Welcome to the stage another victim guest on Dumb Mom’s Torture School Make New ifriend Friday feature; where awesome bloggers come to conversate with Dumb Mom.
Pretty much it’s just like the Director’s Cut of a DVD; they do their thing and I interject and talk all over them. Because I’m full of myself it’s funny.
It’s my world, people. Let’s not forget that!
And remember, black is the guest, red is the best.
Enjoy!
Alicia from A Beautiful Mess: On Creative Juices
Children screaming. TV blaring. Phone ringing. Dryer buzzing. Music pounding. Neighbor kids crying. Oven beeping. Cars screeching. (Sounds like my kitchen. Even silence is noisy at Casa de Dummies.)
We are bombarded by noise 24/7. It is one of the inevitabilities in today’s fast paced, electronic-crazed world. Is it any wonder my creative juices are impaired?
I have only recently discovered a secret. (OMG! I LOVE secrets! I can’t keep them to save my life, but I LOVE it when I get one and get to decide the one person I’m gonna tell before I tell everyone else.)
And although I’m aware that when I share it with you it will no longer be my own little secret, I’m willing to suck it up for the greater good. You can thank me later. (Actually, just go ahead and thank ME, you know, for introducing ya’ll.)
Are you ready?
Sitting down? There is a way to tune out the noises of the world. Yes, it’s true. Problem is it’s not the same for everyone.
But me? It is when I run. (For me it’s when I crap. Totally kidding. I don’t crap alone thank you slightly-untrustworthy-obsessed-with-me toddler. I think when I clean. No one bothers me when I clean.)
(No, I did not take this photo of myself.)
You see, when I run my mind is free of clutter. Life is simple. And the mysteries of the world are like a puzzle that has just had those last couple pieces snapped into place. I love it. There is nothing greater in life than those crisp moments when my brain is calm, yet alive and open to inspiration of all kinds; creativity if you will. It is in those moments that my best blog posts are written, my greatest ideas are unveiled, and I am the happiest. Those are what I refer to as golden nuggets. (I used to feel like that when I ran. I miss that. And my waistline, incidentally. Too tired to run now. Why? Because my ever-expanding, undefined version of a waistline exhausts me. That’s why.)
Watching the beautiful blurs of color as I zoom by. Leaves falling ever so softly all around me. Listening to Nichole Nordeman’s "Every Season" or "Beautiful For Me". Breathing in the fresh air. Endorphins are pumping. It is intoxicating. A high. (Sorta like when I smuggle cupcakes into the garage and eat them while The Dudes run around the house yelling, “Ma?! MAWMEEE?! Where are you?” Only different because instead of crisp and calm afterwards I usually feel sneaky and agitated. And fat. I should seek help.)
So, there may be zippier tunes with a better beat. But let’s be real. I’m late 30s. And I’m not winning any medals or breaking any records. Plus I’ve never much been into Ozzy Osbourne or Slipknot. Or any heavy metal band for that matter. I might as well be content with my 10 min/mile stride and just enjoy it. (What about Snoop Dogg, “Drop it Like It’s Hot”? No. Okay, I can respect that.)
Unfortunately my days of running outside are numbered as the temps start to drop. I’m a bit of a weeny when there’s snow on the ground or the temps are anything starting with a negative sign. I live in Iowa where we could have snow for 6 solid months. AND it’s not just the weather. I’ve recently had another injury and have had to cut back on my running thanks to this aging, dilapidated body. I’m not invincible. Sigh. (Well, I am. And, I make sure of it by not ever doing anything that could test my theory of invincibility. It’s virtually impossible to injure yourself while eating cupcakes. Now, the scramble to get to the cupcakes before some grubby little kid does, that could be dangerous.)
So, my creative juices are definitely not flowing very well at the moment. (She lies. I’m telling you. This chick is one of the most creative people with a camera I stalk online. No joke.)
I’m on the hunt for "running moments" that don’t require injuries or frostbite.
Maybe yoga? Or meditation? (Never been too great at that. My mind tends to wander.) Or a massage? Or a tropical getaway? Of course, budget and time may factor into this a bit. (Every budget should have space for a massage. They’re like food. You need them to live.)
But you get the point. We all have to find that place. Those moments that lend themselves to crystal clear thinking fine tuned to only productive and uplifting thoughts. Those are the creative juices.
So, sift out all the other junk. Get rid of the noise. The chaos. (So, I’m feeling like I should maybe give The Dudes up for adoption? For the sake of creativity. Or run away to a tropical island getaway where they give massages for free? Well okay. If you insist!)
It’s imperative. The holidays are fast approaching. Are you with me? (As long as there’s no running involved!)
Want to learn more about Project Alicia? Visit here over at A Beautiful Mess and be sure to join her every Wednesday for great photos and a weekly, Not so Wordless Wednesday photo linky too!
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Dumb Mummy,
Thank you for all of the out loud laughs. I believe I may have more in common with you than Alicia. But its OK to dream big, right? Too bad my dreaming big has resulted in my current reality which is also… “big.” Runny huh? Only if there is a brownie at the end of the trail, thats all I have to say.
Dana
I have been following Alicia for awhile. Hey, Alicia!!! I love Iowa and Nichole Nordeman, too. Thanks, DM, for a great feature.
Creative juices? I don’t know if I have those.
If only I could catch the running virus…….
It must be a virus. It alters the DNA making you breathe without wheezing, your ankles lock in the upright postion instead of collapsing in your overpriced shoes, and it tightens the tits so they don’t black your eyes before returning home.
Yes, I need a runner to sweat on me. So, I will catch that fever! LOL
Jennifer – you must be my twin. I also have crappy runners DNA, and the ensuing kind of DNA that results in a complete LACK of any kind of weight loss without forcing the collapsed ankle, black eye inducing running kind of exercise upon myself.
But i do crave those quiet moments…I think I vaguely remember having a few of them back in the last century/millenium. Pre-offspring.
I like iFriend Fridays – definitely coming back around the Casa for more good times! and of course GREAT laughs! Thanks for starting off my Friday morning right!
I LOVE the ifriends Fridays. You’re like the pop up bubbles in that VH1 show from back in the day when they actually played videos. You’re just WAY funnier and awesomer!
I LOVE ALicia. She has the most gorgeous family on the internet and she takes fantastic pictures too. I love your commentary on her post too. I’m totally with you on putting the kids up for adoption and running away to………Bora Bora. I’ve seen pictures of nice little shacks right out in the water. I think that’s far enough, eh?
As for creative juices? I find it works best when I’m under pressure. There’s no rush like the I-gotta-get-it-up-before-noon adreline in ensuring that your post isn’t the last one to get linked up (and virtually ignored). Ha.
Great post!
Mmmm. Cupcakes. Let’s hide in the garage together.