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Guest Blogging for the IWWG

Learning to Balance New as Guest Blogger

As a guest blogger for the International Women’s Writing Guild (IWWG), I recently wrote about how I balanced the news of two mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton in a single weekend. It all goes back to a sing-song activity I learned on Romer Room as a girl.

The Posture Basket Song went through my head the other day as I took my morning walk for no apparent reason as I saw the American flag at half-mast. I had to do a little investigative work via a Google search, but was able to glean the odd combination of images and sounds once I got to YouTube.com. I knew that my Guild sisters would appreciate my thinking. Want to learn more about the Guild? Look here: https:iwwg.org

Want to feel more balanced in your daily round as a writer grappling with violence in the news cycles? See more below.

Marisa

The Strength of We Women Vessels

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Grow Flow With Random Acts of Kindness

Practice the magic of kindness to grow flow.
Kindness comes in a lot of forms. Why not extend the power to help transform someone’s life beyond Valentine’s Day with some magic of your own?

Kindness Creates Space for  Flow

Kindness creates space for flow in a number of ways. First, it makes us feel good to help others. Next, kindness is contagious. It causes a ripple to go from a recipient to recipient. So, we may think we are only helping one person, but in reality the chain reaction goes far beyond anything we can imagine. Finally, performing random acts of kindness (RAKs) enables us to practice being conduits of flow. The more we give without expectation, the more we are open to receive.

Care Moves Beyond Valentine’s Day

In her new book, It’s Not Your Money: How to Live Fully from Diving Abundance, Tosha Silver discusses becoming a source of kindness. She writes: You have to want to let God use you to give. You have to want to be part of the Flow, not only financially, but in every way. There are many ways to give. In turn, it allows us to receive in countless ways, too. Flow is a major theme of all of Silver’s books, seminars, and teachings. To learn more about her offerings, see her website: https://toshasilver.com/

As a former Girl Scout leader, I had the troops craft and deliver valentines to the folks at the Soldiers and Sailors Home where we lived. The veterans were so touched that these youngsters would make them cards and spend time chatting with them. Then, the girls voted to expand the card making and delivery project to include Veteran’s Day, too. The supplies for the craft were simple. And, so were the messages, including Happy Valentine’s Day!  and Thank you for serving! 

Your Turn

Take a clue from Glinda, the Good Witch of the North in the Land of Oz. Get out your (invisible) magic wand and create kindness wherever you go. Find ways to ensure others of their own talents, gifts, and/or goodness. Call or visit an elderly relative. Share a plate of cookies – or a box of Girl Scout Trefoils – with a new neighbor. Let someone go ahead of you in line at the grocery store. Hold the door open for a mother with young children. You get the idea. Go for the Girl Scout motto: Turn a good dead daily! And, then for a moment feel the warm sense of flow that floods your heart. At the end of the day, take 15 minutes to journal about the experience. Consider some of these questions as you write:  Who did you help? How did they react to your kindness? When will you take time to do RAKs again? Hopefully soon!

Here’s to growing your flow,

Marisa

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Art Stroll Refreshens Flow

Find Flow with an Art Walk

Art finds flow.
Sign of the times. We can see ourselves reflected in the world we choose to live in and find flow.

Sometimes flow is found when we view art as symbols. This notion is worth considering for a few reasons. First, art helps to open up our minds to our desires. Next, art helps us to see others who are not so different from us. Finally, art let’s our imagination take flight. We can get all of this – and more – on an art stroll. Take it at noon, or even as an afternoon alternative to a long coffee break. It can invigorate our creative flow by refreshing our senses.

Consider the Possibilities

Woman drawn on building is graced with ivy creating her hair.

When we look to see beyond our own noses, there may be artistic representations of people who remind us of ourselves. Then, the magic such as a mural carries us to flow through the plants that grow around it. They become part of the art. Such symbols bring us creative flow through the openness of the image. For example, this mural of a woman whose hair is composed of ivy.

Sometimes we need to simply imagine all of the good flow around us for it to appear.

 

Then, we may pass by another mural of John Lennon. The title of his song Imagine is painted along side of his ghostly half-face. There are times when we all feel like we are in two places at the same time. And, too, we can all imagine what is not draw on stone.

We can imagine peace and love.

And, as the song goes, it’s easy if you try.

