Woo hoo! I'm on Creative Living with Jamie

I'm so flattered that little ole me was asked to be on Jamie Ridler's Creative Living with Jamie podcast which airs today.  She actually asked me via a message on twitter (isn't that cool?!) that I received on the last day of the APT conference when I was on a play therapy high.  The actual interview occurred a few weeks ago.  I've been a bit nervous to see how it turned out as honestly I wasn't still on my high.  In fact, I was deep in the busiest time of the semester.  So apropos since my main message in the interview is, of course, the importance of play in our lives.

I've enjoyed listening to this podcast for well over a year now every Tuesday morning on my way to work.  One of my favorite parts is the very beginning when Jamie shares a bit of inspiration.  Another favorite part is when she asks the interviewee, "how do you invite your creativity out to play?"  She's had on some of my favorite creative people.  I can't believe I'm in this group. 

So I am Creative.  I am a Creative!

Please take a listen and let me know what you think!

And a special welcome to any Jamie Ridler listeners!

An Autumn Kentucky "Poem Note"

I was introduced to the concept of a "poem note" by Liz Lamoreux during the Midwest Inner Excavation Retreat this past May.  Over the weekend I taught my Creative Play Therapy Interventions course in Prestonsburg, Kentucky, again.  (Four hours from home.  A beautiful drive to eastern Kentucky and listening to podcasts on my phone = not so bad.)  This was the first time I ever did this activity with a class, and I couldn't help but participate.  Using a shadow self-portrait I took while we went on a walking meditation and photo walk, I present you my little poem note.

Retreating, Journeying, and Starting

I've been away this week at our annual faculty retreat at Lake Cumberland State Resort Park.  I blogged about it last year.  A highlight for me was spotting 5 deer who were eating the grass along a frisbee golf course.  I was able to get pretty close but unfortunately, it was near dark and I only had my iPhone with me so I don't have any good pictures to share.  But it's a moment I won't soon forget.

While there I went on a very brief walk and took a few photos.  I wanted to walk longer or go on another work but a) there just wasn't time, b) it rained while we were there, and c) I was too tired from sitting through a long day of meetings.  Yes, I'm complaining.  I know.  This retreat was nothing like the kind of retreat I prefer to be on, what something you readers may have been on like a spiritual or art retreat.  This retreat, though, was an opportunity to get away from the college campus and interact with colleagues in a beautiful setting and for that I am grateful.

The retreat began on Tuesday with my friend and colleague, Brenda, sharing a video of a presentation that poet David Whyte gave a few years ago at the Psychotherapy Networker Symposium.  (By the way, I highly recommend the Psychotherapy Networker, a magazine for mental health professionals.)  With a quick google search I found this youtube video of a small part of the presentation we watched.  I was first introduced to him by Liz Lamoreux who read much of his poetry to us during the art retreat I attended this past May.  I could just listen to his poems all day.



One of the poems he shared is the following.  It is resonating with me as I take steps along my own journey.

START CLOSE IN

by David Whyte

Start close in,
don't take the second step
or the third,
start with the first
thing
close in,
the step
you don't want to take.

Start with
the ground
you know,
the pale ground
beneath your feet,
your own
way of starting
the conversation.

Start with your own
question,
give up on other
people's questions,
don't let them
smother something
simple.

To find
another's voice,
follow
your own voice,
wait until
that voice
becomes a
private ear
listening
to another.

Start right now
take a small step
you can call your own
don't follow
someone else's
heroics, be humble
and focused,
start close in,
don't mistake
that other
for your own.

Start close in,
don't take
the second step
or the third,
start with the first
thing
close in,
the step
you don't want to take.

I'm reminded that on this journey we sometimes need to retreat, take a step back, relax, reflect, and focus.  Yet, you can spend too much time retreating.  Eventually you have to start, whatever your task may be.  And starting can be the hardest part.  It's much easier knowing you're not the only one.  You are not alone.  There are others with you along the way.

Play Therapy Helps When Life Wreaks Havoc

Miles with his beloved Honda Civic, Sept. 2010

2 happy kids on the day we got our new car
Sept. 25, 2010

I have missed you blog.

One reason I've been away is a car wreck last Monday.  No one hurt.  I wasn't even in the car.  Long story involving a hill, another car, and a ditch.  But my son's beloved Honda Civic is all bunched up, so to speak.  And it's probably gonna be awhile until it's fixed.  If it's worth fixing at all.

After it happened, I picked up Miles from school and told him the story.  (He wasn't present when the accident occurred.)  He seemed a little sad.  When we got home he immediately got out a bunch of his cars and crashed them over and over.   A couple of days ago he drew a picture of the car before the wreck. 

