Day 1: 9 Ways I stayed Sane (and productive) while not working!

Hello Quirksters, and welcome to Day One of:
Staying Sane (and productive) while not working. If you don't know this already, let me introduce you to a sneak peek at my life, or at least what has led me to this point in time, and this glorious list of suggestions and reflection.  (feel free to fast forward through this part if you are, oh, my daughter, husband, mother, long lost relative or best friend...trust me, you really already know this stuff, and you may want to skip the next 2 paragraphs, just sayin').

For the past several years I have had goals that I have been working toward. Our 2 daughters are grown and have flown away, building their own nests, this has provided us with 2 sons-in-law and grandchildren of which there are three. So at this point, my children are very much on their own and any goals that I was "saving for later" have now entered the realm of "later" and I both relish and , admittedly, slightly fear this "later" point in my life. I've always wanted to finish my Bachelor's degree that I had been working on class by class for a million and one years throughout the growing up years of our children. Now that I had the time, I continued a part-time job and managed to do on-line classes to obtain my degree. Then I decided that I would really like to be a Special Education teacher, a couple more years of classes and now I am in a holding pattern. I have to pass a certain test (CSET, just the math/science portion, everything else was fine...does that help? not really...). While I am waiting (and studying) I have certain deadlines that I need to meet in order to do my student teaching. At this point it's looking like it will be about a year before I can go down this road. So meanwhile.

This leads me to the question of what now? I am so used to husband, family, friends, school, church, hobbies (of which I am guilty of A.D.D. in this particular area...crafts, music, art, writing, not.enough.time) that I find myself flailing a bit. The house is quiet, I have no one to be accountable to, if I want to just hole up and bon-bon binge on Netflix, Hulu and Amazon, who would know? Yes, you guessed, I WOULD. So this is where I pose the question; to job or not to job? or do I consider that for the moment this IS my job. So I will share with you my list for for DAY ONE of this very odd space and holding tank in my life...ahem...

DAY ONE:
Devotions and take care of the dog. These are just part of the DNA of the day, no matter what. 

1. Get up: Try to make this a normal time, not too early or too late. Your life rhythm is important. Whether you are earning a paycheck or sitting in the "waiting room" keep your rhythm. Get up, get dressed, do breakfast...routine establishes the day. Change is great, but too much change will derail your emotions (which are probably already taking a bit of hit right now).
So this morning I got up as usual, but then I went outside and did a little bit of prettifying my backyard. Not my usual routine, but it was plunked into the middle of a morning that would otherwise have been spent staring at some type of media. Get.up.
 
2. Find your "space".  Visual clutter can be frustrating and make you feel anxious, but so can trying to do it all in one fell swoop. Pick one area to de-clutter and feel very accomplished when you complete this task!
So this morning I found my dining table. This particular area is like a landfill in our house because it is close to the front door on the way to the living room. So I took it down to the bare bones and cleaned it up. So satisfying! and we may actually use it to serve a meal:) 

3. Get Creative! Do something with this time, it really is a gift (it may feel like a burden, but let's try to look on the bright/half-full glass/side). For some reason we feel it necessary to hamster wheel our lives, busy, busy, busy. But what if instead of circles we create pockets of purpose, creativity can be purposeful, but take it out of your head and play!
So today I sat down and worked on some music and lyrics, drew some doodles and looked at the clock and low and behold 2 hours had flown by... this is not wasted time.

4. Plan: Yes, a "to-do-list" is a wonderful thing. It allows us to have a visual of what we want to do without wasting memory space in our brains. We have enough to be thinking about right now without having to "think about what I should be doing right now". Let a sticky note, reminder app, bell, whistle or whatever you have that allows you to complete a task be your visual (or audio) and move.on.
So I wrote a check list that I put on the kitchen table. I had to walk past the table between chores and running in and out of the house? it was right there. No going around it.

5. Do SOMETHING on your list. Make your list, but do not count making your list as part of your "chores" on your list. (those of you looking for loopholes, and you know who you are...). This list is almost like an Amazon Wish List. If you were to get absolutely everything on your list you would be incredibly surprised and beyond elated. If you get one or two items? now THAT's still a WIN.
I completed everything on my list except for one, for Day One? I felt extremely productive. I went to bed with a smile on my face and klunked out like a drunk (although I really don't know what that's like, no seriously). Needless to say, a sound sleep.