Your Turn

Take an art walk and soak up the images you view. Then, get out your journal and write for 15 minutes about any topic that comes up in your mind. Note the time and date that you start and stop the entry. Then, go back to it later and see if a poem, essay, or piece of flash fiction arises from the experience.

Here’s to growing your flow,

Marisa

 

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28 Ways to Flow with Self-Care

Month-Long Self-Care Rituals Foster Flow

During the month of February, the Grow Your Flow blog will take a look at the self-care rituals and tools to help you regain flow even during the toughest of times. Today we look at hydration and its importance to creatives.

Staying Hydrated in Many Ways

Drink water to keep in flow.
Water and herbal teas keep your mind and joints supple as you create for long periods of time.

If you are like many folks, you have a cup of coffee in your hand as you scroll through this post. It might keep you awake, but does it help with your flow? Well, the short answer is no. Coffee is a diuretic, which draws fluids out of your system. Water and herbal teas retain fluids in your system. Water spiked with fruit or veggie slices – think lemons and cucumbers – helps to draw out toxins from your system that can cause headaches as you write or paint. You do not need a fancy Yeti water bottle either when a Mason jar will do the trick. Shoot for about 64 ounces a day to stay alert and on task as you work.

Some of you might be concerned that you may be running to the bathroom frequently, which will interrupt your work. This may be true for the first day or two, but then your body adjusts to the water intake and you need to go at regular intervals again. Also, others may think that they are already drinking enough fluids with energy drinks. Or, flavored powder or liquid packets that are added to bottled water. Check out the chemicals added to these products. Most of them do not add to your over-all health. Choose fresh flavorings, such as a slice of orange instead of liquid Crush flavoring. You will feel better in the long run.

Your Turn

Take out your journal. Write all of the different combinations of water or types of herbal teas you might like to try. Make a big batch of water the night before so you are ready to get your hydration game plan into full gear!

Here’s to growing your flow,

Marisa

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Yarn a Tale to Grow Flow

Have a Ball with Yarn as Prompt

Yarn is a good prompt for writing.
Squeeze a ball of yarn. It’s soft and fluffy to the touch. What metaphors or images arise from the sight or touch of the yarn?

Have yarn, will create! Using this spun thread to create connections is nothing new. The word itself has a secondary meaning, which is to spin a tall-tale, fable, or myth. There are some good reasons for this connection. First, yarns squeeze metaphors to create literary impact. Second, creatives can literally juggle  balls of yarn to consider how a plot can be twisted and turned to add drama. Finally, finger-crocheting can help knit together a dialogue or setting. Let’s look at yarn’s versatility as a writer’s tool below.

Squeeze Out Metaphor

Rubber stress balls work to help anxiety-filled writers and artists, but those made from yarn are better. Soft, fluffy, and light, they help us to squeeze metaphors while literally clamping down on them. Think about it. Maybe the logger who created the Paul Bunyan folklore had access to yarn balls while spinning tales of Paul and his blue ox named, Babe? Not familiar with the American tale? The city of Bemoiji, Minnesota’s website has detailed storylines for Paul and Babe’s travels. See more here: https://wewriteitright.com/sow-flow-visit-antique-shop/

Juggle ideas around while rotating these light-as-air balls to loosen up a plot.

Juggle Ideas Around with Yarn Balls

Perhaps juggling can loosen up a stuck plot. Without too much scientific thinking here, simply juggle three balls of yarn. Stand or sit. It doesn’t make a difference. Focus on the act of juggling the balls for five to 10 minutes, then write a journal entry about the current piece. See what types of connections altered or sprung up from the simple act of juggling. Need a refresher on how to juggle? Look here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNigMfLNhpg

Finger Crochet to Knit a Tale

Want to bring a scene or a dialogue alive? Try finger crocheting some yarn at the desk. This works better seated than standing. Again, do not think too much about the creative piece. Think summer camp or study hall in middle school. Simply focus energy on doing the loops in finger crocheting for about 10 minutes. The process is what matters here, so don’t sweat the way the long link looks. Then, again, write a journal entry to note any new sensory images to add to a scene or dialogue.

Finger crochet for dialogue or scene development.

Your Turn

Creating space to allow images to pop up is important for writers and artists to yarn their tales. Frist, try to squeeze metaphors to enhance the story. Next, mix things up in a plot after juggling. Finally, use finger crocheting to knit together a scene or a dialogue. Choose any of these or all three to keep your story skills fluid.

Here’s to growing your flow,

Marisa