My former resident-turned reader-turned friend-turned blogger [but that’s really a story for another day], Kelly sent me this AWESOME book of “Good Morning!” stick notes from author Brooke Noel.

When Nicholas saw them, after pointing out how perfect they were for me and a half hour discussion on what a good gift giver Kelly is, he told me I should take them to work and every evening, without reading it, leave myself one on my computer screen.  This way I was leaving some fresh inspiration for myself for the next morning.  I’ve been doing it and it is awesome.  Each note has a quotation and a little positive reminder and self-esteem booster declaration. It may be a bit cheesy and a tad overly self-helpish for some, but I’ve really been focusing on the positive this week at the office and these are doing the trick of aiding me in that optimism conquest.

 The one I read this morning’s said:

 “Have the gumption to try something new, and the grit to see it through.” – Karen Fonstad

 I create a space for my passions in my daily life.

 These are EXACTLY what I needed.

The last few days Nick and I have had awesome conversations (most of which I am really rambly though – shocker, right!?) about both of these subjects.  Let’s talk about where “I am” right now, shall we?

First off, I feel like I keep having all these AWESOME ideas, but I don’t have the energy, drive ,or  even a real desire to go through with them.  Then I see that SOMEONE ELSE goes through with the same idea and I’m like “WTF is my problem?” for the first 30 minutes or so after learning about it.  I’m asking myself “Why didn’t I just stop being lazy and DO SOMETHING about this idea?”

 After a little time has passed, I usually move on from my frustrated/angry/confused/beating-self-up-ness.  Sometimes it takes more time to move on than others. I am quick to change my thoughts once I realize how ridiculous I am being. Especially for someone who believes there aren’t really original ideas and that creativity from one person sparks creativity in another.  And that every idea I have has been collaboration from ideas before it – those of others and myself.  I’m rambling again, aren’t I?

I recently read something about how ideas for creative people [like us!] fall into different categories. One of the categories talked about [and I’m paraphrasing here] was ideas that are good ideas, but that doesn’t mean you need to keep them or use them, especially if you aren’t passionate about them. And sometimes you have to just let them roll off of you and into the creative mind of someone else and accept that it just means that your best ideas are still coming. 

 At the same time, I want to declare my passions, find the best ideas for them and then, you know, follow through on the ideas.  “Have the grit to see them through.”  This is more of what the conversations with Nicholas have been covering.  We’ve been talking a lot about what parts of my life, especially in terms of my writing life, THS life and HLB life, I am most passionate about and how to make THAT be what I focus on. Seems simple, no? Like everything in life, especially these days it seems, it’s a process.

 Clearly, today’s little Good Morning! Sticky is perfect for today.  I am going to take it home and put it on my door and DO IT, [it = create a space for the passions in my daily life.]  as often as possible, for the rest of my life. You know, once I finish defining such passions.

 [I am also pleased with the idea that our passions grow and change and move and breathe with the seasons in our life.  I think we need to be aware of this when thinking in terms of broad goals such as this so that we don’t allow ourselves to get caught up on old passions that we no longer feel…well….PASSIONATE about.]