6. Get to the Gym: Exercise, whatever gets your blood going, get those positive endorphins coursing through your bloodstream and into your cranium... I say, or rather Nike says,  "Just Do It". Hmmmm, there's a reason why that slogan resonates with people.
I managed to squeeze in a workout that actually burned some calories and got my heart-rate up. It was not the most notable of workouts, but some workout is better than none workout. Oh dear, we are getting all slogany here, and grammar is the one taking the hit. Anyway, I got it done and felt exhilarated to boot.

7. Run errands: that to-do list will not take care of itself. But do yourself a productivity favor and schedule your errands so you feel like you are blazing a trail in your community. I truly believe in right hand turns and if you have a route that will allow you to make right hand turns all the way back to your home? Challenge accepted.
Challenge met  (not one left hand turn in a 3 mile radius AND I didn't backtrack, oh the pride) and accomplished plus soooo many check marks on my list when I got home.

8. Fuel yourself: I cannot emphasize enough how having the right fuel around can encourage and motivate you throughout your day. There is a very simple phrase that people use nowadays for a reason, it's true, "comfort food". But try to remember that comfort food may "comfort" you in the short term (and trust me, a little comfort never hurt anyone) but a little can go a very long way. Try not to deprive yourself, but try not to go overboard. I just gave you a whole basketful of "try" so here's how I did it... and yes, this is Day One.
I made sure I had a good breakfast. I also made sure that I didn't get overly hungry. I usually have quite a few snacks on hand; popcorn, nuts, things that have some "chew" to them. Then I made sure that I did not have these right in front of me. If I was doing something,  I needed to get up and go get whatever snack or meal, I had to think about it and put in some effort. Also, water, good old H20, hey, if we're at home we can at least take advantage of easy access to our facilities.

9. Evening routine: Have your check in time with your significant other (mine is named Timmy, he's the best...), go over your day, pat yourself on the back for your amazing accomplishments, persistence and follow-through skills. Revel in the fact you have made it through a day. Go to bed at a decent time that allows you to do this all over again tomorrow.
So I managed to sit down and talk over my day with my husband, exchange stories and dream dreams about our future endeavors as retirees (and what exactly am I retiring from right now? let's not go there...) I was not successful at going to bed early, because of course I started reading an amazing book. But I do know that I have another day to "practice waiting", so for now?

I just need to listen.
More on this journey in days to come...
xoxo r

What Inspires You?

So my dear Quirksters, I have recently acquired a little book called, "Show Your Work!" by Austin Kleon,  www.austinkleon.com. You can check out his other stuff on his site. But the basic idea behind this particular book is to share what inspires you.

Wonderful artwork inspires me to try my hand at different mediums or create a new character.





So here is a short list of some inspiring artists and how you can get your hands on their stuff, and maybe they'll spark something in  YOUR head too. You're welcome.

1. http://www.bkartonline.com
This guy can turn a phrase and draw the most outrageous steampunk illustrations. Yessssss. Very inspiring. 

Walking your Octopus: A guidebook to the Domesticated Cephalopod by Brian Kensinger



2. Gris Grimly. The most amazing creative genius.
Check out some of his characters.
Enter his website at your own risk;) https://www.madcreator.com/

3. Edward Gorey. Brilliant writer and lovely line drawings.
FYI: His writing and humor are very dark, but if you're up for it? Quite delightful:)

So these are a few of my favorite things...they get the old creative spices spicing, and juices juicing. There are so many more artists, writers, musicians, poets, entrepreneurs, that serve to inspire others, but I thought I'd whet your appetite and begin the sharing. Won't you share with the rest of us too?
What (who, where, when) inspires you?
Talk soon my quirky friends,
xoxo robyn

3 ways to put some OOMPH in your life:)

Putting some "oomph" in your life may sound like some random sound? But I'm betting that just about all of us relate to fresh starts and looking forward to "somethings". Well, here at Quirkified we are all about jump starting creativity and just plain old enjoying life. So what CAN we do this year to add a little "oomph".

