Learning Batik in Guam

Judy Flores is one of the most respected artists in Guam. She uses the medium of batik and creates charming scenes of life in Guam. I bought a poster of her work of a Taotaomona (banyan) tree when I lived here in the 80s, had it framed, and it has been hanging in my home in Hawaii all these years. She was acclaimed then, and is even more so now. When my daughter Dance told me about this opportunity to take a workshop from her on my vacation in Guam, I knew I had to do it. I do not consider myself a visual artist, but I do want to explore all aspects of creativity. This is what this blog is about after all. I invited my friend Marie, who now lives in Florida and is here for a niece's wedding next week. She also was excited about the chance to learn from an artist we both admired.

We arrived there a few minutes late, hoping they would be on Chamorro time. They weren't, but it didn't matter. Half the women there were advanced students who were already well into their projects. Judy gave us a brief lesson on how to layer colors, told us to practice with the tools (tjantings) and colors on newsprint first. Most important, she said, have fun. After a little practice, we decided to just go for it. 

It is hard to decide what the subject of your very first project is going to be in a new medium. Even if you know you're just learning, you still care about what you do. One woman was having so much fun doing abstract work on scarves. She said she realized that she was never happy when she tried to draw, but she as always happy when she went abstract. Both Marie and I followed her lead on our second project.

But for my first project, I was drawn to do something that had meaning for me. While I was waiting for Marie, I took some pictures of flowers on the grounds of the house where she was staying. Even that act was a deliberate choice. I remembered that when I was going to Catholic school in 6th grade, the priest got really mad at someone who had used the kadena de amor to decorate the statue of Mary. He called them weeds. I guess I carried that story with me all my life because I always think of that story when I see these flowers. So that was my first project. I'm also partial to butterflies, so I had to have a butterfly in it.

As I said, my second project was abstract. There's something about doing something abstract that is very freeing, and you do feel creative. You're making something out of nothing. My only goals were to learn a new technique and  to make sure it is not ugly. I liked that experience.

On my last project, I could tell that I had already improved in my control of the tjanting. My lines are clearer. I traced the butterfly and the bougainvillea from books, and felt no guilt about that. You can see my abstract scarf under this project.

I know I have a lot to learn. But it was fun, great to spend time with my friend, make new friends, be in the peaceful presence of a master artist in her garden studio, and just exercise this creativity muscle. I highly recommend this workshop or any chance you get to learn something new. 

Signs Along the Way

My Facebook friends and my Kealakehe colleagues know of my decision to retire early so that this is my last year teaching in Hawaii DOE. Over the past few years, I had mentioned that it was a possibility. This past school year, my mental and spiritual journey was to look for the signs of whether or not I should take that step. I will likely write a longer piece on my decision, but for now, I wanted to share some of the quotes/signposts that I saved from Facebook in the past few months leading to the decision. There are lots more. This is just a sampling. You get the gist. 

Energy of Disappointment

There is energy to be tapped

in disappointment

Whether it be in a job

or a cause

or a political figure

or a relationship

The hope for success 

For dreams come true

For visions manifesting

Had energy.

But when that hope dies

What happens to that energy

Defines you.

You could wallow 

in despair

Justify mind-numbing 

choices

Become cynical

Or you could

Take that energy

And make something with it

Create something

Do something

That would not have been done

Without that infusion

Of thwarted energy

Of anger

Of frustration

Of disappointment

Without the redirection

Of hope-filled energy

Every bit of energy

I had planned 

To give to that hope,

I now give to 

Something else.

I walk

I run

I sweat

I exhilarate

in the sound 

of music in my ears

In the rhythm 

of my shoes on the ground

In time 

to joyous, 

beautiful,

life-filled 

songs.

Review: The Girl with the White Flag

This book is making its rounds among my family. The subtitle is "A spellbinding account of love and courage in wartime Okinawa." The author is the girl with white flag, Tomiko Higa, who was 7 years old when this photo was taken upon the American conquest of Okinawa in WWII. 

What she describes is horrifying and no child should ever have to experience it. But they do, and this continues to this day. We share the same race. Had my grandparents not immigrated, I could be her. But would I have been as brave? I hope so. That personalizes it for me, but it's shouldn't.  Whether to Okinawans, to Japanese, to Guamanians, to Jews, to Iraquis, Afghanis, or Palestinians, war is horrible. Horrifying. Wrong.

