Creativity

When I was young, my parents always encouraged me to use my imagination. To be creative. That little pink crayon and perforated sheet of printer paper my dad brought home from work was my paint and easel. I might’ve gotten carried away with a Sharpie on my brand new wall-papered room, but that’s another story for another time. In any case, those scribbled lines I drew were comparable to Da Vinci himself! At least, that’s how my parents made me feel. They were always encouraging me. What? You’re three but you want to read what your six-year-old brother reads? Go ahead, give it a shot! You wanna try cheerleading? Sure. You wanna go to your friend’s house and sleep over? Of course you can. You wanna cover the driveway with chalk? Have at it kid! Lemonade stand? Here, let me help you make the sign.

What happened to all of that? To being creative, and using the imagination. I’m sure there are a lot of people out there who still do that, and I say kudos to you. We live in a world that puts people into boxes, and label them with permanent maker. Telemarketer. Accountant. Prostitute. Sinner. Drug Dealer. Bank Teller. And we feel stuck in those positions because the world isn’t very good at igniting creativity.

Sure, the world is full of really awesome commercials, (especially apple, why is that?) that shows how creative THOSE people are, but what do they do to ignite others to dig into their own internal creativity? Not much. Its a sad thing too. I used to be creative through music. I played 13 instruments. Now I play the piano, occasionally when I visit my parents. I write still, but it’s shoddy at best. I take pictures too, and I’m decent with that as well but I have a LOT to learn. I’m tied to a computer 12 hours a night, 3, 4, sometimes 5, 6 nights a week. But, I’m always hearing music in my head (August Rush, as of late) and I’m always thinking. Wondering what I could be if I just pushed myself beyond the boundaries I have so carefully built up around me. Its a scary thing, because knocking down those walls will open up the opportunity to be hurt, to be criticized, to be laughed at, to be all of those things I’ve been mortified of since I was the kid everyone picked on at school so many years ago. Things like that leave their mark, no matter how much time has gone by. But slowly, hopefully I’ll be able to remove the wall I’ve built. One brick at a time. Because I believe I, like you, and everyone else, has an immeasurable amount of creativity, and the only thing in the way are the walls we’ve built. Sure, we’ve kept the bad stuff out, but we’ve kept the amazing stuff in too. It’s time to let the amazing stuff out.

Wow

It's been a while hasn't it! well, it's May 16th. Tonight is my last night of work until Friday, and I guess the old gang is going out Wednesday morning after our shift for a green beer for St. Patrick's day. That should actually be a really great time - good people.

Exciting things in the past month:
Moved into my apartment and got 2 months rent free
Worked lots of OT so extra cash is nice
Went to the ER due to the move into the apartment (I'm fine)
A day of prayer from SCL (www.stuffchristianslike.net)
My brother and I are speaking again
Boondock Saints the original in theaters with Dottie
My mom reached her weight loss goal and looks absolutely incredible

Exciting things coming up:
3/25 - 3/29: GETTYSBURG!!! Meet the cast of PRS, hang with some cool people, learn some things and explore the history of the area. So excited.
4/15 - 4/18: State College, PA!! Open House with Father Bob, Ryan, and a lecture from Serg and Josh. I'm spoiling myself with all this travel, but I'm single, without kids. I'm going to live it up.
4/18 Evening: Sing Omaha concert. Dr. Stroope is coming and I'm going to be able to go to the show to see my old friends and Dr. Stroope. VERY exciting stuff.
Sometime after things slow down, I'm going to North Platte to visit an old friend.
6/15: My birthday! The big 2-5.
6/24 - 6/28: Georgia! PISCA event, hang with Jay, Scott and meet up with Tina for a weekend of camping, stories and keeping a look-out for Big Foot. Hehehe
Sometime in October is Scarefest, and I'm absolutely going to that also.

I will of course add more as they fill in but I have a LOT to be looking forward to. I am also working a TON of overtime, but again, the money is good and helping me be able to afford all this travel.

I have a lot to talk about, serious things, sad things, confusing things, but for now, for this moment, I'm going to revel in all the wonderful things going on in my life. I love my apartment, even with half-unpacked boxes and laundry lying around. Being closer to work is going to save me a TON on gas money. I'm still working on my relationship with God, but its getting closer, and those closest to me have acknowledged that even if they don't believe what I do, they love and support me anyway. That's helpful. I'm thinking about going back to school...again. I'm looking for a new place of employment, still. I miss a few of my friends - Bethany, Tiffany, Dottie, my sister-in-law, I never see them enough. I'm always working OT so I never know when I'll have a free day. I should put in more of an effort to put my foot down with my boss. Lately it has felt like I live in the First Data Command Center in Omaha. I have stalled out with losing weight, after 25 lbs. I can't say I've been trying, what with the mono, strep, infections, then packing and moving, it wasn't on my list of priorities. I'd like to get back to it.

Even with all that, my life is pretty amazing.