Plane, Train, Automobile, or Armchair

Is your soul filled with wanderlust?  Are you most content at home?  Do you travel the world?  Do local experiences give you what you need?  Does your mind do the wandering for you, across photos, books, websites, stories read and heard?

Me?  I'm not a big traveller, though I did journey out of the area more before having kidlets.  I married a homebody who is quite content to enjoy the nest.  And while we (or I) still take some jaunts around California, traveling isn't something we're partaking a whole lot in right now.

Thankfully, my Four Musketeers and especially my brother, like to travel and fill my head with their out of area adventures.  Wanderlust and my brother are very well acquainted with each other.  Sometime back I shared just a bit from his summer trek up to Mt. Everest Base Camp and if I can convince him to let me, I'd love to share some of his other travels across the continents.

In the meantime, in addition to the well travelled loved ones in my life, guess where I've turned to, filling my eyes with magical locales and destinations?  If you said that place where many of us just can't stop clicking 'See More Pins' one more time, Pinterest, you hit the mark.

I keep two boards primarily geared towards this new armchair travelling:  Dreamy Destinations and Favorite Places and Spaces.  The first are places that peak my interest or are simply beautiful; the second, are places or approximations of spaces I've been.

These boards actually began as something else entirely.  They began as visual inspiration to use when I write, fiction and/or memoir.  Having a photograph to spark a memory or as a jumping point for a scene can put an entirely different spin on words click clacked out across the keyboard.

And now?  I use my boards for both writing inspiration and the ever fabulous, entirely inexpensive armchair travelling.  One of these days, I'll get to some of the destinations on my list, but in the meantime, just one more reason to read tales in exotic locales, wander the web, listen to friends' adventures, and keep pinning!

When Julia travels to Burma to search for her missing lawyer father, she discovers much more than she expected. Join From Left to Write on February 1 and read posts inspired by the book,  The Art of Hearing Heartbeats by Jan-Philipp Sendker.


As a member of From Left to Write, I received a copy of the book. All opinions are my own.

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Animate January

 

We're wrapping up January (can you believe it?!) and wanted to share just a bit of my One Little Word's 2012 travels.

I took Ali Edwards' One Little Word Workshop at Big Picture Classes last year and found that it helped me keep my 2011 word: Grow front and center.  So, I'm taking it again this year to keep my 2012 word: Animate dancing on the front burner...so to speak.  And I have the title page, as well as the page for January to share with you.

The title page is sweet and simple.  I used the pdf from Ali's workshop for the small 4x6 title page that highlights my word, Animate.  The gray is the pdf and I used Making Memories glitter stickers in pink & teal from my stash. (Just love it when I use some of the stuff I've been hoarding for far too long!)

Then flip the small title page to reveal the 9 pocket 7 1/2 x 10 page for January.  (This particular pocket page protector is from an assorted set the I ordered extra of last year, but is no longer available.  Though there are other 9 pocket protector options that can easily be found in the 8 1/2 x 11 size.)

Ali's pdf has prompts that encourage us to filter what we want from our words this year and where we think we might go.  And then four open spaces to put in whatever you might like - anything from more writing to pattern paper to doodles to symbols to whatever.  I used acrylic paints, Prismacolor marker, writing, and an old acrylic letter 'a' for animate on top of the words I used in the invitation prompt.

I adore the quote I found for 'Animate' and in case you can't read my scrawl:

"Today, a new sun rises for me; everything lives, everything is animated, everything seems to speak to me of my passion, everything invites me to cherish it."

~ Ninon de l'Enclos

It felt good to papercraft again, even if in the smallest way.  Though a new year brings new inspiration and I've been dipping my hands in a variety of creative outlets.  And while I'm only sharing one little bit with my one little word, let me tell you, these hands have been covered in ink and paint many of January's days.

And I'm lovin' it!

What about you?  What has been your creative outlet so far in 2012?

