Be Creative

Would you like fries with that...

2010-12-23T19:02:00.000-08:00

My brother recently relocated to Atlanta. His life has been a series of adventures (and misadventures) and as things turned out, he’s back in Atlanta to try to get back on his feet. I’d find it sufficient to say that he’s had his share of ups and downs.

He was at McDonald’s for lunch yesterday, and he noticed our local homeless woman.

Austell is an Atlanta Suburb, about 11 miles northwest of Atlanta. We don’t have many visible homeless people, and as a matter of fact I’m not sure this woman is actually homeless. However, she is definitely having a hard time. I see her in and around the local Wal-Mart from time to time; occasionally digging through the trash for scraps to make up a meal. Her clothing is well past worn, and her feet show through the soles of her shoes. Her face and hands are weather beaten, and her hair is tangled and matted from years of neglect. She shuns human interaction at all costs. When I see her in close proximity to others, she appears genuinely afraid. Some of that is probably a part of her condition, but I’m afraid that some of it is due to human abuse.

Anyway, my brother noticed that she had approached the counter in McDonald’s with a coupon. The McDonald’s employee on the cash register looked at the coupon and told her, “This is a breakfast coupon, we’re serving lunch now”. Each time she said this, the lady would present the coupon again, and the clerk would repeat herself. After several attempts, she finally gave up and went to sit in the dining area. My brother was the next person in line, and he asked the sales clerk what the homeless lady wanted. The sales clerk explained. My brother offered to buy a sandwich for the homeless lady. He then offered to buy a soft drink for her, but the sales clerk, emboldened by his generosity, said, “No. I will buy her drink". Someone else pitched in a bought an order of fries. And the McDonald’s employee presented the food to the homeless woman. She nervously accepted the food.

As my brother was telling me about the incident, I understood what had happened. When one person dares to show concern and takes action, others who might have been thinking that something needed to be done stepped up and contributed! In a small way, it reminds me of one of my favorite quotes of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: “The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence over that by the good people." How many times do we see an opportunity to do the right thing, and let that moment pass us by?

Of course I know that this is a complicated issue, and this woman needs far more than a double cheeseburger, fries and a coke to put her life back together. But isn’t it a start anytime someone is encouraged to reach out? Maybe there was someone there who has a more lasting solution to offer.

As he was leaving the restaurant, one of the customers said to my brother “That was a nice thing you did”. He replied, “I know better than most, ‘There, but for the grace of God, Go I.’”

remember to bite...

2010-01-18T12:48:00.000-08:00

Somehow, I've managed to go from biting off more than I can chew, to forgetting to take a bite. Not that I don't have enough to keep me busy, I certainly do. But most of those things are chosen for me!! I have to go to work, I have to care for my daughter, I have duties and responsibilities as a husband and a family member. But still the question remains, what are the things that I've chosen for myself? What are my creative choices?

It's an exciting time to be a creative person! There are so many tools for creating content, and so many avenues for distribution! There are so many ways to get your idea to the masses, or to that select group of people that are important to you. You can self-publish your book on the web via Lulu or Blurb, and they will print it and send it back to you for sale. You can distribute your music via iTunes or Amazon. You can publish your video short on YouTube. You can crowd source your new idea via Twitter or Facebook. We live in the age of the Internet and that's great for the artist.

But there are so many opportunities that it's almost overwhelming! Maybe that's the reason that I find myself looking for ways to assert my creativity. I'm playing around in Final Cut, for which I even bought some 'video lights'. I find myself juggling numerous undeveloped compositions in Logic Pro and Digital Performer. I'm writing snippets instead of poems, and I'm still toying around with the idea of someday writing a book. All of these possibilities, very few results.

Then it occurred to me (again). It's not the presentation, it's the idea. It's not the icing, it's the cake! It's not the party, it's the occasion!! Remember the natural order of things;

Have an idea.

Develop the idea.

Present the idea.

We seem to be in such a hurry to get to the point of presentation that we forget to sufficiently honor the first two steps. I guess you could say we're trying to chew before taking a bite. Chewing has it's rewards, but don't forget to bite!

All (2002)

2009-06-05T20:23:00.000-07:00

(My perspective of a friend's abusive relationship and subequent divorce)

Some people spend their whole lives

Trying to be everything to everyone.

I tried my best to be your All.

And in doing so denied myself

I gave until it hurt

And then I gave more

I gave until I had nothing left to give

And then I gave what wasn't mine

I finally realized that I could not heal the chasm in your soul

It nearly cost me everything, but now I know

I can't give you happiness,

I can't give you peace.

You can find them both on your own.

But only within your own soul.