I had this delusional belief that war is only about soldiers fighting for their country. And the casualties would only have been the military. But look at this table: Almost as many civilians died in the Battle of Okinawa than soldiers. How can that be? Why did it have to be? 

Yes, this is the past. But war rages on. Drones are killing civilians. This is wrong. 

Succulents and Terrariums

I do know why I'm attracted to succulents and terrariums. I think even I can make them last. I don't pride myself in my gardening skills, but I do love plants. Today, I was so happy to find these at the Green Market in Captain Cook, sold by a father of a colleague, I discovered when he gave me his card (Amoguis). 

I'll keep you posted on whether or not I'm successful and if I am and if you're on my Island, you just may receive one as a gift someday.

Gifts, a poem

In celebration of National Poetry month, I am posting a poem that I wrote that I'm kinda proud of. It was a healing poem for me, a way of emerging from a bad relationship. 

Gifts

You do not travel this world unclothed

Upon your coming

You are bestowed with gifts of finery

And as you grow, you are dressed

Think of this clothing as treasure,

Not to be hoarded but shared

Yet not to be squandered

Vulnerable to theft

Think of this treasure as the stuff of art

Draw it, shape it, give it voice

Think of this art as your children

Love and nurture

Protect and respect them.

And think of these children

As sunflowers

Expanding

And ever-reaching

Towards the Source

- Diane Aoki, 1994

Terrariums, Ramen-crusted Chicken Wings, and New Friends

Cruising the library, this book called out to me.

So this was my creative project. Took about 5 minutes plus going to Lowes to get the gravel and tillandsia. But I love it. We had the strands (can't remember its name) in the yard, and I had the vase in a cabinet. Here are my trinkets from Oaxaca enjoying my creation.

I also made this - ramen encrusted chicken wings, which I saw on the Today Show when I was home on Wednesday for Kuhio Day. It was good, but don't know if it's worth the trouble. Dry coat, wet count, fry, drain, wet coat, dredge in crumbled ramen. I'll make it for potluck sometime and see what people think. Mom thought it was soooo good.

All in all, a good day. I also made new friends and supported a cause. Not much writing right now, but recording my attempts helps me to stay on track with my goal of being more creative. 

Centering with a Celtic Heart Knot

Today is a state holiday in Hawaii, celebrating Prince Kuhio, the more famous of the two heirs to the throne, had Hawaii not been overthrown. Histories of native Hawaiian figures seem to have this conflicting tragic aspect to them, caught between two worlds, two eras. 

Today, I felt like I had to make something, so I made a Celtic heart following directions that a friend had posted on Facebook. you may ask, what is creative about following directions to make something, when your intent is to replicate it, and not try to add your your take on it.

My definition of creativity is very broad. It wasn't there, and now it's there. I didn't know how to do something, and now I do. It is a thing of beauty and charm. It makes me proud. I somehow need to make something on a regular basis. Yes, it'd be great to be an artist, and define your identity as well as your profession as that. But, I am exploring creativity on more of an everyday level, following an impulse to make something, to create something, as a way to flourish, to be centered. 

Short Reviews of Kingsolver Novels

I realized that when I read books, though I think they have had a profound effect on me at the time, years later, I only faintly remember that I read these novels. So, I am going to attempt to review every book that I get that feeling about, to secure it in my memory banks. To free my brain up, I wrote the reviews in the form of free verse. What attracted me to Prodigal Summer that day that I discovered the public library in my neighborhood, was that it was set in Appalachia, and I had spent time there with my friend Betsy this past summer. I picked up Lacuna because I wanted to read Kingsolver again, and here was one about Mexico, another of my passions. 

Prodigal Summer

This is what book-reading should be like.

You know it has to end,

 But you don't want it to.

You miss it because you finished it.

You miss the characters,

You know the loose ends,

The foreshadowing,

The plot lines 

Are all tied up 

and if it were to go on, 

it'd probably get redundant 

Or sappy

But you still wish it wasn't over.

Your perspective on life

And nature

And ecology

And the web of life

Is deepened

And your desire is piqued 

To know your own back yard ecology better

Or you hope so.

Amidst so much change

And destruction

And separation from the natural world 

We are fraught with

In the modern world

There is still a thread of hope

That nature will win

That we have a role in that.

The Lacuna

I have an affinity for Mexico. 

Have always loved Frida Kahlo

And Diego Rivera

And history.