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Tangled up in Gaiman's Wondrous Web o' Words

"May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness.  I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you're wonderful, and don't forget to make some art -- write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can.  And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself."

-Neil Gaiman

Rolling down my newsfeed on Facebook, I delightfully fell into this web of words, shared by From Left to Write and I just love it!

"good madness"

I think I might have let out an audible squeal at those two words meeting.

Gaiman's words are so filled with life and hope and great "good madness".  And as surely as my paint stained hands before me click clack across the keyboard this morning, I'm determined to grab me some, if not gobs, of "good madness" in 2012!

How about you?

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Quiet can be Loud

Are you an introvert or extrovert? Author Susan Cain explores how introverts can be powerful in a world where being an extrovert is highly valued.

Join From Left to Write on January 19 as we discuss Quiet: The Power of Introverts by Susan Cain. We'll also be chatting live with Susan Cain at 9PM Eastern on January 26. As a member of From Left to Write, I received a copy of the book. All opinions are my own.


Are you an extrovert or introvert or a balance of the two, an ambivert?

Growing up, I would say I was an extrovert. I loved socializing, so much so, almost every school report card I had said, "Talks too much," and most people I'm friendly with today might even say the same thing. Yes, I can be quite chatty. I loved singing in choirs, playing in band, summer school drama classes, and definitely did not shy from attention.

Fast forward to my twenties. Something changed in me. I don't like being the center of attention, I prefer one on one or small groups, and I actually enjoy time alone now.

I'd even venture to say I'm more of an ambivert or possibly an introvert.  So, I wasn't overly surprised when I took Susan Cain's Introvert Quiz and did indeed score as an Introvert. Whatever the reasons may be, I definitely no longer feel those extrovert qualities singing out.

There are lots of ways I've seen this shift factor into my life in the fifteen years since the shift began.  I won't bore you with a long list, promise.  Let's just stick to one way here:  the creative growth in independent thought.

Susan Cain discusses the New Groupthink in her book in terms of how we as a society have jumped into that pool of thought that working in groups is better, more productive, more creative.  Schools and companies have all jumped on this bandwagon.

I remember when group assignments in college went from on occasion to the norm during the 1990s.  And I was never a fan.  When working in groups, there was always a pack mentality and independent thought was watered down.

Cain shares Steve Wozniak's creative tech innovation and how it did not come to fruition in committee as an example of what an introverted thought process can bring to the table...after working independently.

For me, in these years since becoming more introverted, I've experienced a kind of creative rebirth.  I absolutely love the creative energy that is shared in all directions being with creative friends.  That energy is almost palpable and definitely inspiring.  But, it is when I am on my own that I take that inspiration and try new things, take creative risks.  It's where I feel free to explore a new medium, a new process, a new idea.  When I have pulled it together, then I share.

Whether my old extroverted self will continue to haunt me in the shadows, pop out for some play on occasion or I develop my newer introverted nature or even learn to enjoy the best of both worlds, Susan Cain's Quiet has given me a lot of food for thought.

What about you?  Are you an introvert?  An extrovert?  An ambivert?  And whether you are a writer, a scientist, a rockin' awesome mama, an attorney, an artist, does it have an effect on your independent creative thought?

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SOPA Strike

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Do you know about SOPA?  What about it's counterpart, PIPA?

If you blog or use social media, you've probably heard about it.  That's how I first heard about it several months ago - on Twitter.

If you don't already know about it, chances are you will by tomorrow.

January 18th is #SOPAstrike where many large websites (and even more smaller ones too) are going black for the day in protest to encourage everyone (because it truly will effect everyone who uses the internet for anything if passed) to contact your representatives in Congress.

PROTECT IP / SOPA Breaks The Internet from Fight for the Future on Vimeo.

(I found the video a bit jumpy in the beginning, but I suspect it was due to high traffic. It does settle down and I'm including it because I feel it's a worthwhile watch.)

I'm keeping this short & simple because I want to you click through to the links with more information.

www.sopastrike.com

www.americancensorship.org

Be informed!