My creative champions

In my last entry, I mentioned that I have been taking a ‘course’ in creativity via the book I am reading. This week, one of the suggested tasks was to list three of your ‘creative champions’. This was an easy list for me to create, although there was NO WAY that I could limit it to three, so I went with five (okay six). I have decided it fitting to pay tribute to each of them here…


My ‘fantastic five’ biggest creative influences/inspirations in my life are (in no particular order):

1. Tess: Everything that Tess touches/does/thinks is literally expounding with creativity. It is difficult not to overstate just how artistic and original Tess is. Her inspired energy is so powerful that it seems almost tangible. Simply knowing Tess has forever changed me. I find that spending time with her ‘supercharges’ my own sense of creative spirit. So much so, that going to visit Tess and her family in Kelowna feels like a creative retreat. I leave feeling refreshed, relaxed, reenergized and most importantly, re-inspired to become a better version of myself. Tess sees the world through a lens that allows her to live authentically and beautifully… to know her is to love her and feel blessed!

2. Wendy: I met Wendy in University when we were taking our B.Ed.’s together. When I first met her I remember thinking, ‘Wow! This lady sure thinks outside the box… she is going to make one heck of a teacher someday!’ (She did go on to do just that!) While in school, I had the good fortune to work with Wendy on a few projects and began to have regular coffee dates with her after class as well. During these visit, I came to learn that while the way in which she expresses herself is unique and fresh, she is also filled with a certain wisdom, making her an ‘old soul’ if you will. Everything that Wendy does and says is heartfelt… you can feel her genuineness in every interaction that you have with her. Wendy is also one of the bravest women that I have ever known, and she is not afraid to ‘put herself out there’. Thank you Wendy for sharing a bit of your life with me and teaching me to nurture the artist within.

3. Jody/Cheryle: I know what you are thinking, I can’t pick two people for one spot, but guess what, this is my list and I make the rules! I put these two ladies together because they inspire me in similar ways. For starters, they are both gifted and largely self-taught photographers. They both have an inimitable way of viewing the world, which, fortunately for the rest of us, they are able to share with us through their pictures. They also both share a passion for outdoor adventure and travel, and journey through life with huge smiles on their faces! Although life has led them down considerably different paths, both of them return to their ‘art’ again and again. Don’t take my word for it, click on their links and see for yourself.

4. ‘EcoCat Lady’: Interestingly, this blog is written by a woman who I have never met, in person anyways. Over the past year and a bit, she has been one of the most fervent supporters on my blogging journey and a very talented writer in her own right. We have had many conversations over e-mail and through the blog, in which she has shared a wealth of knowledge, insights, suggestions and wonderful stories. Thank you ‘ECL’ ;) – it wouldn’t have been the same ride without you!

5. Lindsey: THE fashionista of Regina, heck, maybe even Western Canada, there is literally no one else on the planet like her. Lindsey lives and breathes to the sound of her own drum, pushing the limits in almost everything she does. Funny, charismatic and heck, just plain wonderful, any compliment or encouragement from this gal feels like a BIG DEAL. Thanks you Linds for your ongoing support over the years. You have always been and continue to be a huge creative inspiration to me!

Interestingly… they ALL have blogs/websites! If you didn’t check them out as you were reading through, make sure you take the time to do so.

My hat is off to all of you ladies. Thank you so much for your inspirations, insights, ideas and passion for life! It is contagious! I love you ALL for the gifts that you have each given me.

Who are your creative champions?

Marebare

Indulging the senses... all five of them

Yesterday I had my first 'artists date'... which is actually a date with myself because, you know, I'm an artist.  We all are actually.  Thanks to my friend Wendy's recommendation, I am reading 'The Artist's Way' by Julia Cameron and let me tell you, it is already changing the way that I view myself in the world.  Like for starters, thinking of myself as an artist... that is an entirely new and foreign concept to me.  Admirer of 'real' artists maybe, but not an artist myself.

The first part of my date took place at the Devonian Botanic Gardens, a beautiful spot located only about 25 minutes from my house that I haven't visited since I was seven!  I actually don't even remember what they were like back then however, given the fact that I drive by the gardens semi-regularly, they have been on my 'to-do' list for some time.

It turns out that I chose well... my visit was literally a feast for the senses.  This didn't occur to me at first, as my intention was to merely appeal to my visual sense... I brought my camera along to 'capture' anything that inspired me.  I wasn't disappointed and took 140 pictures throughout my visit.  Here are but a few of my faves...

After my initial picture-taking frenzy as I bounced from one flower/plant to the next, it began to occur to me that my other senses were being stimulated as well.  To some degree, this is deliberate because the garden has a 'sensory' garden display, with plants that you can taste and smell.  For me, this display served as a great reminder to feel and be open to experiences coming in through all of my senses causing me to literally spend the next hour delighting in the sights, sounds and smells of the garden.  Talk about being present!