Pretty amazing that this work of fiction

Could braid together

All these strands

The Mexican revolution 

Russian politics of the time

The decline of Trotsky and

Rise of Stalin

American history of the time,

Involvement in World War II

And then the Cold War

Not to mention

What it was to be a gay man 

At the time

Not to mention 

What it was to be a victim

Of anti-communist persecution 

About loyalty oaths

And then there's the delicious character trait 

That he was a cook. 

And a writer.

A journal-writer. 

A writer of historical fiction,

Which I love.

Too bad he was not a real author.

I want to read his novels. 

My Quest to Make Chicken Kelaguen

To reiterate, the purpose of this blog is to explore and define the creative impulse. Thus far, I have learned that following through on an idea is part of it. So whenever I have an idea, I go with it without second-guessing myself.  Lately, I've been thinking of foods from Guam, where I grew up. I think it's because my friend has an opportunity to run a food truck with her daughter, and I want to help, maybe as hired help or maybe collaborator. It is their food truck, but talking to her about it made me think about what I would do if I had an opportunity like that. 

Which brings me to chicken kelaguen. It is one of my all-time favorite foods. Maybe because it brings back memories of Guam, or maybe because it's just so dad-gum good. (That's just the word that came to mind). I have never in my life made it. It always looked so complicated, and I just left it for brother Kevin to make when he visited (which is not very often). Since we moved to Hawaii, the only time we've served it at family gatherings is when Kevin was visiting. The Aoki family in Kona knows this dish well. 

But now I have crossed that threshold. I found fresh coconut at the Produce Stand across from Choice Mart at the old Kona Theatre. This is a great place to get local, organic, GMO-free produce, by the way. The coconuts were already husked, the helper saved me the juice in a ziplock bag, and she cracked it open for me. And so, the plan is now set in stone. Have coconut, will kelaguen. 

We have this coconut grater (kamyo) that we brought with us from Guam when we moved back here in 1989. 

After all these years, it looks the same as when we bought it, and works beautifully. It is made of the Guam wood, ifit, and has this incredible metal piece for grating. This kamyo was made by a master craftsman. I grated coconut on it today for the first time!  It was so much fun and I don't know why I have not made it part of my life before this.  

This is slow food, like the time I made a mole' that I had learned to make in a cooking class in Oaxaca. Because it takes some effort, it is satisfying. There's also something special about getting the lemons, coconut, and just-picked green onion from this country produce stand, and the peppers (donne) from our yard. 

What's creative about this? I created a satisfying dish laden with memories. I created a sense of accomplishment. 

What Inspires Creativity? - A Short List

Yesterday, while driving around, I started to get ideas for things "someone" should do when "they" retire or have more time on "their" hands. Today, I saw a post on Edutopia, "Creativity on the Run:18 Apps to Inspire Creativity." The apps, truth be told, were not inspiring. So it made me wonder, just what was going on yesterday that got me inspired. 

I started the day by going to the post office.  I had ordered a new book from Amazon by creativity guru, Austin Kleon, titled Show Your Work, about being a working artist or writer. I hadn't read it yet when I started having these ideas. Maybe it was the vibe of the book that was emanating to my brain. I had ordered this book for obvious reasons, but also as a way to support art and creative writing in others. So, while I do have some money (not being retired yet),  I spend it on books. I have no more shelf space, but that's okay, I'll figure it out. I'm putting my money where my mouth, and heart is. 

The second thing I did was go to the public library. Since I rediscovered this amazing community resource, I have been motivated to choose my reading well, and read a whole novel in the three weeks I have with it. The trip to the library becomes a trip to your "self", your identity, an affirmation and recognition of who you are and what is important to you. After making my selections to check out, I sat with a magazine called Flux, a lifestyle magazine based in Hawaii. This one had a War and Peace theme, which was very interesting. 

Then I went to the Keauhou Farmers Market, where I got an avocado and some honey. Why is this creative? It connects you to people doing creative, life-affirming things with their lives. Entrepreneurship is creative, I believe. 

Decided to have lunch at Habeneros, and wanted to tweet: Why do I love Mexican food? I may start tweeting, as I have these tweetable thoughts (and Austin Kleon says to). On my way out, I saw a woman looking out to the ocean with a camera. I looked to see what she was looking at, and I saw a big splash which we know as whale action. I parked my car to whale-watch, and though I saw some spouting, I did not see more breaching. Was this inspiring me? The life force from these magnificent creatures, which I only saw glimpses of? 

This is not my meal, found it on Trip Advisor, but I had 2 soft tacos, fish and carne asada. 