I kept hoping that you would see how much I loved you,

And how much I was willing to sacrifice to show you.

But you never saw me.

You only stared blankly into the pit.

The pit that represented all that life had cheated you out of...

All that I gave was eagerly tossed into that pit.

At first in an attempt to fill it, but later just to strip me of MY joy

Your point was that I would have to leave.

You had interpreted your life experiences to mean that you deserved nothing.

So either I was nothing, (if I stayed),

Or I was of value, meaning that there was no alternative but to leave,

As all things of value had done throughout your life.

Spring Morning

2009-04-27T19:39:00.000-07:00

There's a chill in the air, washing over your skin.
Familiar and gentle, refreshing and renewing.
In no way uncomfortable, and somehow full of promise.

You can hear the pleasant chirping of the birds.
You can't see them yet,
As the sun only teases at the horizon.
And everything is somehow new again.

The air is light and fresh, cool and sweet as you drink it in.
Your heart recognizes this symphony of sight sound and smell.
It's the promise of a spring morning!

The joy of renewal.
Here we go again.
With great and wonderful anticipation.
Here we go again.
With resolve and relief,
Here we go again.

You are honored and blessed to have been summoned
by the creator
To witness another spring morning.

In an instant you recall
Every spring morning you've ever known,
And in another, determine that this is the most perfect of them all.

And then you laugh silently to yourself
As you admit that you feel this way every spring morning.

The joy of renewal.
Here we go again.
Born again in some small way.
Here we go again.
Forgiven for yesterday's mistakes.
Here we go again.

Communication Breakdown

2009-03-01T22:47:00.000-08:00

A friend was a little distressed because a former love interest was not getting the message that his time had passed. When I asked her what she told him to get rid of him, it was something like: "I told him that the horse was brown!" What?

Here's what she said: "When I was a little girl I watched a movie where this kid had two horses, a brown one and a black one. The black one was shiny and healthy and full of life. The brown one was listless and dull. The black horse wound up winning a ribbon at the county fair, while the brown one, well.. I don't know whatever happened to that horse. Anyway, I don't want this dude calling me. Why can't he take a hint?" I was thinking "Why don't you give him one"?

Believe me ladies, the men in your life need direct communication, for the positive and the negative. Tell us EXACTLY what you mean and we'll get it. If you dance around the nasty words, we'll build hope on those politically correct expressions.

For example a woman might say: "It might not be a good idea for us to keep seeing each other". What she actually means is "I don't want anything whatsoever to do with you, anyone that knows you, or anything that you're involved with!"

On the other hand, when she said it might not be a good idea, depending on his level of swagger, a guy might hear "It MIGHT not be a good idea. Does that mean that if it's not a good idea, it could be a GREAT idea? And she did say MIGHT, didn't she? Look, she didn't tell me to catch fire like my last girlfriend, (who even offered to buy the matches). I think this one still likes me!! There's hope! Okay, I know, I'll have to call more."

Not the desired result, huh? Of course not!! This is how miscommunication is born. It's usually because someone is trying to avoid making the tough call, or trying to make it easier on themselves by beating around the bush! You can still be diplomatic, but you have to be as direct as you tactfully can, because believe me, we don't do well with clues as you do.

Too Many Irons?

2008-10-17T07:08:00.000-07:00

I've been told on occasion that maybe I have to many irons in the fire. Some suggest that I aspire to do too much under the circumstances. The circumstances being that there are considerable obstacles to the goals that I've set. I've decided that if I don't manage to accomplish the things in life that I've set out to do, it won't be because of external forces. It will be because an honest effort and sincere dedication wasn't enough. It will be because I wasn't as talented as I needed to be. That's all I'm willing to accept. Sometimes we settle into a pattern of complaining and making excuses for not achieving the goals that we've set. We blame everything from 'society' to 'lack of support' for keeping us down. Those are challenges, but not necessarily barriers. As a matter of fact, you'll know that you're in trouble if you spend more time complaining about these factors than you do working towards your goal.

Don't get me wrong. A lot of these are valid and considerable challenges. But are they any more than some of those who have gone before you have faced? We're not dealing with the nightmare of slavery or the civil rights struggles of the 60's. Most of the people who read this blog are in good health and of sound mind. Most of us are not homeless or unemployed. In short we have resources at our disposal to get things done. There is sufficient opportunity to be productive. Whether we choose to spend the upcoming hour working at creating something or watching another episode of Reality TV is a matter of personal choice.