I finished my visit with a maple nut ice cream purchased from the garden cafe... I wanted to stay 'on theme' after all, and I wasn't disappointed with the indulgence. 

Ahhh, and so ends a great date.  But wait!  I missed a sense didn't I?  If you didn't notice, tsk tsk... that is Grade 1 Science people!

*Touch*

Well folks, I am not much of a 'toucher'.  There it is.  I said it.  Publicly.  I don't really love to touch or be touched and I know, I know, it's not 'normal'.  I am working on it though.  So, in the name of 'working on it' I finished my sensory extravaganza with an hour long massage.  And no, it wasn't at the gardens silly.  My friend Jill had booked me in to a spa for my birthday.  Gotta love that girl.  Hint, hint... this is an example of what a real friend might give you for a gift... ahem.

The thing is.... (drum roll please) I actually liked it.  I must be making some serious progress because after the initial 15 minutes or so when my mind was racing and repeatedly telling me how awkward/personal/uncomfortable it was, it eventually SHUT UP and allowed me to enjoy the last 45 minutes.  Rad.

Here's to the senses and my gratitude for having access to all of them...

Marebare

In the face of fear...

Well, I did it.  For realsies.  And I even paid the $20 for the video to prove it.  You know, for my 'fans'...  Actually, I did receive a lot of supportive messages today and I sincerely appreciate it.  Also, you might be pleased to know (well, I am pleased anyway), that there was NO puke involved.  Okay, with no further ado... here it is... and hey, no judging people.
 

So, there you have it.  And yes, I screamed.  I screamed at the very top of my lungs... to God... hmmm... I wonder what that means?  Who do you scream to when you are scared out of your mind?  What do you do when you are faced with a deep/dark fear that you know darn-well is statistically irrational (statistics do not enter into your mind when you are 106 feet in the air by the way). 

Today was actually a good day, maybe even a great day.  Prior to said 'event', I was wondering what the big deal was about 'conquering one's fear' and why the heck I used to encourage people to do this for a living (yes, for real).  It seemed perfectly rational back then, but earlier today, I wasn't having any of it.  I mean, really?  You want me to do WHAT? 

After it was all said and done, I remembered... fear is important.  Facing your fear is even more important and conquering your fear?  Hell, that is almost as energetically good as winning the lottery.  If you can face a 'big' fear in your life, and WIN?  Heck, you can do ANYTHING.  At least I think so... I am booking a skydiving jump for this fall.  Who is coming?

PS: my jumping partner Justin 'killed it' by the way... no screaming.  And he even went HEAD FIRST!  Guy is a supastar!!!  xoxo

What does it all mean?

A few months ago, a 'friend' sent me a gift certificate to go bungee jumping.  Well, at least I thought of him as my friend, but then I was like, 'What kind of friend would think to himself, hey, I know just what Maren needs, to throw herself off a 100 foot tower...'

If I am being honest, I guess that I would have to admit that I am not totally innocent in all of this, because I did cooperate enough to send him my address, however it was during a moment of 'weakness'... a time when I was all 'It is what it is' and 'I am open to whatever the Universe brings me'.  Maybe it wasn't a time of weakness at all but instead a time of complete and utter lunacy.

Until yesterday, I truly thought that I had 'dodged the bullet' so to speak.  The gift certificate has an expiry date of June 30, 2011 and I will be honest, I was going to let the date slip by 'unnoticed'.  Unfortunately, (or fortunately, I'm not sure yet), the Universe also brought me a jumping companion who also happens to be the 'lucky' holder of a Bungee Jumping gift certificate with the same expiry date (again, if you are considering giving this as a 'gift' THINK ABOUT THE MESSAGE PEOPLE!).  Thanks to Justin, there was going to be nothing quiet about 'missing' the expiry date.  Soooo.... today is the day. 

Okay... I am going to go and throw up now... and try to come up with 'the message' of this whole experience... Your friends don't really like you?  Hurling yourself off buildings is fun?  Throwing up in public isn't really that humiliating? 

Oh man.  I just want to get this thing over with.

Today I'm Going to Try to Change the World... Are You?

I had the good fortune of attending the Slave Lake Benefit Concert at the River Cree Casino last night.  Prior to finding out that it was going to coincide with Game 7 of the Stanley Cup playoffs... I was stoked (no, not really much of a hockey fan - just a bandwagon-jumper!).  After watching the first period at the local pub, Trent and I had to tear ourselves away to drive over to the casino. 

My indecision fell away almost as soon as the concert began.  As Johnny Reid - one of Canada's Country Superstars, took the stage I jumped out of my seat with the rest of the 2,000+ crowd to give him a standing ovation.  And then the music started... as the first chords of the song, 'Today I'm Going to Try to Change the World' filled the room, emotion flooded my body and tears began to spill onto my cheeks.  Caught off guard, I took my seat and attempted to calm myself down so that I could remain fully present and 'take it all in'. 