Today he's been asking each of us in the family to draw pictures and put them in this old tie box.  He referred to it as a jewelry box, illustrating the preciousness of its contents.   So I have carefully added mine and have become a part of my son's creative ritual.  I didn't teach him to do this.  I didn't tell him to do this.  It came completely on his own.  Miles, in his 6-year-old wisdom, is using his play as therapy.  Because play heals.


Earthquakes, hurricanes, events in Libya.  Births and deaths.  A cancer diagnosis.  New jobs, new bosses, new schools.  The usual transitions.  Sometimes life wreaks havoc. 

Even we adults can learn something from young children.
We too can use art and play and ritual to bring us some peace.

Last night my friend Liz wrote this post that I didn't read until now.  She shares a story of what could be called a little ritual with her daughter.  Just hearing her voice brings me some peace.

Peace to you in whatever might be wreaking havoc in your life.

A Week of Joy

As I've stated in an earlier post, it's been a rough summer.  Things aren't really better, nor are they worse.  Okay, maybe they're a little bit better.  But I'm tired.  Of all of it.  So for this week I'm going to attempt to do something and focus on JOY.  And I just thought of this right now, this very moment.

I recently bought another necklace from my friend Liz when she was running a special in her etsy shop.  She included one of her soul mantra necklaces with my order.  When we returned home from vacation last week I was thrilled to see the package had arrived.  As I tore it open, I thought to myself, "the soul mantra necklace is gonna say JOY on it."  Yep!  Liz knew what I need to focus on, even if I didn't know it myself.  She's such a wise soul.

Looking back on the day I can think of two things I did that brought me JOY.

1) Miles and I filled up the blow-up pool with water.  Despite the warm air, the water was cold.  But he and I sat and talked.  And then we did yoga poses in the water.  And danced together.  And were silly.  Even though we don't have a fenced in backyard and all the neighbors could see if they wanted to.

2)  I painted a background painting for the How to Paint an Owl ecourse I'm taking.  Yes, it's led by a woman named Juliette Crane and no, I don't think we're related.  I didn't paint like I usually do.  Instead I painted with my fingers.  Just like a child.  Mixing hue of pink.  And then the fun, fun of spray paint.  When I think of JOY, I think of the color pink.

JOY in the simple moments. 
JOY in art and creativity.
JOY in play.

Will you join me this week?

A Walking Meditation



Last weekend was Memorial Day, my 16th anniversary, and I taught a course I created called Creative Play Therapy Interventions.  My goal for this course has always been for the time together to feel like a retreat where the students can experience the techniques and philosophy before applying them to their own clients.  (It was also so very nice to share some things I learned from my art retreat with Liz Lamoreux.)

On Saturday, my class experienced walking meditation as we traveled a couple of blocks from the downtown square of Scottsville KY to a small grassy area where they played with their cameras.  It was a joy to watch these students' stress melt away in the sunshine.  I took the following photos. 

the building on the right houses Lindsey Wilson College at Scottsville

One of the wonderful things about photos is they can immediately take us back to another time.

A time to remember.

A time to play.

A time to wonder.

A time to be yourself.

A time to take your time.

A time to breathe.

This girl, she is...

self-portrait of a tired, emotional girl

A poem note I wrote using a word list I created on the first day of the Midwest Inner Excavation retreat based on the prompt, This girl, she is.

This girl, she is carefree yet tailored and refined.

Illuminated with beauty.

All aglow with a sparkling sweep of confidence.

She is celebrating that which is emerging, transforming.

Ripe with possibility.

Embracing a cherished blossom.

In a cozy safe space.

Framed by a picture window into her soul.

window in the administration building of Culver Academies



Vews from the Midwest Inner Excavation Retreat

I was gone for about 5 glorious days last week at Liz Lamoreux's Be Present Retreat in the Midwest (Culver IN) based on her book entitled Inner Excavation.  I've followed her blog for quite awhile and secretly harbored the wish to attend.  When I discovered that she was having a retreat within driving distance I just couldn't say no.  I'M SO GLAD I SAID YES!  The retreat was co-led by artist Kelly Barton.  Her shop has been a favorite of mine on Etsy for a very long time.  Heck, I gotta promote Liz's shop as well.  It is so amazing to finally get to meet these two very special people.

I can definitely say that it was one of the BEST experiences of my life.  I'm still processing it all.  For now I will share photos I took on the third day when we went on a photography walk along Lake Muxinkuckee on the campus of Culver Academies.

the lake

this one's my favorite. i may have to enlarge it and frame it as a reminder

a happy mistake

flowers

reminds me of part of my childhood in Utah

Can't ya just smell 'em?

More to come...