Finally, I went to the beach.  It was one of those shore-crashing Kona days. There's something exhilarating about those days. I read my new book, which was like sitting with a good friend telling you to "Just Do It!" Perhaps, at some point, my creative ideas will come to fruition, as they were sure flowing. Now is not the time. 

This is not the beach I went to, because I didn't take my camera/phone with me. But this was one of those shore-crashing days as well. 

But I will share this. Based on my day, here are 4 things you can do to inspire creativity.

1) Support writers whose work includes inspiring creativity. 

2) Support your local library, spend time there reconnecting to your self.

3) Support  local businesses, especially farmers and restaurants.

4) Go to the beach. Look for whales or dolphins. I don't think this works on its own, because most times, beach days are for chilling, and not doing much of anything, which is still a good thing. I think the important thing was breaking out of my routine and getting out to get fresh air and be one on one with nature. I'm sure it was the combination of these elements in the context of other things going on in my life now that got the juices flowing. 

Why I Write: A Story about Ukus

        My friend blessed me with this story about a story I had written about ukus.

When I lived in Honolulu, I used to write scripts for the Honolulu Theatre for Youth's annual Christmas Talk Story. The artistic director at the time invited writers to submit a script for a monologue from a child's point of view about some aspect of the holidays in Hawaii. I loved this aspect of my writing life, just small enough to be doable, and to consider myself a writer. I think I had 4 different stories in, and then there were 2 "Best of ..." shows, which were bonuses. (There were also 2 rejections along the way.)  Two of my scripts were published in a book that included a CD of actors performing the stories.  One of the stories is about sibling rivalry over a favorite cousin and the other is about ukus and mother-daughter bonding. 

My friend shares the book with her class before winter break and always reminds me about it every year. This year, during the break, her sister and niece were visiting. California lice (since they were from California, they were not Hawaiian ukus) stowed away on her young niece, so they had to deal with it when they arrived. It was not a pleasant experience, and then my friend remembered my story, so as her sister was combing the lice from her little girl's hair, my friend, the Aunty, read the story to them. She told me that both her sister and her niece were touched by my story, relaxing as the lice were combed out and away. 

I used to say that if I can touch even one person by something that I wrote, I would be happy. I still think that's true. I am not very ambitious, except to have enough of these validating moments. 

Thank you, friend. 

Note: I wrote this in January and was going to post the uku story with it. But I had written it on a different computer and can't access those files, so they need to be retyped again. One day I will do that. 

Food Love: Red Salad and Flourless Chocolate Cake with Grapefruit

        Yes, cooking is creative, even if you are following a recipe.

I had saved some recipes that were recently seen either on sites I subscribe to or on Facebook that seemed to have a Valentines Day focus. Yesterday, I went to the farmers market by the Sheraton, and got beets, cilantro, and red cabbage, all locally and organically grown. The recipe I was going to use was Fergus Henderson's Red Salad found on website Food 52. All I needed was the red onion. I also thought black sesame seeds would put a little twist to the taste. I decided that cilantro would have to substitute for chervil, which I had to look up to find that it was in the parsley family. The dressing in the recipe was a balsamic vinegar and olive oil one. I used an espresso balsamic vinegar that I had brought home from Seattle. I also added pomegranates, which I had splurged on from Costco. So, yes, cooking is creative. My "creation" was delicious and healthy-feeling.

The other thing I made today was a version of Grapefruit Raspberry Flourless Chocolate cake seen on the Anthology magazine website. I had brought chocolate home from my trip to Oaxaca and the grapefruit in our yard is plentiful. No raspberries, but there were strawberries in the refrigerator.  So, it was a perfect recipe for me to try. I didn't follow it exactly, but I do think it came out so nicely. I always wondered  how to make flourless chocolate cake. Oh my Grapefruit! This is so good. I am feeling high from all these serotonin inducing foods. 

Juice from Oranges and Tangerines in our Yard

There's something about squeezing citrus from trees in your own yard that is so - I can't even find the right word. Yes, it's cool, but it feeds me creatively. That act somehow belongs on this blog. I took from things in my environment and I made something of it. It's delicious too. So, the word is --- juicy! 

Hanging Laundry

Sometimes

It'll come

Hanging laundry in the closet.

You don't know 

If it will be a paragraph, 

Or a poem,

But you want to do something

With that thought

So you stop 

Hanging laundry

And write down that thought.

Sometimes 

That thought

Connects onto other thoughts

Like weaving

Sometimes it just hangs

Like a piece of thread,

Going nowhere.