I first heard this song last summer as I was driving out to Nordegg and had a similar reaction... not quite as powerful but I could feel the same 'tug' on my spirit.  As soon as I arrived, I downloaded it onto my phone and was blasting it for my family, telling them that I had finally found my 'theme song'.

Here are the lyrics:

Today I'm gonna try and change the world
Gonna take it one day at a time
I've made my resolution
I've opened up my eyes
Today I'm gonna try and change the world


I'm gonna say hello to my neighbor
Greet him with a smile
Shake the hand of a stranger
Sit and talk to him for a while
Tell someone I love them
From the bottom of my heart
Today I'm gonna try to change the world


Gonna make sure my children
Know right from wrong
Never turn my back
On those who need someone
Always gonna try to see myself
Through another's eyes
Today I'm gonna try to change the world


Today I'm gonna try and change the world
Not for me, but for those I'll leave behind
I've made my resolution
Change it one day at time
Today I'm gonna try and change the world

Sounds simple right?  It really is.  I believe that everyone is a gift.  In fact, I make it my intention (and personal mission) to walk around in the world and have interactions with people.  As another one of the performers last night pointed out, you can literally be changed by an encounter with another person and likewise, you can change someone's life for the better as well.  In recent months, this has been a profound realization for me and living this philosophy has truly has brought positive changes and people into my life. 

I recently read that it only takes the square root of 1% of a population to affect the collective consciousness... that is only 100 people in a group of one million.  As we saw after last night's hockey game in Vancouver (I am referring to the disgraceful rioting that followed - boy am I glad that I chose the concert instead of that boring game!), this theory can work both ways.  As such, this is both reassuring and scary!  Think about it, as long as people have the attitude that 'it's not my problem', no change will ever come.  Instead, I would suggest that we switch our mentality and follow Ghandi's advice 'Be the change you wish to see in the world'. 

Change starts with you... and even small changes can have a huge impact.

Marebare

PS.  For all of you Canadians, the benefit concert was filmed by CBC and will be aired tonight... check it out!!!

Trying to light, heck, to FIND my creative spirit

I like to think that I live with purpose... at least to the highest degree possible.   When the blog was a 'project' (and hence, had a purpose)... the words came freely, the topics jumped into my head and the entries flowed easily onto the screen.  Now that the 'project' is complete, the blog has ceased to fulfill a specific purpose and as such, the entries have been few and far between and to my way of thinking, lacking any real substance or 'spark' of enthusiasm.  Over the past months, I have had loyal readers encourage me to keep going, but as of yet, I have lacked the motivation to do so. 

Recently, (and oh so recurringly and in the funniest of ways), it has come to my attention that writing is widely considered a creative act: one that can be and is often engaged in just for the joy of doing so (gasp!).  To date, I have had little experience writing 'just for the heck of it', but it is becoming increasingly clear to me that it might be an important thing for me to do. 

With my disheveled, shocked, and still-slightly-comatose creative spirit in mind, it is with great pleasure that I offer you the reader: no promises about topics, content, substance, themes or even frequency of entries from here on.  I am truly going to commit to letting my creative mind/spirit 'run wild'... A scary notion for me (and likely for you) indeed, but it is on the edge of fear and discomfort you are able to GROW. 

Join me in this journey if you wish, adios and many thanks if you choose not to...

As always, I am happy to receive your thoughts and comments along the way and will do my best to reply...

To new beginnings,

Marebare

Finding my way back...

It is frustrating and unfortunate that it can take losing someone (not just anyone) to make you realize that life is too short to waste.  I lost a friend a week ago today, and when I say friend, what I really mean is brother.  Brent Young was truly the essence of light, love and 'takin' it easy' and having him in my life is and has been a true honor. 

This devastating occurrence has caused me to re-evaluate a whole lot of things, but it has also had the benefit of re-connecting me with my other 'family'.  When Trent and I lived at COE for 2004-2005, we had the extreme privilege to have the opportunity to join the Nordegg family and despite having lived away from this family for the past 5 years, I still feel very much a part of this amazing group of people.  This is a group of people who are all living, as Brent did, 'all-in'.  I mean really, is there any other way worth living?  Brent would tell you that the answer to this is no way (so much so in fact, that he would probably be confused by the question!) 

The point that I am making here is that it is time for me to start my journey back to living authentically.  My five years out on the farm have served the purpose that they needed to serve, but it will soon be time to 'make a move', and return to a time where things were a lot more REAL.  Thank you Brent for lighting the way back to my true path... I will be forever indebted to you.  I miss you and love you, Shakakan Brother!