This weeks read: How to be creative by Hugh MacCleod

My thoughts…

I dug this, especially point 6 on page 11.

It talks about how we are taught to express ourselves creatively upon entering school and then it is slowly taken away (I also want nap time back as well).

Hugh also goes on to talk about the fact that almost all people end up having a dual life in order to use these crayons. Very rarely does one have a job where they can be creative. He calls it the “Sex and Cash” theory. You have the day job that pays the bills then you have the sexy creative job that you really enjoy. Why? because its YOU!

My last thought before lunch is over…

The discussion on the “pissed off gene” on page 32.

I am often grumpy or pissed off about something and that often motivates me. Finally someone is in agreement. Now if I were just being grumpy and couching all the time it would be totally different (and my ass would be a whole lot bigger).

Lunch is over. I will add some more highlights later.

A friend shared her Being Lived experience with the self-help group not too long ago. One of the activities has to do with visualizing what you want and where you want to be as an aid in getting you there. So we cut up a bunch of magazines and glued our finding on paper.

Its pretty interesting what ends up on the paper in the end. I made 2 8 1/2″ x 11″ collages which basically scream out what’s on my mind.

Need for a way more challenging job, travel, creativity, learning, being proactive…

I made a larger collage to hang in my office in the empty space above my drafting table. Same themes.

Unfortunately in the last 24 hours it feels like someone has shaken up the snow globe and the pieces of paper are just floating around and I have no clue which way is up.

I have been at job 11 for a little over a month and the 2 ugliest words were uttered from the higher ups today, “re org.” We knew that it was coming. Our Deputy Director announced that he was retiring before the New Year. Anyways, I slept poorly last night (I was in a funk, non-work related) then I overslept this morning and had to drink my coffee at work instead of in the comfort of my own home, then the division directors have a meeting this morning, then after lunch we have a section meeting. No announcement about who will be in charge. Mearly an announcement that our office is being dissolved. GONE. Everyone will be moved. My division will become part of another office. Well, not my whole division. Everyone BUT my group. They don’t know where we are going. Maybe not for a week or two.

So, job #12 will be coming a little sooner than I thought. Hopefully everything job-wise will settle out by early January. As long as the direct deposit is still moving money into my account on the 1st of every month I will be ok for a bit.

As for my other funk… I hung out with my friend Megan last night and talked about a lot of things and I was once again reminded that I have become totally lame. Since when did responsibility = lame? We chatted about old times and staying out late and travelling. I do none of this anymore. There must be a happy medium somewhere between responsibility and complete irresponsibility. Anywhere but lame.

For now, I suppose I will get some sleep. Tomorrow I will get out my glue stick and start to reassemble the pieces.

I thought I would clue you in to my favorite lunch time reading sites.

Tom Peters

Halley’s Comment

Wonder Branding

FastCompany

No Set Plans

This is what I end up reading instead of studying for the GRE.

Regardless, this state employee is feeding her brain and checking to make sure that the area her backside covers is less than the area of the chair.

Speaking of brain usage check out this one from Fast Company