But I have learned  

To honor that impulse

To see it a as a gift.

It has no agenda

It is not part of a five year plan

Or achieving a goal.

The impulse 

Is like a nudge 

From your higher self

Or something like that

If your intent is to be

Who you truly are

Let these impulses guide you. 

Philanthropy: Kind of

Philanthropy, kind of

(Reflection after Buying Books on Amazon)

If I had all the money in the world,

Then no one but me would have money,

So I better not say that. 

But if I had lots of money,

I would be a philanthropist

And I would give money to 

Budding and struggling

Artists,

Poets,

Writers,

Inventors,

Filmmakers,

Musicians, 

Storytellers of all kinds

For creative work

Contributing to a beautiful world,

Nurturing the planet

Like comfort food,

And gardens.

I do that now

I look at it as contributing to the economy

Or supporting the arts

When I spend my money 

On what would seem to be 

Non-essential 

By some. 

But it is essential

Not in the food, clothing, shelter

Scheme of things

But in the quality of life

Scheme of things

In the co-creation of a world

Worth living in

A world in which creativity

And doing good 

Is valued as much as 

Or more than

Money making

And simple pleasure-seeking

When I go to a book store,

Physical or online, 

Or iTunes,

Or participate 

In crowd-funding campaigns,

Or go to a farmer's market

Or craft fair, 

I spend my money based on

What or who I want to support 

In a world I want to co-create. 

It's a small way of making a mark 

In the world

On a teacher's salary.

So I would like to have more money

To be more of philanthropist

To support those 

Who are dedicated to their 

Creative impulses, 

And yes, 

Making the world a better place,

Whose creative 

And do-good impulses,

Whose seeds and sprouts,

I want to see blossom,

Bloom,

Grow,

Live.

On Borrowing a Book on Hand Lettering at my Neighborhood Library

The purpose of libraries

besides the borrowing of books 

Free

and thus the spreading of knowledge

is to define identity

Who you are

Who I am

I wander

through the stacks

with no agenda

no author or subject in mind

nothing specific to find

I look

I read spines

Hearing titles

Listening

for a book to call to me

Several do.

Grant-writing

Working your way around the world

How to train your brain

And then

The Art and Craft of Hand Lettering

I reach,

I touch,

I pull it off the shelf,

I am mesmerized.

I sit with it

awhile

on the floor

and then put it back

but then it calls again

it tells me

I know you may not have time to read me

or do the projects entailed in here

But you can take me home

to take up  a small bit of space 

in your life

I will inspire you

even if you never open me up again

you will know that

I am a part of you

because you heard me,

You listened to me,

You chose me.

What Would Queen Liliuokalani Do?

       If you call Hawaii your home, eventually you have to deal with the overthrow of the Hawaiian kingdom. You can choose to ignore it, and that is one sort of reaction, you can choose to make a stand politically, or you can live somewhere in the uncertain in-between and try to articulate a position, which is what I am going to try to do now .

The Hawaii State Library is touring a program called "He Lei, He Aloha: This is a lei of Love, the Legacies of Queen Lili'uokalani," in honor of the 100th anniversary of the Hawaii State Library. This is an interactive event; some participants are given significant sections of the Queen's autobiography to read. A few of her songs are also sung. After the readings, there is a discussion, with a volunteer from the I'olani Guild, Uncle Fred, facilitating and  asking us to talk story and share our responses to the work.  

How agonizing it must have been for the Queen to abdicate. But she did so to save the 40,000 Hawaiians who had thus far survived decimating diseases, and also because she believed that the U.S. Government would intervene eventually. After all, the British government undid the British occupation decades earlier when a renegade captain had claimed Hawaii for his country. 

It occurred to me that it must have been depressing for the Queen to realize that the US would not intervene, that the US Congress and President allowed the overthrow to be sustained which led to annexation and eventually current statehood. I asked how she was able to cope with this - the loss of the kingdom, the injustice of it all. Uncle Fred responded that the answer can be found in the Queen's prayer, which she wrote when she was imprisoned under house arrest in I'olani palace. Uncle sang a verse of it, some of us sang with him:

'O kou aloha nô

Aia i ka lani

A `o Kou `oia `i`o

He hemolelo ho`i

 

And he explained, emotionally, solemnly, that it was about forgiveness and having aloha, and once you lose that, once you don't have aloha, you are lost. In the beloved song, she referred to "truth" of "the heavens" as a way of coming to peace with "malevolence" and the "sins of man."

