A Road Map

Sometimes it is easier to find your way when you already know where you are going.  These questions are from Julia Cameron's book The Vein of Gold on pages 105-106.  I think they are useful when I need a reminder about what things move and motivate me.  Think of them as a useful compass...


1.  Name five favorite films.
2.  Name your favorite childhood book.
3.  Name three characters you loved.
4.  Name three characters you would love to play.
5.  Name three topics you think about.
6.  Name three topics you read about.
7.  What was your childhood book about?
8.  What are your movies about?
9.  Do your movies and books have anything in common?
10.  Do your characters, your reading, and your thinking connect up somehow with your movies and your childhood book?


Other helpful sites
The Happiness Project Toolbox
Authentic Happiness
The Last Lecture of Randy Pausch


Moon Report:  95% of full.  Waning gibbous.
Outside the Window:  Cold.  Partly cloudy complete with muted snow glare.

just because

Neil Cicierega's Potter Puppet Pals

This little clip amuses me. It reminds me of saying words over and over and over until they have no meaning. Also, the repetition gets in your head and you find yourself singing this when you should be concentrating on other things.

I hope you enjoy!

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Oh, and because I think I forgot to post the moon report this morning:

MOON REPORT: waxing crescent. 39% full.

good things i stumbled upon today

Sometimes I am amazed at the joy and positive feelings found online.

One World One Heart

A creativity swap designed to introduce bloggers to one another and showcase arts and crafts. The winners are announced on Valentine's Day.

Buy Shoes, Save Lives

This is a small organization that sells handmade Iraqi shoes called "Klash" and then uses the proceeds to fund medical interventions for seriously ill Iraqi children. And the shoes look very comfy.

nine years

I have a theory that my life transitions into different phases roughly every nine years. However, this only holds up if I was born in year 2 of cycle 1. So, the universe is either bad at math, fetus time counts, or my theory isn't so true. However, since we are operating on my hypothesis that my life happens in nine-year chunks and this is MY blog, it is true.

Cycle Occurances

Year 1: About six months or so before the new cycle begins, "signs" of what is to come in the next nine years begin to appear. Possible important event.*

Year 4/5: Major life event

Year 8: Cycle feels like it is dragging and I feel a bit antsy in my skin.

Year 9: Things wind down and closure begins. Start planning for new cycle. Possible important event.*
___________
*There is usually an important event that occurs either in year 1 or year 9 to begin/conclude a cycle.
___________

Now, these cycles can be about anything and everything--the disruptions don't have to be major. Some could experience a cycle about love or education or moderation or philanthropy or whatever... But I find that the majority of the lessons I learn in these periods tend to be about the overarching theme.

Currently I am ending a cycle of death and loss. These last nine years have been NOT fun. I learned a lot about grief and the consequences of denial and supression of emotions. Needless to say, I am much more understanding now of people who have little in the way of possessions or family.

Thankfully this dreadful cycle is ending. I already have seen hints of what is to come: creativity and regeneration. That I am very thankful for. It means that this next cycle will be filled with fun and laughter and happinesses of every kind. My best friend just had a baby, I wrote a draft of a novel, and outside (in January on the Great Lakes) it is 65 degrees--could it get better? Of course!

I fully expect to have a wondrous 2008.

I will stop living with the dead. It's time to open my life up and begin to be a member of the living again. I really can do that.

Maybe I'll start by throwing a dinner party?