The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
Today's reading talks of creativity and of using creativity to express and come to know our true selves, as well as a means of replacing negative thinking with positive action. Further, it reminds us that creativity (whether it's building something, gardening, cooking, or finding new ways of doing mundane tasks), puts us where we most need to be at any given time- in the moment! When we create, it concludes, we are using the precious gift of imagination and celebrating life.
Usually, I find the reading reminds me of something I regularly forget to do and need reminding of. This one, however, I think I have a pretty good grip on! However, to consciously and joyfully create (instead of being focused on how slow or how inferior I think my creative work is) is a better approach that I will strive to achieve in the coming days. To stay in the moment and celebrate the fact that I can do so sounds much more enjoyable than grumbling and berating myself. I'm in!
I spend a lot of time writing fiction, I cook, and I am forever coming up with creative solutions to problems. How do others express their creativity in their day to day lives?
Thank you, YKM and all who have shared. Creativity -- what a great topic!
I was trying to remember if I did anything creative while living with active alcoholism, and I recall one thing I did was create a safe space for myself in the guest room, and decorated it to my liking, so that was creative. I also was going to school, and while most of the classes were not creative, a couple of them were and brought me joy and laughter.
Today, thanks to higher powers, I can be even more creative and am enjoying it greatly. It's a gift and really does keep me in the present.
Thank you Mel for your service and the daily. My brain is more wired for data that creating thus this reading did not speak to me for a long while. I can't draw a circle, can't write straight without lines, don't color very well, and certainly should never try to paint on canvas. Having said all this and believing that I was not very artistic or creative, it was in recovery that I figured out it was my view that was flat, not my talent.
All of the above is true! Yet, give me a computer, and I'm a whiz at power point or custom photo albums. Give me a room and a paint brush, and I can change things up. Last winter, I refinished 2 dressers, a couple of tables, adding metallic faux finishes to several plastic planters and even refinished cabinet hardware. I also chalk painted all the kitchen cabinets in a rental home we have.
So, my creativity is 'different' than what I thought it should be. Recovery helps me try new things, accept outcomes different than planned, learn from it all and keep practicing whatever appeals to me. I absolutely love to cook and try new recipes - baking...not so much (simply because I don't do sugar).
Different is good. It truly does take a village - eh? Love and light to all!
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Practice the PAUSE...Pause before judging. Pause before assuming. Pause before accusing. Pause whenever you are about to react harshly and you will avoid doing and saying things you will later regret. ~~~~ Lori Deschene
Thanks YKM for your service and all the above shares. In my early days I was in the performing arts and I had to create. Like everything else, I felt embarrassed and ashamed to express myself, even though I had nothing to be embarrassed about.
Fast forward now to having 10 yrs in alanon, all that is changed. I have some compression fractures in my back and a couple weeks ago, I sewed two clothing items together and invented a great comfortable upper back support . I proudly showed it to friends and family. Grateful member ODAT.