There was nothing pono about the overthrow. There is no way that one can justify it except in terms of power, money, arrogance, capitalism, colonialism, racism, greed. Nothing pono about that. There are those who believe that sovereignty is the only pono solution. There are those who say that having too much aloha has hurt the Hawaiians. 

In the end, though the days of outright colonialism are over, we still live in a world of meanness, injustice, dishonesty, and greed. It is so much to wrap your head around. It is hard to be all peace, love, and harmony, when there is so much to be angry about. So we all have to be like the Queen in dealing with it. Sometimes the result will not be what you thought or hoped it would be, but if you can hold the ugly truth in your brain, speak the ugly truth when you are given opportunities to, and still be beautiful in your aloha for all, then maybe maybe maybe, there will be a just reaping of what you sowed at some point. But if nothing else, you brought grace, beauty, and aloha to those who you encountered. And that is a magnificent legacy. 

       The last part of the program was read together by all of us: 

"I could not turn back the time for the political change, but there is still time to save our heritage. You must remember never to cease to act because you fear you may fail. The way to lose any earthly kingdom is to be inflexible, intolerant, and prejudicial. Another way is to be too flexible, tolerant of too many wrongs and without judgment at all. It is a razor's edge. It is a width of a pili grass. To gain the kingdom of heaven is to hear what is not said, to see what cannot be seen, and to know the unknowable - that is Aloha. All things in this world are two; in heaven, there is but One." 

Salad Experiments

Making salads can be a creative act too. 

Try different ingredients. I found this root at the Greenwell farmers market that looks like a potato but tastes like a pear, though not as sweet. I bought different kinds of sprouts at Choice Mart (azuki, lentil, pea, snow peas) and thought I'd use Kim Chee shrimp poke for the protein. Need to work on the dressing, a creative act for another time. 

The Story of the 2013 Christmas Wreath

Making our Christmas wreath a few weeks ago was one of the reasons I flowed into starting this blog. We did not get a tree this year. Our immediate family is spread from Guam to Colorado and no one was coming home. Putting up a tree, as well as putting it away, takes a lot of energy that we were not motivated to expend. I was feeling guilty, like it was something I was supposed to do. All good people decorate for Christmas right? 

I have a cousin in Hilo who makes beautiful Hawaiian wreaths every year. She and her husband get their permit to pick from the ohi'a forests and it is their tradition to make these wreaths for their family and friends. We went to visit my aunties in Hilo the weekend before Christmas and I was inspired by the wreath that my cousin had made for her mom. So I came home determined to make one this year. I was lucky to have spent a weekend with my cousin one year when they were making wreaths and learned how to do it back then, must have been five years ago or more. I haven't made one in a long time.

The plan was to use materials from our yard, get a wreath ring and pins and just do it. I looked online for directions to refresh my memory, and went to Ace to look for the wreath ring and pins. They had stacks of the rings and no pins. The worker there said they ran out and did not think there were any in Kona anywhere. She suggested I use bobby pins. I did go around looking at other stores. My last stop was Home Depot, and the sales person there told me that she had made a wreath a different way. "I wen haku em." I knew how to make a haku lei, though I also had not made one in a long time. But I did decide that was what I was going to do.

From my yard, I picked eucalyptus branches, bay laurel leaves, white bougainvillea, and a bush that had red berries and reddish leaves. I set up my work area on our cool, open, back patio. And I just wen haku em. 

         For those who do not know what I mean, you make little bundles on top of each other and use raffia to hold the bundle together and to wind the bundles to each other. Next time I make one, I'll take pictures of the process.

It took me a while to figure out how to make it work and I wanted to give up about a quarter of a way through. But I talked myself through it, telling myself that it was holding together, it was growing. I just needed to keep adding to it and persevere. So I listened to myself giving myself encouragement, and I completed it. My mom gave me a nice compliment, but I thought she was just being my mom. When I posted it on Facebook, I got many likes and comments, which validated my efforts and made me proud to have done it.

What does this say about creativity? Sometimes Christmas can be depressing when there are no kids around. Is Christmas really just for kids? For adults, Christmas can be more focused on the reason for the season, which is, of course, the birth of Christ. Creative acts are like giving birth, which is cause to celebrate. Celebrations of Births, especially of the Christ child, is extremely rejuvenating and a wonderful state of mind to have occupying your thoughts at the end of one year and the beginning of another.