I suppose we all dream of having a support system consisting of associates, friends, family, and spouse who would make your priorities their own (and of course you'd do that in return). While this would be great, it's not always likely or even possible. As a result, we have to find other ways to compensate for those things that are missing from our support system. After all, one of the most important qualities of the human experience is the ability to adapt and overcome. Each time we overcome a challenge, we're reminded of our ability to do so. Do it enough and you start to expect to be successful. As a parent, I'm often reminded not to miss an opportunity to teach. In a similar sense, when faced with a challenge or obstacle, you shouldn't miss an opportunity to succeed and build confidence.

It stands to reason that to be successful, you have to give yourself an opportunity to succeed. The more opportunities you give yourself, the more likely you are to break through on one level or another . So for those who say that I'm taking on too much, is it too many irons in the fire, or not enough fires?

What's On Your Shopping List?

2008-08-10T13:32:00.001-07:00

A friend of mine often laments that it's hard to meet new people. She seems to be shopping for a serious minded companion of great integrity and vision. We've already concluded that she probably won't find him at at the club! That's not to say that you don't have your reasons for going there, but I hope it's not to look for Mr.(or Miss) Right. I hope it's to dance your problems (and maybe yourself, temporarily) into oblivion. I'll give you that, but searching for a lifelong companion requires a less spurious setting.

I read somewhere that people get married because he's wild and crazy, and they get divorced because he can't be serious. They get married because he really knew how to tie one on, and divorced because he had a drinking problem. They get married because he bucks authority and refuses to let anyone tell him what to do, and divorced because he can't keep a job. I'm sure you see the pattern.

Again, partying is your prerogative, but looking for your mate at a Nightclub is like shopping at Toys R Us for a lawn mower. You can get one there, but there's a good chance that it just won't cut. If I had it my way, I'd propose that you set up a panel of your most respected friends and relatives and have them conduct multiple interviews with your intended, but that's just me. After all, I have relatives that could ask one question, and then beat the interviewee unconscious with their own answer, having never raised their voice (or hand) during the process. Again, that's just me.

I have no idea if this would work, but I'm supposed to be writing a blog, so I've got to say something!! How about being honest with yourself and going about your life and becoming involved doing the things that you love, and hoping to meet someone with similar interests while doing so? In this way you manage to avoid the whole idea of the 'meat market' disguised as the 'meet market', and you can also avoid the inherent intent of everyone there to impress the members of the opposite sex, truth in advertising notwithstanding. After all, it seems to make sense that if you want to get to know someone, you eventually have to meet them in a well lit place. Why not start there? If you want to know who they really are, you need to see them go about their business as they would in daily living. Whatever you do, be ready!! You have to present an honest but well prepared you when the time comes. So keep looking, and Be Creative!

Invisible Force Field

2008-08-10T12:10:00.000-07:00

Ever have a task that you really need to complete, but can't get to? You know it's important, you have all of the information that you need and you have the time and place, but still for for some unknown reason you haven't completed it! I think I know what the problem may be. It's actually quite simple, and you'll kick yourself for not realizing this. There's an invisible force field between you and your work. You can take this straight to your manager, and if that doesn't get you an extension... well, we know what kind of person you must be working for.

Look, I'll admit that it sounds strange, but there's really no other explanation. Think about it, you have the time. You have the mental and/or physical ability to perform the task. You have the place to perform the work, and you have the time to do it. There could be no other explanation. Other than the force field, we'd have to talk about stuff like dedication and discipline, and lord knows we've all got plenty of that!

I recently sat down to sketch out a song idea, and ended up learning how to play the theme from "Popeye" on the bass. Will any publisher pay me for being able to play "Popeye" on the bass guitar? Probably not, but it's still an accomplishment I'll show off EVERY time I go to the music store to try out that Fender Precision Bass I have no intention of buying! I could have sketched out that song idea, but I didn't. Am I disciplined? Damn right!! Learned to play "Popeye" in about 7 minutes!! Am I dedicated? Absolutely. I didn't stop until I had the ending just right. So... It's gotta be an invisible force field. Follow my logic?

Seems that my hedges need to be clipped and the lawn needs to be mowed. Do I have time? Well, it's the weekend, isn't it? Do I have the tools? Sure do, and they're in excellent condition. Do I have the mental and/or physical ability to perform the task? I do. So what's the problem? As with sketching out the song, I have no idea why my yard work remains undone. If I have time to post a blog, certainly I have time to cut the grass. By the way, did you know it takes a great deal of discipline to regularly post a blog?

Whatever it is that keeps me from cutting my grass, or from working on yet another song idea (I just got one), it's not detectible with the naked eye, and it wasn't there until recently. Whatever it is, it redirects me from the tasks at hand to something that I hadn't even thought of doing until I'm just about to do it.

