Imaginate

Observe the drawing above and use your imagination to create uncommon uses for pens, pencils, paper clips, safety pins, clothes pins and feathers.  

What five ways would you use a feather?  To tickle someone's fancy.  To row a boat to help a frog across the pond. To dip into magenta ink and write your passion into words. To amaze a bee.  To tuck under your pillow and dream of flying.

A paper clip fascinates in its design.  If uncurled, could it attract signals from somewhere in the Universe? What will it become if combined with a pencil or clothes pin?  Create a vehicle to transport you beyond the sea.

Creative Write:  Write a story or poem about the drawing above.  How will the objects behave in uncertain ways?

Alphabet View of Collaborative Thinking

Alphabet View of Collaborative Thinking

Why does it become difficult for individuals with opposing views to share a common understanding?

Do we need to take time away from our ego needs to consider a perspective different from our own?

Often when tempers flare, patience marches out the door.

If you draw a W on a sheet of paper and place it on a table between two people who face each other, it will look different to each person.  

One person will see it as an M and argue that position while the person on the opposite side sees it as a Wand challenges the other's view. Each view feels reasonable for the person facing the letter.

Before spending energy trying to convince people they're wrong, mentally get up and move around to try to see from the other person's perspective. This view may finally make sense to you if you're at his or her shoulder, even if you don't agree fully. Invite the individual to stand next to you also.

The expression, "walk a mile in my mocassins" never gets another's ear. Compromise does not satisfy anyone, either. If you switch the perspective away from what each person's ego believes, you may discover a third way of viewing the situation.

Consider trying the alphabet way. Collaborative thinking creates a new perspective. Try a sideways view and get an E for energy and excitement and move into exotic.

The next time you discover yourself in a situation with two views in conflict, consider how to turn the situation on its side view that neither of you have considered.

If everyone shares the power of O
Tries to connect with the views of S 

Ah! life would become much less of a mess

Then X negates a question of Y

Connects in friendship with an H and I

Agreement on N goes silly with Z

As perception changes its view in C

Just notice how different all life would B

Creative Write: Consider an issue you have not resolved with someone because of differing views.  Write about a new way of turning it around. Explore the alphabet too!

Mistaken Identities

Sail forth - steer for the deep waters only,

Reckless O soul, exploring, I with thee and thee with me.

For we are bound where mariner has not yet dared to go,

And we will risk the ship, ourselves and all.     

                            -Walt Whitman

Do we travel away from who we really are because of the many roles we play? A few of the characters we inhabit during our life experience might include: spouse, parent, sibling, friend, employer, employee. As a result, our true self may stay hidden.  Or, we haven't taken the time to study the authenticity of ourselves because of myriad role responsibilities.

A writer's quest involves the process of discovering an authentic self. It takes a lifetime to explore and delve into the depths of one's inner world in writing beyond the chaos of daily life.

Take time to mine your curiosity.  Investigate beyond your mistaken identities for an inner voice.                   

Describe with concrete details what this voice sounds like. 

Where do you come from?

Where do you belong?

What questions do you have about the real you?

Define your contentment.

As you write into your depths of discovery, listen for a haunting voice of your true self.  What "other self" keeps you company as you dive deeper into your self-enlightenment process?

Start a dialogue and respond to it when frustrated, angry, needy and happy.  Return to ask and answer questions.


Creative Write: Today write about something unimaginable that might define you.