpful. Do you do this too? I type something like, “How do I spark my creativity when I get stuck in a slump?” And I get back a million results that aren’t really what I need. And that’s about when I remember super sites like Greatist.

I found Greatist’s article “36 Surprising Ways to Boost Creativity for Free.” Awesome, right?

There are some really great suggestions here. And they’re great not because they answer my question, but more because some of them are specific and instantly applicable: meditate, write by hand, have a drink, literally sit outside the box, or laugh. And some of the hacks are long-term solutions: don’t expect perfection, travel abroad, or spend some time alone.

I’m going to try to apply some of these solutions into my daily life to see what can come of it. After all, anything that moves me one step closer to Great is certainly worth it.

Tell me, what are your hacks that help you be more creative? I REALLY want to know.

Tags: creativity, Greatist, hacks
Posted in 30 Days | Find Creativity | 2 Comments »

February 21st, 2013 by Anna Hartman

Find Creativity Day 21 | On Schedule

Tonight in yoga, we tried all kinds of inversions. Headstands. Handstands. Forearm stands. Shoulder stands. It was something of the theme tonight, which is cool and kind of scary. I drop the top of my head to the mat between my forearms and my head starts to ache. I can’t really get much past bouncing my toes off the floor, and balancing in a long, tall line, toes toward the ceiling is a long way away.

I’m not disappointed, really. I’m a newbie and things like this don’t come easily. And I’m working on it. But Jessica, the instructor said something that struck me. “If you’re not there yet,” she said, “It’s okay. You’re still awesome. You tried it.” Right. So she says that because she’s an awesome teacher. But then she said this, “And if you’re not there yet, and you really want it, it will happen. Trust in the schedule.”

Trust in the schedule.

Let’s rewind a second, though. On her 90th birthday two weeks ago, my grandmother had a stroke. She ended up in the hospital and from there into the rehabilitation hall of her nursing home. She struggled and fought until she couldn’t. And when she passed away, she did it with grace and strength and poise. So I have been thinking about the timing of things anyways, and then Jessica mentions this unknown schedule for my life that I’m supposed to trust in.

I find life difficult enough on a written schedule. Don’t you? It’s so hard to follow a path that’s clear, one that’s written and obvious. But trusting in a schedule that’s not clear, trusting that you will figure it out, that you will be okay no matter what is a different kind of trust. It’s like walking on a tight rope kind of trust, like driving with your eyes closed.

It’s scary, but it’s exhilarating too. It’s exciting to see and feel change. I won’t deny that quite often it is painful, but I’m trying to feel the excitement too. Trying to see the balance. I am hoping that my growth, my development-creatively, in life, as a mother, a writer, whatever-will come through this balance.

And I’ll let you know if I actually get a handstand.

In other news, I will probably be missing for a couple of days to travel for Mimi’s funeral. Don’t worry, I’ll be back soon. And thanks for understanding.