Like most superheroes, I'm charged with finding a way break through and save the world, or my productivity, which ever comes first. I need to reach into my utility belt and find something to to re-energize my "weapons". I guess I could make a list, clean my office, read an inspirational book, or just pick some small task and finish it. If I start a task that I can't finish, I could trash the whole thing and start over. My objective is to create output no matter what. These are some of the things that seem to build momentum for me, often leading me back to the productive path. Talking to someone who consistently gets things done may help, as long as you don't drag them down to your level of misery.

I think I'm ready to try. Just remember, if this doesn't work, it's not my fault. It's that Invisible Forcefield.

Creative Kryptonite

2008-06-29T10:18:00.000-07:00

A few years ago, I realized that there are people who, without even trying, seem to sap my creativity. Spending time around them has a predictable effect on my creative output! My mind doesn't seem to function the same. It's not that kind of confusion that I experienced when the hottest girl in 12th grade had a (short-lived) crush on me, (even though I was a freshman, and I liked her sister). I digress. Suffice it to say that it's not like that at all! Sure, during that crush I was confused, but that was a warm and fuzzy kind of confusion. I didn't shut down creatively, I was just distracted. That was not Creative Kryptonite.

Creative Kryptonite leaves me not even wanting to play a note, write a lyric, or even sing a verse. It's a cold, gray confusion. I don't know if it's intentional nor how they manage to do that to me. I do know that I owe long stretches of creative inactivity to my close proximity to to these types of people. Fortunately, I think that if I can reduce this phenomenon to writing, I just may have a chance to overcome it!

Short of coating them in lead, (and there's no proof that this would work), I've got to find ways to shake off the effects that these people seem to have on me. You can clean a cluttered room, adjust a bad chair, or replace a suspect pair of reading glasses. But what can you do with people? How do you mitigate their effect on you? The answer may be simple. Ignore them. Do not give them the power to alter your path. Proceed as if they did not just utter that mindless, meaningless comment. Create anyway. Forge ahead even with your badly formed ideas. They all deserve to live, right? Sometimes that idea that you were convinced was a stirring anthem turns out to be a kick-butt dance tune. Horrible as an anthem, respectable as a dance tune. Let it be.

I think that the solution is to fight your way through, without giving credence to the obstacles that would stop you. Mental barriers are a lot kinder than physical ones. They can be resolved with a mental remedy. It's perfectly within your reach as a creative person to come up with a creative solution! The most important thing is to keep your feet moving. If you keep churning out something, even if they're not your best ideas, and you may find the antidote to Creative Kryptonite!!

New and Improved!

2008-06-29T00:55:00.000-07:00

Ever worry about becoming obsolete? I know it sounds shallow, but as a writer and a musician, I'm constantly concerned about bringing a fresh perspective. As someone who experienced a milestone birthday this year, it's a thought that rattles around in my head from time to time. It's not that I've really changed that much over the years, it's just that that my thoughts aren't considered to be as cutting edge as maybe they used to be. And in many cases, perception is reality.

Part of the problem is that we live in a society that values change for the sake of change. Don't get me wrong. Change is good when it comes in the form of improvement. But then there's a part of society that values change as a function of fashion. I'm not just talking about clothes. It's the 'What Is Hip?" mentality that I'm referring to. (And yes, I know that my vernacular is outdated. It's for effect, people.) Change for the sake of change is what I'm talking about. It all boils down to form vs. function.

We all have those people in our lives who are always asking us to try something new. I'm glad to oblige if it's something that helps me to do something better. I'm not so enthusiastic it if just makes it look like I'm doing something better. Cellular phones are a perfect example. When did phones become fashionable? First of all, let me confess; I'm an early adopter. I bought a cell phone back when they were heavy enough to be a part of my workout routine, (if I had a workout routine). I bought the first iPhone within the first few days of the initial release. But I bought both of these gadgets as tools that I continue to use on a regular basis. I access a vast majority of the features of my iPhone daily. I use the email, web access, the camera, the weather, the iPod, the stock ticker, etc. All of it. That's why it's so beat up. I know lots of people who make great use of their gadgets.

On the other hand, there are certain people in my life (who will remain clueless), who rush out to buy the latest phone with all of the bells and whistles. It's got to have navigation, web access, email, a good camera and everything else imaginable. How do they use it? They make calls. That's about it. If you send them a text message, you'll have to follow up with a call to tell them that they have a text message. Same thing for email.

In the 60's, (I am told), there was a practice that some marketing executives used to boost sales. When they needed to do something quick and cheap, they'd simply slap a colorful 'New and Improved' logo on the front of the product packaging. It usually worked. Is that the function of the fashionable cell phone?