Creativity comes Knocking

One day, a woman mentioned to me that there was a new store opening that hoped to not only offer locally hand crafted items for sale but also classes and to be a center for creativity in the Utica, NY, area.  My blood pressure jumped up in the best possible way for I finally felt excited about something.  The Counselor and the Crafter in me both started singing loudly.

Since the mid 80’s, I understood the value of creativity in building better lives.  Certainly paints, crayons and clay make an easy to follow link between creativity and wellness.  But Creativity and Wellness demand so much more than items in the craft store.  Regardless of what end creation is hoped for, whether a bowl, quilt, business, or family, for us to Craft it, we must use certain skills. 

A place that features locally hand made items and celebrates the creative process?  Here on Earth?  In the Utica area, too?!

Signature 81 in Washington Mills, NY, is that place.

I’ll be joining the other teachers there in offering classes on a range of techniques and items as well as creating classes requested by shoppers.  Check the store website and like it’s Facebook page to hear about the latest classes and events.

In addition to the classes, there are 2 events I’m hosting at the store that I am very excited about. 

The first event is Zen Doodling sessions. Zen Doodling, also known as Intentional Doodling, is a method of relaxation and concentration but can also be used for meditation and prayer.  It is a wonderful way to get through the work week as you discharge stress and replenish yourself.  As a craft form, it can be a rich technique on it’s own or as an addition to other forms.  It can be used in scrap booking, jewelry, clay work, most anything. Join us in exploring this calming act of creating.  No previous experience required and open to everyone able to concentrate on drawing a line.  Supplies will be provided though you are invited to bring your favorite making implement.  No cost.  Most Wednesdays, 7-8PM.  Watch this short video for more information:

The second event is the Creative Gathering.  "You can't use up Creativity.  The more you use it, the more you have" (Maya Angelou).  You know the joy in creating.  You know the thrill of making something work out.  You understand someone else's celebration of creating.  Now join others as we each create our own works and watch the fun multiply!  Bring your current projects or just share in the company of other creative folks.  All crafts and arts are welcome.  Carry in and carry out.  No cost and all are welcome.  The next session is Saturday, June 29, 2013, 2-4PM.

Continue until your Last Breath

“Find the work you love and you’ll never work again.”  Twice now, I’ve been blessed by having jobs that never felt like jobs.  For so many, and seemingly more so lately, it’s rare to experience it just once.  To have that twice in my life has been as wonderful as it was devastating for both to vanish with no warning.  Both times left vicious, gaping, deep voids that I struggled to mend.

I’ve said most all my life that I was born with a broken heart and I have the scar to prove it.  Well, healing those voids left their scars behind too.  I had to eat the words I so often said to students, “Leave some room in your plans because you never know when Life happens.”

Life wounds.  Life heals. Repeat.  Repeat again.  Continue until your last breath.

Creativity and Art have long been loved for their healing and refreshing gifts.  It’s not enough to just heal, relax, and rest.  In order to move forward, refreshing, energizing, and building must also happen.

Ironically enough, when the first “not-a-job” of youth services was eliminated, it led me to the second “not-a-job” of counseling.  It’s Counseling’s elimination that led me to this latest adventure of my life, MunLight Studio.

My usual approach to counseling is summed up in something I often said.  "We all come to our today with all of our yesterdays.  Unless you have a working time machine, we can't change "back then."  What do you want now?  How can I help you with that?"

Under MunLight Studio, I joyously create and help others create physical things, jewelry, books, stamps, beads, and things yet to be discovered by us.

MunLight Transformations lets me continue helping people build the life they want... Or deal with change... Or add more...  Or remove... Or change.

I have no idea what this adventure holds but that’s the excitement of setting sail for the horizon. Life is going where we haven’t been yet.  What do you hope for your adventure?  What do you want deeply enough to create it?