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Friday, April 29, 2011

A-Muse

What would the world be, if we all told our favorite television program, video game, radio station, book, magazine, or other consuming rather than creating pass time to shove it. For a day, a week, until that mind numbing, time killer was no longer a habit, but a seldom desired treat.

It is not only food, clothing, gadgets, cheap plastic jewelry and dust collections that we over indulge on today. Entertainment is worse than bad food with even less nutritional value. Why are we doing this? Why are we wasting precious mental resources on nonsense that does not nourish us? Why are we so content to binge on empty calories of brain candy?

Instead, a challenge; find a partner, because no addict does it alone, someone you trust and who trusts you. Tell this partner that for one month you are going off the grid, no device beyond necessity. If you need music while you work on projects; attend a band practice, park concert, or karaoke night, or pair with a partner with musical aspirations. He could work on his creativity while you work on yours. Support the creativity of others close to you rather than some plastic disc from an equally plastic performer. Need a break from your creative work, ask if you can watch, edit, assist your partner in crime.

In honor of all month long challenges, I place this one. Be someone’s muse, ask that they be yours, for thirty days. Keep one another on task, having fun and off the entertainment drug. I think of this because I do not think my students and creative friends realize, when they tell me I motivate them, I am equally motivated, by them. If not for students, I would not dance as much. If not for writer friends, I would not drive to make that next chapter on time. If not for weekly practices, I would not know what I know with respect to a blade.

Thank you and good luck all!

Monday, April 18, 2011

Motivation

Who does it for you? Who really gets you going? Really gets the blood pumping or the mind racing?

Motivators! Who are yours?

I have a very difficult time finding the will to do anything for personal gain without something or someone to keep me on task. I live for friendly competition and verbal rewards. Without my dance students I would not put the effort into dance that I do. Without my workout buddies I would sit about like a lump. Without writers around me, I do not write as well. Even so much as cleaning the house does not require a helping hand as much as a motivational word or kick in the pants.

So, I ask, who motivates you? Find him if you have not, hug him if you have. Maybe you can return the favor by motivating him in something he is reaching!