It is very nice to know I’m not alone in the need to return to, or just plain create from scratch, a more creative approach to life. Jonathan and Lauryn, I’d love to hear how you’ll be focusing more on creativity, or just focusing in general in 2009… I’m getting the sense that for many people, 2008 was a year full of outputs (lots of content, lots of connection, lots of things to try and do and work on) but low on intention and focused attention.

Tania and Tera, thanks for the feedback, always. :) It is so nice to have a couple face-to-face friends who also see what I’m thinking online. When do I get to read your stuff? Hmm?

I am continually amazed by your thought process, and how much devotion you have to your own growth. I have tried to do the same, but have struggled with nailing down who I actually am. You have inspired me to look further and push to make myself whole. This is especially hard with a new husband on the way, and such a change in my own life, but I’m sure you know those feelings :), but I am committing myself to trying!

Here’s to a great 2009, may balance come to all :)

Tera

We don’t know each other, some how I stumbled across you on Twitter. Not quite sure.

Anyhoo. Nice post. Someone else pointed out earlier Twyla Tharp’s book. I would also recommend picking up something by Joseph Campbell (Power of Myth), Julie Cameron (The Artists Way) and watching Sir. Ken Robinson videos (On Ted.com or somewhere else).

Lastly, one of my favorite quotes comes from the end of Lord Alfred Tennyson’s “Ulysses”

…It may be that the gulfs will wash us down:
It may be we shall touch the Happy Isles,
And see the great Achilles, whom we knew

Tho’ much is taken, much abides; and though
We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven; that which we are, we are;
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.

Happy New Year, and best of luck on your year.

A web friend.

I can completely relate to your New Year’s resolution to be more creative. I feel like 2008 was focused on productivity, but nothing that really benefited the creative parts of my personality. Last night I was thinking about how much I enjoy that side of myself, especially writing, and how I need to do more things for me this year.

Happy New Years!

On a more serious note- I am sorry I was so hard on you when I saw you. I really wasn’t trying to make you feel bad at all. Sometimes I kind of suck like that. I am very excited to see you moving in a more creative direction. The past few years I’ve seen you really start to grow and evolve into a whole person, and realize what it is that you want and need to be that whole and happy person. And as a person who strongly believes in the power of creativity (and who wholeheartedly believes that creativity is a holistic process as well) , I am glad to see that this is another part of your process towards being who you want , where you want.

Don’t rush yourself, or be to hard on yourself (yes I know how hard that is!). Self actualization isn’t an easy process, or one that has a definite end point. It is a constant growing process over the course of our lives.

So. In the end, I love you so much, and wish that 2009 may be a year of creativity and joy.

Lubs,
T-rex