1. Prioritize. I find it interesting that the phrase "Mind, Body, Spirit" puts the "spirit" at the end of the train. Personally, I think that maybe our spirit, the part that God speaks through and to, should probably be running the show. Make room to listen to His voice and I'm pretty sure the rest will follow along, and it doesn't get more "oomph"-like than that. Really give Him a genuine opportunity to speak to you, you will be more than pleasantly surprised.

2. Give it a "GOal". Set small goals that you are drawn to accomplish. We ALL have them. Those things that tickle at the back of our brains? Those tickles are another way that God is talking to us, that tiny whisper is His voice.
Some personal goals? Organizing my crafty ways. Learning new ukulele songs. Creating new illustrations that resonate kind words. How will I do any or all of these this year? One small step at a time. Probably through sticky notes that I can rip up one at a time. I LOVE that:)

3. Challenge yourself every.single.day. This doesn't have to be something huge, but the smallest tweak to your routine can snap you out of the doldrums and put that spring in your step. Hence, the "oomph". For me? I want to try things that maybe I wouldn't normally do. True confession: As old as I am, I STILL have never eaten in a restaurant by myself, not even fast-food. So, it may not be a big deal to someone else? but to me it's a challenge.

So what do you think Quirksters? Is this your year to: Prioritize, Set GOals, and Challenge yourself?
Is this the year you will look back on and realize it's when you actually began?
OR even better, you found your finish line:)

Talk soon my friends, xoxo

Free Your Mind:)

So when you think of the phrase, "free your mind" maybe it evokes daydreams, magic mushrooms or endorphins. Something that comes easily and requires little effort or the effort required seems more like a pleasure than any type of work.  This week I tasked all of you quirksters with write.it.down, but maybe you have a different way of doing that. Maybe, just maybe, your way of writing things down and leaving a new space to be occupied in your head is by creating some type of art. So what IS your type of art?

In my creative endeavors I find for myself that time grows lovely wings and my brain starts freewheeling when I just simply. Begin. Gearing up to actually begin can take an awful lot of effort, but once it has begun? yikes! time certainly does fly and the world with all of its worries turns into possibilities.

So how have you "begun" recently? Did you write something down? draw it? doodle it? sing it or dance it? Did you read a book that inspired you? How have you begun to free your mind?

Let's encourage each other! We have a whole weekend ahead of us. Let's use it:)

Thinkertoys:)

What do YOU see???

I recently have started reading a creativity jump start book called, "Thinkertoys" by Michael Michalko. It has lovely assignments and is a great motivational read...if you're into that... which, personally I am:) But I know that not everyone is, and here at Quirkified, we're all about the small steps. So I will be more than happy to share some of the more "do-able" ideas in this truly incredible book.

First of all, how do YOU see things? what do you see when you look at the graphic on the left of this page? There is absolutely no "right" answer. You see what you see. But since we all experience the world around us in different ways, maybe if we tweak things a bit we can tap into our creativity and make being creative a part of our daily lives.

The other thing I love about reading books like this, is it usually inspires me to make lists of ideas. I use my Iphone "note" app to keep track of the ideas that pop into my brain during the day.  Some I'm working on, and some are so out there that I know I would need to get professional advice in order to see the concept into fruition. But that's okay... every day it is such fun to be able to take the unique gifts that God has given us and see what we can come up with:)...

Sooooooo... here's our assignment for the next week:  Explore your world; through the people you meet, places you go, shows that you watch, books that you read, music you listen to... the list is endless of all the input that you have in your life. Then, either at night or in the morning write 3 ideas that have popped into your head, use post-it's, a designated notebook, your own Iphone "note" app and jot away! You will probably find that there's a trend of ideas; mine usually go towards children's stories and illustrations, but there might be a sight, smell, taste that sparks your next note. Write.it.down. Try to let these special moments count and who knows, when you're looking for "something to do" or your thinking of doing something "different", you'll have the basis for some great creative stuff.

