Is the Summer Weather Igniting Your Sense of Wonder, Physical Exploration and Creativity?

This wonderful summer weather combined with the completion of my last goal (100 blogs in 100 days) has me revved up to set new targets. I have a burning desire to keep the momentum of change and feed those ‘needs’ I mentioned in the previous blog. I need to keep reinventing and expanding my fairy world. My hope is that in two months I will improve my physical state and my drawing and painting skills.

I have just received new blood results, indicating that my cholesterol, although better than last July, has increased from the huge drop last September. Hence, my first goal is to bump up the fitness in a relaxed way that will not stress my body and increase cortisol levels. One new activity is the purchase of the Figure Eight Dance Fitness program. I plan to engage in the basic program for eight weeks. This along with bumping up on natural supplements and of course watching the food/wine consumption might bring positive results.

The second goal I have been ‘talking’ about but struggling to practice is illustrating two stories. To accomplish this, I need to work on daily sketching and painting. It boils down to practice, practice, practice, along with study through online classes and coaching from artist friends. It’s interesting as I find sketching and painting becomes a practice in mediation and this sounds, crazy but, altered perception. I find while sketching I try to extend my spirit outside of my body, to the materials I am using while trying to look at my subject from a different angle (negative space/upside-down/specific space undefined by the whole). Over the summer I will periodically post my progress on these two fronts.

This week I received a delightful email from Holly Smith with a FANTASTIC link to graphic design resources for kids. Here is the link: https://www.logodesign.net/coronavirus-lockdown-graphic-design-resources-kids

I’ve taken a look and was blown away at the organized, descriptive and extensive listing of ways to engage children in graphic design. She is so right exposing your kids to graphic design programs might just nudge them to consider graphic design as a career. Not only that but Logo Design looks like a great way to save money for your own business.

In the meantime, I urge you to take a look at the articles I have posted below, as they support the need for us all to take responsibility in contributing to the new normal. Natalie Nixon’s article is exceptional. I received it in an email from Berrett Koehler Publishers. It sums up the call to creativity during this pandemic. The other articles also prod us to investigate and discover new ideas, make out of the box connections, and overall challenge our imaginations. Our employment might not require us to develop specific cutting-edge solutions BUT, during this chaotic time, we are all being called to let go of the old norm and embrace our new norm of chaos and frenetic change. Yes, it is tempting to grab our security blankets and try hide in a world of ‘we always do it this way’ mentality. The problem is in many cases we can’t as the old way of doing things no longer exists. This dynamic energy is requiring us all to be open minded think of alternative methods of doing and relating. AND this new age is challenging us to re-examine some of the limiting perceptions and classifications we have imposed like ADHD. Articles suggest that the ADHD person may be our new leaders of exploration and creativity. Let’s celebrate this creative renaissance!

Dazzle’s Challenge:

  • Read some or all of these articles. Think of engaging in some of these igniting games/activities at home or at work. 
  • Set a creative goal for yourself. Take small steps and slowly build upon your growth.

Quick Take Away Links: 

Videos 

Is the Summer Weather Igniting Your Sense of Wonder, Physical Exploration and Creativity?

This wonderful summer weather combined with the completion of my last goal (100 blogs in 100 days) has me revved up to set new targets. I have a burning desire to keep the momentum of change and feed those ‘needs’ I mentioned in the previous blog. I need to keep reinventing and expanding my fairy world. My hope is that in two months I will improve my physical state and my drawing and painting skills.

I have just received new blood results, indicating that my cholesterol, although better than last July, has increased from the huge drop last September. Hence, my first goal is to bump up the fitness in a relaxed way that will not stress my body and increase cortisol levels. One new activity is the purchase of the Figure Eight Dance Fitness program. I plan to engage in the basic program for eight weeks. This along with bumping up on natural supplements and of course watching the food/wine consumption might bring positive results.

The second goal I have been ‘talking’ about but struggling to practice is illustrating two stories. To accomplish this, I need to work on daily sketching and painting. It boils down to practice, practice, practice, along with study through online classes and coaching from artist friends. It’s interesting as I find sketching and painting becomes a practice in mediation and this sounds, crazy but, altered perception. I find while sketching I try to extend my spirit outside of my body, to the materials I am using while trying to look at my subject from a different angle (negative space/upside-down/specific space undefined by the whole). Over the summer I will periodically post my progress on these two fronts.

This week I received a delightful email from Holly Smith with a FANTASTIC link to graphic design resources for kids. Here is the link: https://www.logodesign.net/coronavirus-lockdown-graphic-design-resources-kids

I’ve taken a look and was blown away at the organized, descriptive and extensive listing of ways to engage children in graphic design. She is so right exposing your kids to graphic design programs might just nudge them to consider graphic design as a career. Not only that but Logo Design looks like a great way to save money for your own business.

In the meantime, I urge you to take a look at the articles I have posted below, as they support the need for us all to take responsibility in contributing to the new normal. Natalie Nixon’s article is exceptional. I received it in an email from Berrett Koehler Publishers. It sums up the call to creativity during this pandemic. The other articles also prod us to investigate and discover new ideas, make out of the box connections, and overall challenge our imaginations. Our employment might not require us to develop specific cutting-edge solutions BUT, during this chaotic time, we are all being called to let go of the old norm and embrace our new norm of chaos and frenetic change. Yes, it is tempting to grab our security blankets and try hide in a world of ‘we always do it this way’ mentality. The problem is in many cases we can’t as the old way of doing things no longer exists. This dynamic energy is requiring us all to be open minded think of alternative methods of doing and relating. AND this new age is challenging us to re-examine some of the limiting perceptions and classifications we have imposed like ADHD. Articles suggest that the ADHD person may be our new leaders of exploration and creativity. Let’s celebrate this creative renaissance!

Dazzle’s Challenge:

  • Read some or all of these articles. Think of engaging in some of these igniting games/activities at home or at work. 
  • Set a creative goal for yourself. Take small steps and slowly build upon your growth.

Quick Take Away Links: 

Videos