Creative shifts

Thursday is my day to open the door to creative thinking and doing; I've reverted to an earlier phase of my life, before painting and art school, when I was internally driven to Make Things, and they were varied and creative. But I'm also a different person now - as Grandma Earth Teacher I am led to make things that are a gift to the Earth in some way, sustainable, and with a message. 

Also, I need to prepare for the next week of Grandma Camps, with themes, projects, and field trips.

And thirdly, I've got lots of projects that help us function better: Fixing broken things and maintaining the house.

Agenda: 

1. Read "Perspective"

2. Creative visualization

3. House projects

4. Camp preparedness

5. Projects for the week

1. Read "Perspective":

I'm reading this book by Meridith Elliot Powell, subtitled Reignite, Reinvent, Reframe (2025). This is the work I am dedicating myself to this year.

I'm on Chapter 8, Possibility Thinking, about strategic courage and seeing the options (rather than blind optimism). The idea is to look beyond fear and defensiveness, and gaze out to the horizon - Ask, "What's possible because of these challenges?"

"...challenges create choice and choice opens doors. ... In uncertainty, curiosity is your sharpest edge... Ask yourself, what if this setback is the start of something? ... Possibility thinking doesn't deny the problem. It expands the space for progress." 

3. Creative Visualization:

It's true we've got a lot of uncertainty in our lives right now. What can I actually commit to? How are we going to be able to complete our plans? Who's going to back me up if it all falls apart? 

Every month, at the waxing gibbous moon (my last push for action), I call on the practice of visualization to help me to see the next steps towards bringing my goals to fruition.

Today I shine a light on creative opportunities, teamwork, and opening doors.

Creative visualization is a technique that uses my imagination to create change. (Because of my visual and auditory sensitivity, this is the best process for knowing what I'm feeling.) It has these steps:

• First, set an intention: Say, "Today I call on the Spirit of Love to bring me clarity and open my eyes to new opportunities for teamwork and partnership." 

• Center and relax each part of my body: With each breath, allow my awareness to deepen and become softer. No stress. No rush. I walk or float in an imaginary void. Open a connection to Spirit. Feel a soft warmth begin to grow and spread through me, until I am radiating quiet energy.

• Create a clear, detailed picture in my mind, as though the objective has been reached. Paint a vivid mental image of all the chaos and disorder in my life taking shape into opportunity for connection and teamwork. Put as much positive energy into the images as possible. 

• Lastly, affirm that this is what I want with a short positive phrase in the present tense: "Today I will take the next step towards opening doors for partnership."

• Give thanks and return: Saying thanks out loud is how I acknowledge the reality of the gift of my vision.

The thought-image is like a signal-flare that guides the physical thing or deed to manifest in my life (and it's a good way to keep my intentions in my mind). I will carry the vision of the completed goal with me, and focus on it often during the day, in a gentle manner.

3. House projects:

The biggest chaos is the state of our yard and home - so many unfinished projects, such clutter and stacks of supplies! I have a long list of projects I can personally do, but the biggest ones are just in limbo, with no one able to tackle them, and with each step dependent on another. How can I even prioritize them?

How about this: The top 5 imminently important projects are steps towards preparing for easier duck care, and clearing the studio so I can teach camp there next week.

1. New gate latch so our neighbors can access the ducks.
2. Fix duck coop ramp!
3. Clear the driveway passage: Move big fence section.
4. Make room for air fryer, balls.
5. Get rid of some big toys; create order on studio shelf

4. Camp preparedness:

The theme next week is Model Making. Ideas:

• Model books and videos
• Drawing the scene
• Make model trees and buildings
• Visit the Natural History Museum to see models

Preparations: Find videos and books, make a sample tree, collect more lichen, collect boxes and spray paint. 

5. Projects for the week:

My new goals for Grandma Earth Teacher is 

photos and project samples for nature-culture, house and practical fix-it projects, and sharing skill and fun teaching projects. This week:

• Th: Fix duck coop ramp; gate latch
• F: Make a pie; decorate 2 hats
• Sat: Sample tree, prep for buildings
• Sun: Train project?
• M: Climate change ideas
• T: Draw the scene; Trees and buildings
• W: Trees and buildings
• Th: Trees and buildings; Plan next camp

Doing the smallest thing is a great way to make courageous creative work less frightening; also finding the "minimum effective dose", the amount of work that keeps me challenged and joyful, and if I keep at it will get me to the finish line on time.