By the way? I'm going to talk up my creative mom over at "He Leadeth Me" on Face Book. The page is just now coming together, but she has some very creative ideas to spark your interest in her book and you'll have the opportunity to interact with this lovely author (I am completely unbiased here...)

Until the next time Quirksters, (I will try to be much more diligent about writing)... keep noticing and filing away those experiences, you never know what you'll create next!

just try!

I would love to know how many of us struggle with not even trying or attempting something because we're afraid it won't be what we've imagined in our heads. Well, I'm here to share with you that no matter WHAT we do, we have room for tweaking, adjusting, changing and improving. If we don't give things a shot, how will we know if we're getting it right or not?

A couple of suggestions? Look back on something that you've done that inside of your head and heart you have a bit of a satisfied smile. This is not bragging or being full of yourself, it's just allowing you to move forward with a little bit of success and use that as a stepping stone to your next attempt at something that has been nudging at the corners of your creative little mind.  Now, think about that thing that you've been wanting to do, but you keep stopping yourself because you can't seem to motivate past the concept that you might fail. But who's going to know if you fail? Why not take a class, or ask someone that you respect their ability, and just be brave and go for it a little bit. It's actually kind of an adrenaline rush when we take a peek outside of our comfortable shell and look around a little to see our creative world with a fresh vision.

Okay, I'll share...recently I took a caricature class. The teacher was motivating and comforting in the fact that he mentioned that it would take, "practice, practice, practice." As an individual who has been doing some sort of drawing ever since I can remember, this was a new type of discipline for me...draw something, critique it, learn from it, then rip it up. You don't have to get it "right", you just have to get used to seeing with a new set of eyes. The first couple of days after class I attempted some caricature's and I promptly critiqued them and tore them up. But I don't think I want to give up yet. I've decided that the "trying" is just part of the process and that I want to "try",  as much as I want to be successful at this new discipline, it's the trying part that I want to emphasize.

Soooooo, maybe it's something new? that you're really not very good at right now? or maybe it's something you've done for close to forever, but you've never put it out there. Bottom line? just try.

it's not the end:)

I'm pretty sure the whole world is thinking about the end of 2014... maybe it's with relish, "phew, that year's finally over, it really STUNK!"or maybe it's with a bit of a "meh" there was good, there was not so good, but I'm looking forward to that fresh start. Maybe, just maybe, this was the year of success, change, motivation and exciting journeys, maybe all of the good that happened FAR outweighs any inconvenience, sadness or depression.

As with every year, there are always ups and downs, (understatement, I know) some of those downs can be overwhelmingly life changing and so challenging that we don't know how to maneuver to the "up". But I want to go back to my roots when I think of being down and getting stuck there, my mom always told me to "do something for someone else". No, I have not had a lot of personal experience with extreme struggles, trials and tragedy, but my mom has! and frankly she truly walks the walk and talks the talk of how to crawl out of those dark places in life. (shameless plug here). She recently finished a book called, "He Leadeth Me", by Charlotte Halsell Bradshaw (you can find it on Amazon, wink, wink). This little book chronicles how God has led her through some mighty fine times, but also how His voice guided her through some trials that would make the strongest soul crumble if they didn't have the Creator of the Universe talking them through it.

My point here is, and as usual I DO have one, we have 365 days within a year. But who says that December 31, 2014 at 12 midnight has to denote "the end". Yes, it is the actual end of 2014, (thank you to any doubters out there about my "point"), but it is NOT the end of trying, striving and attempting to make a difference. We definitely have to start with ourselves and what daily attitude we will put on, but if our circumstances are less than stellar, sometimes the circumstances may win. So what do we do? Choose our attitude, choose to step outside of our circumstances, choose to see the glass half full, choose to forget about ourselves for awhile and do something for someone else. There are 8,760 hours in a year and they can begin at any point, there really is only one "end". So until that day comes? Maybe you can make some conscious choices to move forward, it may be inch by inch, but
 you'll get where you want to go eventually. Because it's really not the end.

Let's continue this conversation in the next several days with some practical "how-to's"
Hope all is well with you my quirksters
Talk to y'all soon
xoxo
r