This is such a great point Brian: "This moment is it, and the only choice you get to make is the one immediately in front of you." I like this approach to what we do, poetry, creativity, careers, and life. This zen-like approach to things helps me focus on 'now' much more than past decisions. Thanks for sharing.
I love this framing of taking your identity as a poet, artist, creative into your daily life wherever that leads. For me, even in those grueling day jobs or even household chores we all sometimes have to do, I try to think creatively about them - What would make this more fun? What would upend the routine way we do this thing? Would that benefit the job or chore? Should we experiment to see? Etc etc etc.
Hmmm I think most recently I've been thinking about this experimentation as it relates to my job teaching swim lessons, especially to adults. I find that adults think there is just a right way to do a thing. And that's true to a certain extent, there are techniques. But those techniques can be put into practice a variety of different ways.
So the other day, I was trying to teach someone how to move around in the water from their floats, so from front to side to back float. Bear with me... And that movement comes from your head and shoulder when you get right down to it. But it's not possible to tell someone *exactly* where and how to hold their head and shoulder to make those floats and the movement between them easy. So instead, I told this adult, so just experiment. Just move your head and shoulder in all sorts of directions and see what it does with the rest of your body. From that experimentation, you can find your own sweet spot for staying in all those various floats.
Explaining this, I'm also realizing this has been really key for me in any artistic practice as well. When I was learning PhotoShop, I had asked my instructor, "How do I create XYZ image?" And she said, "Well there are many ways to do that, so my suggestion is for you to play around with all the buttons inside the program to see what each one does to the image and as you're doing that, you'll figure out what tools and processes you feel most comfortable using to get to your vision." And I leveled up so much more quickly in that class after I had taken some time to experiment and make a mess.
And you can basically take this experimentation with tools and process into anything you're doing.
“what if I choose the impractical identity of being a poet all day?”
This is such a beautiful question, Brian. my people-filled workdays in healthcare and my off-days as an eccentric hermit wandering in the woods could not be more different!! 🤓 And you are so right. You are the common factor in all your days. And how you embrace them—with a certain poetic lens—makes all the difference (see how I slipped a little Frost reference in there? haha) Love this mindset.
This is such a great point Brian: "This moment is it, and the only choice you get to make is the one immediately in front of you." I like this approach to what we do, poetry, creativity, careers, and life. This zen-like approach to things helps me focus on 'now' much more than past decisions. Thanks for sharing.
Your welcome! Thanks for reading!
i hear you.
i see you.
i hear you.
🌱🌿💚
😊
I love this framing of taking your identity as a poet, artist, creative into your daily life wherever that leads. For me, even in those grueling day jobs or even household chores we all sometimes have to do, I try to think creatively about them - What would make this more fun? What would upend the routine way we do this thing? Would that benefit the job or chore? Should we experiment to see? Etc etc etc.
I like the experimentation idea. Is there anything you’ve tried that works for you?
Hmmm I think most recently I've been thinking about this experimentation as it relates to my job teaching swim lessons, especially to adults. I find that adults think there is just a right way to do a thing. And that's true to a certain extent, there are techniques. But those techniques can be put into practice a variety of different ways.
So the other day, I was trying to teach someone how to move around in the water from their floats, so from front to side to back float. Bear with me... And that movement comes from your head and shoulder when you get right down to it. But it's not possible to tell someone *exactly* where and how to hold their head and shoulder to make those floats and the movement between them easy. So instead, I told this adult, so just experiment. Just move your head and shoulder in all sorts of directions and see what it does with the rest of your body. From that experimentation, you can find your own sweet spot for staying in all those various floats.
Explaining this, I'm also realizing this has been really key for me in any artistic practice as well. When I was learning PhotoShop, I had asked my instructor, "How do I create XYZ image?" And she said, "Well there are many ways to do that, so my suggestion is for you to play around with all the buttons inside the program to see what each one does to the image and as you're doing that, you'll figure out what tools and processes you feel most comfortable using to get to your vision." And I leveled up so much more quickly in that class after I had taken some time to experiment and make a mess.
And you can basically take this experimentation with tools and process into anything you're doing.
The one constant seems to be cultivating art in the everyday of life, work, family, and monotony.
"Create in small moments..."
Lets our try/test/treasure begin.
Thank you Brian 🙏
Thanks for reading along!
“what if I choose the impractical identity of being a poet all day?”
This is such a beautiful question, Brian. my people-filled workdays in healthcare and my off-days as an eccentric hermit wandering in the woods could not be more different!! 🤓 And you are so right. You are the common factor in all your days. And how you embrace them—with a certain poetic lens—makes all the difference (see how I slipped a little Frost reference in there? haha) Love this mindset.
Thanks Ann. It’s ironic I posted this over the weekend, and promptly forgot everything I told myself by Tuesday…one of those weeks…
I know exactly what you mean.