Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Stand in solidarity for play

What is creative dawdling?  It's PLAY. 

It has the ability to shape shift into a multitude of activities that don't have a darn thing to do with any "artistic" or classically creative activites such as drawing or theatre. 

It is a worthy thing to do regardless of outcome. Creative dawdling is the permission to do something you want to do because it makes you feel at home with yourSELF.   Like fingerprints each person has a unique to them combo of creative dawdles.  No one can say there is one and only one way to dawdle.

Creative dawdling is spiritual.    You know it by how your spirit comes alive.  Sometimes it is mundane and  sometimes it is inspired, but your inner spirit resonates with it.   

You have permission to play.  Permission to do something you enjoy for no reason other than you enjoy it.  I say this more for myself, than for anyone reading this, but feel free to take it into your own heart.
You have permission to dawdle. 
Remember that it is up to your own heart to give you permission.  It doesn't come from anywhere else no matter how much you've been fooled into believing otherwise. 

You have permission to _______________________________________    Fill in the blank and try it on. See what comes up to the edge of your awareness.  Now give yourself more permission to relax into those edges.  

Each day is a new day to give yourself fresh permission.  It doesn't just happen once and then you are done.   Giving yourself permission is like brushing your teeth.   Wash, rinse, repeat.

Like brushing your teeth, permission to play doesn't have to be done only when you find the time to retreat for a week.  It can be done in little moments. 

This blog for me is NOT about how I make my living.  I'm not selling anything here.  I'm not earning extra pennies from affiliate links.  I'm not saying there is anything wrong with that either.  At this moment, this blog is place for me to express myself without the pressure of making it into a business.  A way to share my dawdles, the things that light up my spirit.  To share my creative heart.  To scratch my writing itch.  

Also this blog isn't about gaining some kind fame or attention.  I do crave attention sometimes (what blog writer doesn't? comments - yes please I'll have some of those).   It's more accurate to say this blog is about connecting, and about leaving a record of what resonates with meaning in my life. 

I sometimes think about opening an etsy shop and going toward a blog that connects my creativity to earning money.   I fantasize about teaching.    I look at what other people are doing and think I should do that.  Should is a big red flag.  I forget sometimes and begin to think commerce is the only reason to blog.  That gets me into trouble every single time I go there in my thinking.  Then the motivation to write lapses.

This blog for me is a hobby.  And why is it when I say hobby it somehow demeans it's purpose?  Because we live in this culture that says if it does not earn money, then it has no meaning, no worthiness.    This makes me sad.  It is not true.  Unfortunately, it is a message that must be constantly managed and filtered into the do not believe file.

I feel the need to return to writing on my blog.  It means something for the quality of my life to share my play, my creative dawdles, my spiritual meanders.

I must stand in solidarity with my blog and it's purpose as a hobby.   To stand with it and say it is OK to PLAY.  It is alright to write on a blog for no other reason than it feels enjoyable.   To stand and say creative dawdling is important.    It is as valuable to do as brushing your teeth regularly and often.   

To stand and say - I am a creative dawdler. I do not need to explain or wait for someone else to give me permission   A minute, two, or five daily might be enough to get going.  

Remember permission comes from inside yourSELF.   

Creative blessings to all who come here from commentators to beloved lurkers.

3 comments:

  1. Oh Kara--this is EXACTLY what I needed to read in this very moment. EXACTLY!! Less than an hour ago, I was feeling that my blog wasn't good enough and that perhaps I should just throw in the towel. But now...now I know I'm going to keep going. Of COURSE it's okay(wonderful even) to write the blog just because I want to. Not to sell something, not to teach something, not because I want to be famous. Connection--you are so right!! Why should that be considered a lesser reason? The answer? It shouldn't. I give myself permission to write my blog for pure pleasure. Because I like it. Thank you, Kara--this is what it's suppose to be about. Sharing. Enjoying. Connecting.

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  2. Yes, standing up with you for connection and pleasure.

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  3. I love this post!!! You've captured the essence of why write my journals in such a convoluted manner and why I started Giraffe Journal. For me, it's all about joy-filled connection to the divine and sharing with others who might drop by and be intrigued. I do both activities because it's FUN for me to engage my creativity in innovative ways. Whether or not anyone else sees what I write and/or share, I feel blessed and nourished. After such play I'm energized and ready to do whatever requires my time and attention for I've given myself the opportunity to play and 'dawdle creatively' ...

    That said, I'm very excited to be on the verge of publishing my first Labyrinth Journal and am hoping it will invite others to experiment with playfully putting their own words on the page in unique convoluted ways.
    Hugs and blessings,
    Virginia

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