Musing in the Mind....Part 2 - A Creative Practice - in a Book.

ME AND DUOLINGO

Believe it or not, up until 3 weeks ago - I had a 1200+ day German learning streak with

Duolingo - that language learning app with that stupid little green owl.  Yes - that's every day for over 3. 25 years.  Every evening!  I'm really NOT good at language.  My brain just isn't wired that way.  I so truly wish I was.

Why? - When my Mom's Alzheimer's started getting pretty bad - I was worried that she would revert back to only speaking German - and I'd never get to talk to her again. 

I've always admired these "polyglots"  My Opa was one - but where he was from in Europe - it was a necessity - as if you went to the next county  over and in order to communicate you just had to know the next language.  I think I counted it with him once.  Slovenian, Croatian, Serbian, Italian, German and then English - but then he was also able to talk to this Dutch guy we knew too.   So - I think that's 7.  

Paul, my husband seems to be able to move in that world too - maybe not like Opa - but he was able to speak in both Russian and German to Slovenian and Austrian relatives of ours that came over to visit.  He's able to move about in Japan - maybe not talking - but at least understanding some.  What a gift to have - but definitely not how my brain works.  I am so jealous!

MY NEW REPLACEMENT - THE CREATIVE ACT: A WAY  OF BEING

What have we been doing?  Well - since I love the idea of how people "think" and of art and expanding our openness  to creativity, every night we read a passage from   "The Creative Act:  A Way of Being - by Rick Rubin"

This absolutely is NOT the kind of book that you read from cover to cover - expecting a plot or guided argument.  I think it's meant to inspire.

There are short passages - we read one and ruminate on it - allowing the passage to wash over you, if you will.    It's a lovely way to end a day - introspective, open-ended, philosophical.    It provides me with something to "think" about - and drift off to.  The passages are about creativity and how information from the world filters and washes through our minds.   How ideas come to pass.  It's been lovely and calming, grounding and yet expanding my perception of how people think.

You come across so many people that say "I'm just not creative" - and I think that's so sad to say that  - Everyone is!  It's just in different ways.  I'm sure its because we define the word creativity as parameter bound - and thus is the imperfection of human language.

It could be that you are creative in language, or in how you speak to someone else,  or in how we care for someone - or even read their emotions?  It could be problem solving, or the more traditional arts - like music, dance, painting, the fiber arts (I had to get that one in there) - or in how you create a business or, or, or...…  Creativity, and expansive creative thinking is one of the gifts of being human.  Why do we block ourselves in and just say.... that's just the way I am????? (though I know I am with learning foreign language - but I digress)

A few nights ago, one excerpt was about curating and reading excellent literature - and actually "curating"  your input feed.  It's so easy these days to be inundated with "media" - like we are attracted to this "sloppy feeding trough that just keeps coming"  - and it has seemed to replace any "curation" of what is truly good.

I do have a confession.  I bought this book used - and initially had a very visceral reaction - as someone had written in all of the margins about their personal and very traditional views on GOD and it really made me angry - but that's just another lesson for myself - and on what my personal beliefs are.  I've since scribbled theirs out and put many ideas of my own in.  Anyway, this book has been perfect - and I wanted you all to know about it.

Happy reading if you ever decide to try it.

Today will be a very big day.  I meet with the medical oncology department for the first time.  It's heavy on my mind.  - Which is why I'm writing this at like 3 am.  But this blog is again a practice - and has been so helpful for me. - and I'm finally getting sleepy again, thank goodness.

Take care - and do something kind for someone else. - That's what is truly important, you know!

Love ya,

-L