Week Four: Make Something
Creative Practices for the Winter Doldrums
Welcome to week four! I’ve been getting all kinds of doldrums tidbits from you and it is making me chuckle. Who knew the word doldrum could bring us joy? Also, one of you put “how nougat is made” onto your list of curiosities. I love humans—we are just so weird. Thanks for sharing your quirkiness with me, please keep it coming.
Speaking of quirky, I’d like to introduce you to Jeff, a ceramicist with a homemade pottery wheel, a butterfly hat, and a Baitful Dead T-shirt. Sometimes San Francisco is everything I hoped it would be, and I ran into this wonder at a pottery show this weekend. Jeff was throwing pots on the spot, merrily spinning his wheel with bare feet as he chatted with people. So channeling that free spirit, we are all going to make something this week. Ready?
Questions:
Look over the lists you’ve made so far.
How could you follow your curiosity and create something?
Write a list of SMALL projects you could start with. (If you have a lofty project, go forth, young artist. For most of us, tiny beginnings will be the best bet to get in the habit of creating.)
Use the prompt “I could try…” and make a list of 10 things. You aren’t committing to anything yet, this is a brainstorm.
Examples: I could try…
Making my own Doldrums, Winter playlist and dancing to it while I do dishes
Cooking one new recipe I’ve been curious about (Nougat, anyone?)
Opening my paints and playing with them for 15 minutes
Playing my guitar after dinner instead of watching TV
Wandering around my neighborhood taking photos at sunset
Making a valentine or cookies or a little celebration for someone I love
Practices:
And now….Make Something, Anything!
Pick one of your “I could try” activities and do it this week. I’d love to see or hear about what you make.
Note: This is when your inner critic, perfectionist, or lovely little childhood wounds may decide to show up and tell you what you are making is terrible. Many of us have negative scripts about creativity and play embedded into us. If this is happening, notice—What is the voice that shows up to criticize you? What is it telling you?
I’ve been having so many conversations about this that I’m thinking about doing a series addressing it. Let me know if you would be interested.
For now, try to inhabit your young and carefree self and let yourself romp around and make a mess. The one and only Anne Lamott says it best:
“Clutter and mess show us that life is being lived. Tidiness makes me think of held breath, of suspended animation. Perfectionism is a mean, frozen form of idealism, while messes are the artist's true friend. What people somehow forgot to mention when we were children was that we need to make messes in order to find out who we are and why we are here.”- Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird
A Story About Making Something:
In that spirit, a story for you. The last few years, I’ve been skipping the Super Bowl to take advantage of the normal packed weekend spots, and this time I took my little friend (we’ll call her M) with me. She’s been wanting to learn photography, so we packed the camera and headed to one of my favorite places called Sutro Baths.
Normally, our pal Karl the fog covers this party of the city in a dense mist, but it was calm and sunny, and the golden light put on quite a show, and M endured my waxing poetic about the light with great patience.
As she learned the camera, M kept looking at her photos and saying, “Ooh, that’s a good one.” Even if something was terribly overexposed, she just giggled and tried again, and then took plenty of breaks to climb trees and explore caves. I felt myself exhaling as I watched her carefree spirit holding it all so lightly. I couldn’t help think, “Oh, stay like this, baby. Whatever you do, keep this young heart alive. DON’T LET THEM TAKE IT FROM YOU!”
Okay, maybe a touch dramatic, but I’ll stand by the sentiment. Whatever you do, keep your childlike wonder and willingness to be a beginner alive. Don’t let them take it from you.
As the sun set over the mighty Pacific, we hopped over rocks and pulled out a giraffe head for some dancing videos. M snapped this photo of me as the sun was setting.
Ooh, that’s a good one.
Play on, young hearts.
Play on.
Stay in touch! I’d love to hear about what you make: Comment below or tag me on Instagram: @jackieknapp_
Coaching: I have a few coaching spots open if you need help with a creative project or the project of life itself—I’d love to chat. Find more info here or email me to set up a free discovery call. I’d love to hear from you!
Workshops + Retreats: If you need a fresh take on a work event, my lighthearted workshops on creativity and self-care have been fan favorites for a variety of companies. You can find more info here. If you’d like to discuss planning a retreat for your group or church, please get in touch—jackie@jackieknapp.com.