Snowbody in Particular February-22-2010
Playing in the snow
What began as a routine driveway shoveling this morning ended up as creative snow play. I can't resist "packable" snowman-making friendly snow. Can you?
"Today I was shoveling new fallen snow on our driveway, and it was very packable, perfect for making a snowman.
It's been years since I've played in the snow, so, creatively inspired, I made a family of snow people with a snow dog. I haven't gotten around to putting eyes and stuff in yet -- I probably won't, but did snap a photo for your enjoyment before it melts away.
I loved how the dog turned out... not too ruff."
That's a howler of a caption... and I learned that snowpeople don't have snowbones. That's why they melt into a puddle. The dog? He melts into a poodle. Is it really 26 more days 'til spring? •
Creative Courage, Ice Skating, and Floppy Red Clown Shoes February-19-2010
"Can I take a picture of your shoes?"
Today my knees ache as do various "stabilizing" muscles in my legs and ankles after putting on a pair of ice skates at a local indoor ice skating rink yesterday. It's been over 15 years since I've dared this sport, and in an hour's time I did about eight complete skate sets around the oval rink. ...
Creativity Portal Helps Support Children's Creativity in Nepal through SHIVA Charity February-14-2010
Aazaad Higher Secondary School, Nepal
Last April, Creativity-Portal.com responded to an appeal for funding by SHIVA charity for "a box of basic art resources to help poor schools in Nepal, with no equipment." Altruistic as donating money is to help support the needy, when it comes to children and creativity, I have an especially soft spot for assisting where the need is great.
And I had no idea, that months later, we'd receive a note of gratitude from Bob Uppington at SHIVA charity with a link to a YouTube video showing specifically how our funds were used in a classroom of children at Aazaad Higher Secondary School in Nepal.
As you can imagine, my heart is soaring right now. The images in the clip tell the story a million more times better than I can, so please watch it. And it serves to reinforce to me that like love, creativity and its expression is a basic human need that will thrive across all illusionary man-made borders when nurtured. To be part of this bigger picture in action is a proud moment for us. •
365 Pictures February Collaborators February-12-2010
Shout Outs: Web Sites & Blogs
Creativity Portal's 365 Pictures photo prompter is on the cusp of completing its first 12-month cycle (revolution?), and thankfully has grown a logical Leap Year Day fix. (That occasional February 29 will no longer wrench the gears!)
Launched in March of 2009, this creativity-inspiring machine displays a new prompt and photo daily contributed in collaboration by a vast collective of people from all across the globe — all to inspire 'going deeper', inciting creative thoughts and emotions in artists, writers, and other creative seekers.
Since August of 2009 I've been posting monthly shout outs here (in addition to C-P's credit page) to spotlight the amazing, generous, creative pool of talent this prompter is sourcing from. Although many of my own photos and prompts appear in the machine as "fillers" for slots that I couldn't fill in time for their scheduled days of emergence (especially in January and February), I'm in awe at how many of the 365 days I was able to fill with contributions from willing participants. I'm pretty sure we achieved the Pareto principle of 80/20 here, that is to say, 80% of the photos and prompts are gifts from creative others in the ethersphere.
I'll continue the shout-outs here through July, and if you're interested in the creative talent 365 Pictures displays in February, here's their names and Web sites (omitting my own, so the list looks short this month), alphabetized for easy reference:
Tranquilista: Mastering the Art of Enlightened Work and Mindful Play Excerpts Feb-8-2010
By Kimberly Wilson
Many thanks to the great staff over at New World Library ("Books that Change Lives") for allowing Creativity Portal to publish excerpts of Kimberly Wilson's new book Tranquilista: Mastering the Art of Enlightened Work and Mindful Play. The excerpts Your Life is Art, Modes of Creativity, and Ways to Evoke Creativity make up a good portion of the books' chapter 4: "Chic Creativity", one of the most fitting chapters for our creative audience, of course!
I'm still working my way through Tranquilista, and notice the book is divided into three major sections to help you 'master the art of enlightened work and mindful play':
- Part 1: MIX MINDFULNESS (Ingredients for Tranquility)
- Part 2: BAKE IN BEAUTY (Our External Expression)
- Part 3: DECORATE WITH SPRINKLES (Our Entrepreneurial Topping)
If you enjoy Kimberly's style, she's also the author of Hip Tranquil Chick and can be found online at www.kimberlywilson.com. •
GROUNDHOG DAY! (Jill Badonsky's Awe-manac Interview)
Feb-2-2010
A Bill Murray Repost, Repost, Repost
Jill and I did this interview about Groundhog Day together last year as part of her Awe-manac book tour, but it's just as timely for today and tomorrow, and the day after, and after that again (nod to the film). Best yet, I can repost Jill's Awe-manac page (below) for today and next year, and for as long as that badger keeps on emerging from its burrow to forecast the weather on February 2. Punxsutawney Phil won't be seeing his shadow in Chicago today — it's snowing. So 'Today I get to...' shovel snow! 'Here's to the wisdom of the heart'!:
© Jill Badonsky from The Awe-manac
(Published with permission)
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